{
  "id": 14495941,
  "title": "The tiny, retro Instax Pal 2 digicam has gone so viral, it’s the No. 1 new release at this major photo retailer, beating out two new mirrorless cameras",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/the-tiny-retro-instax-pal-2-digicam-has-gone-so-viral-its-the-no-1",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-14T16:52:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Digital Camera World",
    "slug": "digital-camera-world",
    "url": "https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/the-tiny-retro-instax-pal-2-digicam-has-gone-so-viral-its-the-no-1-new-release-at-this-major-photo-retailer-beating-out-two-new-mirrorless-cameras"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When the Instax Pal 2 digital camera, a compact and retro design, arrived at B&H Photo Video, its popularity quickly skyrocketed. The tiny 3 oz / 87g camera, which lacks instant film and instead prints wirelessly, was positioned at the top of the September 2026 best-selling cameras list. This list surpassed two new mirrorless cameras, the OM System PEN and Canon’s EOS R8 Mark II. The Instax Pal 2 is unusual because it has the LCD screen at the top, resembling a waist-level viewfinder, although it still features a traditional optical viewfinder at the back. In addition to its retro dials and miniature size, the camera is priced at $169.95 / £144.99 / CA$219.95 / AU$249, making it more accessible than other mirrorless cameras. The camera's viral success was evident in B&H’s monthly trends list, with four variations of the OM System PEN making appearances. The OM System PEN is a long-awaited update to the company's classic PEN series, featuring a 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and weather-sealing. Canon’s EOS R8 Mark II, with its angular design inspired by the 1980s Canon T80, also made an appearance on the list. Other trending cameras include the Sony RX100 VII, the Fujifilm X Half, the Camp Snap 2, the Rickoh GR IV, the Panasonic Lumix L10, and the Canon EOS R7 with an 18-150mm kit lens.",
  "summary": "The top trending cameras at one major US photo retailer are led not by a new mirrorless, but the cheap retro compact Instax Pal 2",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}