You probably fondly remember your first digital camera if you’re above a certain age. I bet its size, shape and various buttons have all just now come immediately to mind. I bet some moments you captured on that amazing device have also come to mind. I mean, imagine being able to photograph your friends, family and various adventures! What a novelty. If you’re above yet another age, being able to do that without the cost and limitations of film is yet another life milestone.
If this is you, you might be surprised and a little confused about the resurgence of digital cameras. As beloved as they were, surely everyone has replaced them with the cameras on their smartphones, right? Well, you’re not entirely wrong. The camera market tanked in the late 2010s, and manufacturers discontinued most or all of their lower and midrange cameras.
But now, not only is the used camera market exploding, but manufacturers like Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Fujifilm and others are either updating old models with modern features like USB-C and Bluetooth, or they’re releasing entirely new models. Here’s why.
1. It’s retro
Sony CyberShot circa 2005. Yep, this camera (and the photo of it) are 20 years old. As my bones crumble to dust…
“What’s old is new again,” an adage as old as it is new. Every generation is fascinated by the technology and culture that preceded it. People reach a certain age and are interested in things their parents knew and did at that age. See the interest in things like vinyl records, cassette tapes, film cameras and instant cameras over the past few years.
There’s also humor and warm nostalgia to be had by “older” people carrying around the pocket point-and-shoot they had in their youth.
2. It’s special
Inset: A much younger version of the author, as photographed by a “vintage” Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 with its “ancient” 10.1 megapixel CCD sensor (not shown).
Taking photos with your phone, once a novelty, is now mundane. Sure, it captures a moment, but for many, the photo itself isn’t special. The moment and the memory it evokes might be, but the highly processed image isn’t. Taking out a camera, waiting for it to turn on, and making the moment about taking this specific photo add to its specialness.
3. Not being on a phone
Everyone’s getting into photography these days.
In the short term, this rise in popularity severely limits the availability of certain popular cameras. Hopefully, these are finding their way into the hands of people who will actually use them and, even better, get into photography. (Many people buy records and don’t own a turntable.) It’s an expensive hobby, but one I love and that I’d love to see more people enjoy. In the longer term, it’s likely a boon for photography hobbyists as we’ll see more of these new, or at least refreshed, models from many big manufacturers.
So, have a look in that drawer you never look in or in the deep corners of your closet. Maybe your old “digicam” is still there, covered in dust and filled with long-forgotten photos. If you don’t want to be hip and trendy with your cool retro camera, there’s always eBay.
In addition to covering audio and display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road trips and more.
Also, check out Budget Travel for Dummies, his travel book, and his bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube.
