Fujifilm Instax Pal pocket camera
Fujifilm has announced the Instax Pal, a palm-sized digital camera with a design that looks like an action camera, but the captured photos can only be viewed on a smartphone or printed using the Instax Link series printer.
The Fujifilm Instax brand is experiencing great success, so it makes sense for the company to expand its portfolio of such devices. Like the Instax Mini Evo, the Instax Pal doesn't shoot directly onto film, but captures images on a digital sensor that can be printed later. However, unlike the Mini Eva, the new Pal does not have a built-in printer and is designed to be used in conjunction with Fujifilm's Link series printers – such as the Mini Link, Square Link or Link Wide. The company describes the Instax Pal as a unique digital camera and the first all-digital camera in the Instax line. It is described as an ideal device that can accompany us everywhere and help us capture "spontaneous moments of life."
Once pictures are taken, they are saved to the camera's internal memory (which can store up to 50 photos) or to a microSD card. Fujifilm recommends users transfer photos to their smartphones if they don't plan to use a microSD card, and the process is managed with the Instax Pal app.
The design is extremely simple. In addition to the power button on the top, the Pal has a large shutter button on the back that's designed to be easy to press, whether you're snapping photos of friends or taking selfies.
The Pal allows for remote shooting with the help of an app, supports interval shooting and is equipped with a small flash for illuminating subjects and a "multipurpose" removable ring. Fujifilm was very stingy with the lens and sensor specs. They didn't even mention the resolution of the digital photos.
The Pal app includes 18 creative filters and the ability to add text—two features that allow users to customize a photo before printing or sharing it digitally. The app also allows users to combine multiple images into an animation that resembles flipping through a book. If the animation is printed, it includes a QR code that plays the animation. The price for the camera and printer is around $200.