This Pocket “Pal” Lends a Digital 110-Format Photography Vibe

Remember the 110-format film cameras that were common during the late 1970s and early 1980s? While those pocketable systems reached their pinnacle of technological success with the Pentax Auto 110, the film format never achieved deep inroads into the more popular 35mm-format world. Fade to black for 110-format photography, but the digital revolution now marches in with a quirky thumb-sized camera that is attempting to carve out a similar path.

Meet the Fujifilm instax Pal camera. On the surface, the Pal bears no resemblance to a 110-format film camera, but Fujifilm draws similar marketing parallels between the old and new formats by describing the Pal as “pocket-friendly, easy to take with you everywhere.” On the other hand, priced at $108, the Pal isn’t as attractive of a purchase option as many of the original 110 cameras.

Thankfully, all of the aesthetic allure that was imbued in the pocketable film cameras’ “just point and shoot” concept can be found in the Pal. It’s dead simple to operate, just point and press the oversized shutter release button. You will receive an audible response that represents capturing of the image and, just like with a 110-format camera, that’s it.

That is, unless you embrace the dedicated smartphone app that Fujifilm markets for the Pal. Known as INSTAX Pal app, pairing the Pal with this app opens up a much bigger feature-set of opportunity with the Pal. While there are a lot of attractive benefits for linking the Pal to the app, there is a distinct clumsiness disadvantage to anchoring the petite Pal to a cumbersome smartphone. Not to mention, that this combination destroys the entire “just point and shoot” aspect of the Pal.

Thankfully, eschewing the app for the Pal doesn’t eliminate the camera’s ability to send photographs to a linked Fujifilm instax printer. This capability is baked into the Pal via a Link Mode switch that is located on the camera’s base. Just flick the switch to “L,” wait for the Bluetooth connection (i.e., indicated by an RGB LED surrounding the Pal power button), and all photographs that are stored in the internal memory or on an optional microSD card will be automatically printed. Furthermore, when the Pal is wirelessly connected to a printer, anytime the shutter button is pressed, the photograph will be immediately printed.

Is the Battery Charging or Not?

There is one trivial nit to pick with the Pal. How could Fujifilm get the printed battery charging instructions for one of their cameras wrong? Well, they did! Inside the Quick Start Guide that is bundled twice (yes, they enclosed two of these manuals inside the box; one comically oversized manual and, another, ridiculously small manual) with the Fujifilm instax Pal camera, the instructions state inside the Front Lamp Chart that the front light flashes during charging. But, it doesn’t flash. This light remains ON during charging.

Elsewhere in these “charging the battery” instructions, Fujifilm says that the “Front Camera Lamp will light up when the camera is charging.” There’s even a thumbnail illustration that also says that the front light will illuminate during charging. Is this discrepancy a big deal? Maybe, maybe not, but if you mistakenly see the Front Camera Lamp ON during your initial charging, thinking that the battery is now fully charged, you might disconnect the charger and take your Pal along with you for a photographic session. Later while you’re frantically pressing/holding the power button and nothing happens, you’ll realize your error. Ugh.

In case you’re wondering, the Front Camera Lamp turns OFF when the instax Pal has been fully charged. Aside from this minor instructional shortcoming, the Pal is an apt digital equivalent to the 110-format film camera concept. It is very playful to drop the Pal into a pocket, purse, or bag and just snap your way through life. Later, you can recount your activities through downloading your photographs from the microSD card or making hardcopy prints with a wirelessly-connected printer. Fujifilm calls the Pal concept, “making small moments feel big.” Unfortunately, just like with the 110-format film cameras, small might not be big enough.

Enjoy.

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