Fujifilm Instax Square 2: Features, Price and Is It Worth Buying?

Fujifilm's latest square-format instant camera has landed, and it's now available at Maplin. The Fujifilm Instax Square 2 keeps the roomy square print that Instax fans love, but adds something new: a switch that changes the mood of your photos as you shoot.

Here's what's new, how it compares with the older Square cameras, and who it's best for.

The Instax Square 2 is a fully analogue instant camera: no screen, no memory card, no phone needed. You frame the shot in the optical viewfinder, press the shutter, and a physical square print (about 62 × 62mm) slides out and develops in front of you.

It replaces the idea of "point and shoot and hope" with a little more creative control, without making things complicated. Exposure and flash are automatic, so it's easy enough for a first-time instant camera owner.

• Mood Filter Switch: choose Warm (a subtle golden tone), Cool (crisp, blue-toned colour) or Off (the classic Instax look). The filter is applied as you take the photo, so there's no editing afterwards.
• Three shooting modes: twist the lens ring to switch between Standard, Close-up and Landscape, so you can get closer to a subject or capture a wider scene.
• Built-in selfie mirror: line up group shots and selfies without guessing.
• Automatic exposure and flash: the camera judges the light for you.
• Optical viewfinder: a simple, lag-free way to frame the shot.
• New sculpted body: a rounded redesign with a comfortable grip, plus a hand strap in the box.
• Runs on AA batteries: four are supplied, so you can start shooting straight away.

At Maplin the Instax Square 2 comes in three colours:

• Fujifilm Instax Square 2 Instant Camera – White
• Fujifilm Instax Square 2 Instant Camera – Red
• Fujifilm Instax Square 2 Instant Camera – Blue

Each is £94.99 for the camera only, or £112.99 with a 20 shot film pack, which is the better choice if you want to start shooting on day one.

All three take the same square film, so print size and photo quality are similar. The difference is in features, styling and price.

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In short: at the same price as the Instax Square SQ1, the Square 2 adds Warm and Cool mood filters and a Landscape mode. The Instax Square SQ40 is the pick if you prefer its classic black retro look and don't need the filters.

Beginners and gift buyers. It's fully automatic, comes with batteries, and the mood filter is a fun feature that needs no explanation.

Anyone who loves the square format. Square prints look great on a wall, in a frame or in a scrapbook, and suit portraits and food shots better than a narrow rectangle.

People who want a look without an app. Warm and Cool give you a style choice in-camera. If you want to go further, you can pair it with Soft Haze film.

Who might want something else? If you want full manual control or hybrid features like printing from a phone or digital shots, look at the hybrid and Mini cameras in our instant cameras collection, or read our complete Instax buying guide. Also note that the Square 2's flash fires automatically, so it's not the camera for flash-free low-light shooting.

If you'd rather print square photos from your phone, the Fujifilm Instax Square Link Wireless Smartphone Photo Printer uses the same square film, so one pack of film works across both.

1. Stay about 0.5 m or more away in Standard mode, and use Close-up for anything nearer.
2. Use Warm for people and Cool for skies, water and architecture. Warm flatters skin tones; Cool makes blues crisper.
3. Shake nothing. Modern Instax film doesn't need shaking. Lay the print flat and let it develop for a few minutes.
4. Keep film cool and out of direct sun before and after shooting.
5. Keep spare film to hand. Square film costs more per shot than Mini, so a multi-pack saves money.

Ready to start? Browse the full instant cameras collection to see the Instax Square 2 in White, Red and Blue, plus film and accessories.