Camera clicks to track movementsStudents Caleb Lewis and Marcel Lockett walk around the University of Dallas Brookhaven campus with point-and-shoot cameras, flashing images of their surroundings on a small screen.
Compact digital cameras, primarily used in the early 2000s, have recently experienced a resurgence in popularity, with internet searches up more than 8,000% above normal, according to various articles such as The New York Times and TechRadar.
Ruiz, who uses a Kodak EasyShare M550 that her parents have owned for more than a decade, and Rockett, who uses her sister’s Sony Cybershot DSC-W55, are among the many who have jumped on the point-and-shoot camera trend. There are two of us.
“For me, it’s nostalgic to take pictures with this kind of camera,” Lewis said. “When I first held it, it reminded me of the photos my family took for me when I was little. Now, when I take photos, I want to capture that feeling.”
While newer, more modern cameras, such as the popular Canon digital single-lens reflex camera, offer consumers higher quality images and resolution, they are also the main reason buyers turn to older media for photography.
Todd Puckett, owner of Don’s Photo Equipment, said the increased interest in point-and-shoot cameras is due to image quality that provides a more pleasing appearance to the human eye.
“a [modern day] “Every inch of a digital photo is sharper,” Paquette said. “The human eye is not used to everything being sharp, and it looks somehow fake. But with autofocus, there are parts of the photo that are slightly out of focus, giving it a more natural texture.” .”
Point-and-shoot cameras have only been around for about 20 years, but the photography industry has evolved a lot since then, and new cameras are giving consumers more options to find what works to capture the images they want. features and settings.
However, the high prices of modern cameras often make it difficult to pursue a casual interest in photography at an affordable price.
Although there are some outliers, point-and-shoot cameras tend to be more accessible to those interested in a cheaper camera that won’t overcomplicate their hobby.
“I just take pictures as a side hobby. When I go out, I take pictures for memories or just because I think something is cool,” Lockett said. “Maybe if this breaks, I’ll buy another camera just to take pictures, but I’m not going to get serious about photography, like buy an expensive camera. My camera was probably $40. So if s“Omewans want to start a hobby cheaply. These kinds of cameras are very cheap for what they’re meant for. And the photos they provide add a different kind of depth than current modern photography. I feel like I am.”
Although trends come and go, Paquette said he believes point-and-shoot cameras are here to stay. Not only are the same old compact digital cameras making a comeback, but camera companies and brands are already launching “new and improved” versions of older cameras and bringing back other forms of old media, such as analog and film cameras. .
“Not only is there a strong interest in point-and-shoot and shooting, but there is also a strong interest in film. The popularity of these cameras has led to a significant increase in demand for film,” Paquette said. “Companies are making new movies, not bringing back old movies, but creating new movies from scratch. Everything is looking up, and photo labs are also on the rise in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. When I first started in photography, selling and promoting film was my main job, and in 2016, there were three labs in the back of this area, and now we have them. There are 10 locations in the area where you can return or mail your film. “We’ve gone from three people to 10 people. Everything related to this industry has grown at every level.”
