Fujifilm has launched a cute Instax camera that makes printing to instant film optional. The Instax Pal digital camera comes bundled with a Mini Link 2 printer but can stow snaps to onboard storage for transfer to the free companion app to add filters and stickers. Once captured, images are stored either on the camera’s internal memory (which holds a maximum of 50 photos) or on an optional microSD card (not included). Fujifilm recommends users transfer photos to their smartphones often if they don’t plan to use a microSD card, a process that is managed from the Instax Pal smartphone app. Other than the power button located at the top, the Pal has a large shutter button on the back that is designed to be easy to press whether you are taking photos of friends or snapping a selfie.
The Pal comes pre-loaded with multiple shutter sounds, but it also allows users to record their own custom sound via the app. The toy-like camera features a 4.9-megapixel, 1/5-inch-type CMOS sensor with primary colour filter, offers auto shutter speeds between 1/4 to 1/8000 seconds, has ISO100 to 1,600 light sensitivities, sports a F2.2 wide-angle lens, and its Li-ion battery is topped up over USB-C. The app can also create flipbook-like animations by combining multiple images, and should the user decide to send such a creation to the Mini Link 2 for printing, the resulting photo will include a QR code for scanning into a handset to play the animation onscreen. Snapped images can be viewed onscreen and saved to a phone’s own memory and shared with friends on social.
