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

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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

The Instax Pal 2 in a photographer's hands
(Image credit: Hillary K. Grigonis / Future)

When I first pulled the tiny retro Instax Pal 2 out of the box, my first thought was that the tiny 3 oz / 87g camera may just be the cutest camera that I’ve ever seen. My second thought? I predicted the little camera may go viral, and now a fresh bestseller list is proving just how popular the Pal 2 is.

US photo store B&H Photo Video recently shared its best-selling cameras for September 2026, and the list is led by the tiny Instax Pal 2, followed by the new OM System PEN, and Canon’s first take on a retro mirrorless, the Canon EOS R8 Mark II.

The Instax Pal 2 is so different from the original, bubble-shaped Pal that I’m surprised Instax didn’t give it a different name. But the Pal 2, like the original, is one of the few Instax cameras that doesn’t actually use instant film. Instead, the Pal 2 is a tiny retro digital camera that can print wirelessly to Instax printers but also functions as a standalone digital compact camera.

(Image credit: Future)

Besides being tiny, the Pal 2 is unusual in that it places the LCD screen at the top of the camera rather than the back, which feels a bit like having a waist-level viewfinder, though the camera still has a traditional optical viewfinder at the back. That, mixed with retro dials, gives the new tiny camera a retro feel.

A camera that retails for $169.95 / £144.99 / CA$219.95 / AU$249 is going to fit into more budgets than a mirrorless camera. But B&H’s monthly trends list offers the first hint at just how viral the Pal 2 has gone.

(Image credit: James Artaius)

The camera that takes up the most spots on the list, however, is the new OM System PEN. Four variations of the PEN take up spots on the trends list, led by the black color with a kit lens, then the silver with a kit lens, then each color as a body-only option.

While the Pal 2 felt like a surprise, the OM System PEN has been a long-awaited update to the company’s longstanding PEN series. The new PEN brings that long-loved retro design, but it’s also one of the few cameras at the price point that includes both image stabilization and weather-sealing.

The PEN brings the 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor from other OM System cameras but puts it into a compact, retro-inspired camera body. That design includes a switch to swap between color modes at the front. A more traditional mode dial and arranging the top controls towards the grip also make the PEN possible to shoot one-handed.

Canon EOS R8 Mark II (Image credit: Future)

The PEN is followed by Canon’s newest mirrorless: The EOS R8 Mark II. The second generation adds in-body stabilization to one of Canon’s most affordable full-frame cameras. (The older Canon EOS RP is still the most affordable full-frame Canon, while the original R8 is also sticking around as a budget option.)

The R8 Mark II strays from Canon’s usual rounded profile and uses a more angular design inspired by the film Canon T80 camera from the 1980s. So while the camera looks more retro than the original, it’s not the modern remake of the Canon AE-1 that many fans have been asking for.

The Canon EOS R8 Mark II is followed by two Canon cameras that are no strangers to best-seller lists: the full-frame, 32.5MP Canon EOS R6 Mark III and the 45MP, 8K EOS R5 Mark II.

Sony RX100 VII (Image credit: Future)

One more compact camera rounds out the top ten list: The Sony RX100 VII. The long-loved one-inch sensor compact is known for its 24-200mm equivalent zoom lens and pocketable design.

B&H also shared a list of the top trending cameras for a 24-hour period in mid-October, and while the Pal 2 leads that list as well, there are a few key changes from September’s list. The Sony A7R VI makes that list with its mix of resolution and speed.

Fujifilm X Half (Image credit: Future / Gareth Bevan)

Two “screen-free” compact cameras have also risen up in recent trends. The Fujifilm X Half (which has a screen, but also offers a screen-free mode) has risen up the ranks, likely driven by a lowest-ever price in the US of $449. The retro-compact camera is built to mix a more analog shooting experience with a one-inch sensor and Fujifilm’s film simulations.

The Camp Snap 2 also made the short-term list, with the semi-transparent pink being the B&H favorite.

Two high-end compact cameras, the Ricoh GR IV and the Panasonic Lumix L10, also made the 24-hour trends list, along with the Canon EOS R7 with a 18-150mm kit lens and the budget point-and-shoot Kodak PixPro FZ55.

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Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary K. Grigonis
US Editor

With more than a decade of experience writing about cameras and technology, Hillary K. Grigonis leads the US coverage for Digital Camera World. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, Digital Trends, Pocket-lint, Rangefinder, The Phoblographer, and more. Her wedding and portrait photography favors a journalistic style. She’s a former Nikon shooter and a current Fujifilm user, but has tested a wide range of cameras and lenses across multiple brands. Hillary is also a licensed drone pilot.

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