Are ‘Bad’ Cameras Ruining Photography or Just Changing It?

Have you noticed those photos that seem like they were captured with a disposable camera from the ’90s. Overexposed. Sometimes out of focus. This style is popping up everywhere, from Instagram to big advertising campaigns. It’s a pushback against the super sharp, flawless images we’ve been aiming for over the past ten years. So, what’s going on? Are these “bad” cameras making us forget what good photography is, or are they helping us remember the true essence of taking pictures?

Becca Farsace, the host of a new YouTube series called “Strange Cameras,” has some ideas on this topic. In her latest video, she talks about how more and more younger people are choosing cameras that create imperfect, grainy, and overexposed images. This is quite different from today’s digital world, where every camera is made to take perfect photos. Personally, I find this trend really refreshing. It seems less focused on technical skills and more on capturing real moments.

What’s Up With The Vibe?

We’ve all grown up thinking that a “good” photo means it has to be technically perfect. We check for sharpness, look at the exposure, and examine the colors closely. However, there’s something special about a vintage style, which feels almost random. It celebrates flaws and focuses more on capturing a feeling or a memory rather than being perfect in every detail.

Becca mentions Fujifilm as a brand that understands this longing for a vintage vibe. They’ve created cameras with a “film camera mode” that limits how many pictures you can take and makes you wait to see them, just like using actual film. It seems like a way to encourage you to think carefully about your photography. It helps you slow down and consider the shot before hitting the shutter button.

Q Camera: The Ultimate ‘Imperfect’ Gadget

Becca points out one of the most notable examples of this trend: a camera from a brand called Q. She used this small device for over a week and shared what she discovered about it. It’s made to be very simple and focused. It has only one button, which you press to record a 9-second video. Interestingly, the name “Q” means “nine” in Japanese, which is a fun fact.

Becca also mentions some details about its features. The camera has two lenses — an 8MP lens on the front and a 13MP lens on the back. It records video at a resolution of 1080p at 30 frames per second in a square format (1×1). The Q camera includes 32 GB of removable storage, a single button for turning it on and recording, and a 1.5-inch circular touchscreen. It looks like it’s designed to be as easy to use as possible, focusing more on the experience than on technical specifications.

The Good, the Bad, and the Forgettable

When you check out the footage from the Q camera, it looks just like you would think. Becca mentions that it’s shaky and the sound isn’t great. It also has trouble with lighting, leading to quick changes between too bright and too dark during the day, and it doesn’t perform well in low light.

She highlights how user-friendly it is. The camera turns on, records, and saves your videos without any issues before shutting off. There’s even an app that automatically uploads the clips and makes highlight reels. It’s so simple that it becomes “incredibly forgettable.” Becca said she carried the camera around for a whole week but only recorded 100 videos because she often forgot it was there. I find this a bit ironic —  a camera meant to be unobtrusive ends up being so easy to forget that you don’t even remember to use it.

The Price of Simplicity

She shares some ideas for making the camera better, suggesting that it could be “more present in a positive way.” She mentions that using a lanyard or clip would help users remember it’s there. Becca also expresses her desire for the daily limit of 9 seconds and 27 clips to be less strict, believing that more flexibility could allow for greater creativity.

Then there’s the cost. The Q camera is said to be priced at $300, which seems quite high for a product with so many limitations. For that amount, you could get a good action camera or a used point-and-shoot for much less. Although the host appreciates the vintage look, she ultimately thinks the Q camera is “too simple and thus easily forgettable.”

Personally, I think this trend of “bad” cameras isn’t harming photography; instead, it’s changing the emphasis. It’s moving away from striving for technical perfection and focusing more on capturing feelings and moments. It’s about being more intentional in taking pictures. Sometimes, the most memorable photos are the ones that aren’t perfect but still tell a story, even if they’re not well-exposed or sharply in focus. And that’s perfectly fine.

[have “bad” cameras gone too far? I Becca Farsace]

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