Press review: Instax Pal – The cutest little camera

The world of photography continues to evolve. However, while we appreciate the sophistication of modern cameras and new smartphone technologies, adding a mix of simplicity is just as appealing. This is where Fujifilm's Instax line stands out. These devices offer a blend of instant results, simplicity, and a great sense of nostalgia for many. In recent years, Instax has produced many great cameras with new features on 40-year-old technology. And it worked. Today, with the addition of a new product to its range, the Instax Pal is an ideal companion for the holiday season.

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Conception and design

The first and most notable design feature of the Pal is its size. It is quite small, lightweight and very portable. This is not an exaggeration, because there is no question of taking it with you wherever you go. It fits easily into your pocket or any other bag you carry. I even happened to carry it in the same pocket as my smartphone, to clearly show that it is an impressive size.

As for the specifications, it weighs only 41g, so you will almost never notice that you are carrying it in your pocket. As for its dimensions, it measures 42.3×44.4×43.0 mm, which represents a nicely square configuration, despite its rounded appearance.

That being said, this is not a conventional Instax camera. Unlike other cameras and printers, the Instax Pal does not print film. It is designed to be used with other devices in the Instax range and with the help of your smartphone.

The speed of using the device is another feature to brag about. Once the camera is turned on, simply click the button on the back to take as many photos as possible. Shooting is limited to the Pal's internal storage or SD card reader.

Despite its compact size, the device has all the basic features. This includes the central camera lens, which takes up much of the front real estate. It also has a flash and a built-in speaker on the opposite side, indicated by the three small holes. A large power button is visible on the top of the device, surrounded by a case with LED lighting indicating the different stages of its operation. The rear houses a large shutter button, which also takes up as much space as the lens on the front. It also has a USB Type-C port located underneath for charging.

Finally, there are also some notable additions at the bottom of the device. First, there's the universal port to connect to your tripod and whatever mount you have lying around. Then there's a strange switch that has the letters “L” and “F” engraved on it. It's a simple switch between Link and Fun modes, which I'll talk about later.

Overall, this is a solid little device, which presents something unique to the Instax line.

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Configuration and features

There are two main options for installation. The first is to connect the device to your smartphone, while the second is to connect it directly to one of the Instax Link printers. As shown, users can use the button on the bottom of the device to switch between Link and Fun modes. Link mode is self-explanatory, it allows the device to connect to the Link and print directly from the Pal device. Conversely, Fun Mode can stand alone but offers better support when used with your smartphone. It lets you take photos remotely, which is great for groups, and add other styles and filters to your photos.

Once you've set up the Pal, it gives you all these extra, easy-to-use features. The device's internal memory can store up to 50 photos simultaneously. Connected to your smartphone, you can configure it to do this automatically after each photo taken, removing manual intervention.

As noted, the device also has an LED lighting housing around the power button located at the top of the device. The LED flashes turquoise when first powered on, and a great chime sound indicates its overall charm. Before connecting to your smartphone or Link printer, it flashes red and turns blue once connected.

Its front lens features a 1/5-inch CMOS configuration and a primary color filter to add effects to your photos. The image has a power of 4.9 Mpx, producing a resolution of 2560×1920 px. It's a decent size, especially for small Instax prints.

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Performance and battery life

The Instax Pal offers solid performance in terms of overall usability and quality of images captured and printed. Adding filters and other settings through the mobile app beforehand gives you plenty of options to get the most out of the device.

Another aspect of device performance, which comes into play when you're not using an SD card, is the transfer rate. On average, it takes 15-20 seconds to copy each new image. This doesn't sound dramatic in itself, but a 21-photo burst for interval shooting takes up to five minutes to transfer before it's finished.

As we mentioned, you can use the smartphone app to control the Instax Pal. By doing so, you have a direct view of the camera through the app, so you know exactly what you're shooting. While this live stream is great, the experience is slow. There is a delay of about two to three seconds between what happens in the real world and what appears on your smartphone. This is not the ideal way to take action photos, which would be better taken directly from the camera.

Besides standard shooting via the shutter button, you can also opt for two other modes. Users can set up interval shots, taking 3, 6, 11, or 21 photos on the fly. The interval between each photo is three seconds and can be configured via the app before enabling the option. You can also opt for burst shooting. This allows you to take up to 7 photos when you press and hold the shutter button. This option is ideal for taking some action photos.

Two aspects of the Instax Pal can be a bit annoying. The first is that it does not offer a zoom function. Although it is possible to change the focus and other aspects to achieve the best result, the addition of a zoom function would have been greatly appreciated.

A bigger problem is the lack of an IP rating. It's a compromise for a device designed for pleasure and which should be used frequently during the summer, especially at the beach and pool. Users should exercise extreme caution during events during the summer holidays.

Battery usage is another odd point of the Pal. On paper, you should be able to take around 350 photos before needing a recharge. It's quite decent and in line with many other Instax devices. However, these are isolated usage statistics, without taking into account the Link and Fun mode functions.

For starters, when you're connected to your Link printer and sending images to print, battery life can quickly drop by 10-20% depending on the number of prints. Then, when you switch to Fun mode via the smartphone, using live view and interval shots can increase battery usage and drain it much faster than the suggested 350 shots.

You will need to keep an eye on the battery percentage through the app when using the device. Fortunately, charging is not a problem. A portable charger is a great accessory that allows users to quickly charge the Pal in 30 minutes and get about 100 more shots.

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Is it worth buying the Instax Pal?

There's a lot to like about the Instax Pal. It is easy to install and use, and I had a lot of fun testing the different options available. Using it remotely via the app is great fun, making it a very practical party favor.

The device is not cheap, since it retails for 1,999 euros. This price matches that of many Instax cameras that double as an instant printer. If it weren't for a few flaws, it could be the perfect summer companion despite its price, especially considering the missed opportunity to take underwater photos on the fly.