This guy buys ridiculous photo gear from Temu. Is it any good?

I don’t know about you, but Temu ads have been shoved down my throat for the last few months. I guess it’s been the same for Marley James Graham. He succumbed (I can’t blame him) and ordered six pieces of photo gear from this controversial website. In his latest video, he dives into the world of Temu photography gear, each more ridiculous than the other.

1. The $64 camera harness

Right out of the gate, Marley had low expectations for this camera harness. It didn’t take long for his hopes to be dashed, as it turned out to be less “supportive” and more “wrecking ball.” While the metal clips held the cameras securely, the faux leather straps felt flimsy and far from professional. During the “run test,” Marley discovered that the harness swings wildly, making it more of a danger than a dependable support. His verdict? It’s not worth the risk of your camera taking a nosedive if the harness fails. Sometimes a “bargain” really isn’t one, so it’s better to invest in a proper camera harness.

2. The $4 hot shoe umbrella

This tiny umbrella is designed to protect your camera from the rain. The moment I saw it, it reminded me of this goofy thing I used to see in cartoons:

As you can probably imagine, this thingy is as useless as it is cute. During his rain test (a.k.a. spraying his camera from a hose), the umbrella left the lens soaking while only protecting the back. Simulating wind proved even more catastrophic — rendering the umbrella entirely pointless. Marley’s advice? Stick to a tried-and-true plastic bag instead. This $4 gadget might be fun for laughs, but definitely not for actual rain protection.

3. The $8.50 SD card and battery case

The next gadget is a “budget” SD card and battery case. I find it looking darn cute, but it’s flimsy, plastic body doesn’t exactly scream durability. Though it managed to survive a few drops, Marley’s more intense testing—throwing it at the ground—left it shattered and unusable.

The takeaway here is that you get what you pay for. If you value your SD cards and batteries, this flimsy case probably isn’t worth the few bucks it saves you. A $20 case may not sound as exciting, but it won’t leave you scrambling to pick up memory cards and scratched batteries from the floor.

4. The $11.99 lens and sensor cleaning kit

This cleaning kit was marketed for full-frame cameras but was filled with mismatched, lower-quality components, like smaller APS-C swabs. Marley was especially horrified by the “makeup brush” included, which didn’t exactly instill confidence in its cleaning power. While he managed to clean two cameras without permanent damage, Marley made it clear this kit was far from ideal. In fact, we didn’t see the cleaning results so we don’t know if any dust was actually removed. For those who actually want to care for their cameras, he suggests investing in a professional kit rather than risking serious damage. Or if you’re terrified of doing it yourself like I am – just get your camera professionally cleaned.

5. The “new” worst camera: Vivitar Vivicam

When Marley ordered what he thought was the world’s worst camera, he accidentally ordered its big brother. This updated Vivitar came with USB-C and an SD card slot, but, as Marley quickly found out, that’s where the improvements ended. The photos it produced were disappointingly low quality, and even his previous “world’s smallest camera” offered better resolution. Marley summed it up nicely: don’t waste your money or contribute to e-waste. If you’re looking for a cheap camera, he recommends picking up a used Fujifilm FinePix or something equally reputable.

6. The $10 prism effects filter

Finally, we have the knockoff prism effects filter. Marley had high hopes for some dreamy effects, but got a blurry mess instead. Its results on car photos and other subjects were laughably bad. However, it did add a touch of fun motion blur effect for portraits while keeping the subject sharp. Marley suggests it could be fun for quirky portraits or experimental shots, but it’s not a product to trust for anything serious.

The final verdict

From harnesses to hot shoe umbrellas, Marley’s Temu haul showed us what happens when high-end photography meets rock-bottom prices. Most of these products were worth a chuckle but definitely not worth the risk to actual gear. Marley’s key takeaway? Sometimes the best “bargain” is sticking with quality products that won’t lead to shattered SD cards, soaked cameras, or cringe-worthy images.

Now, I wonder what else is there. I don’t think I’ll spend any money, but I’m sure there is plenty of ridiculous stuff on sites like Temu. Have you ordered any of these or similar gadgets? What are your impressions?

[I Bought Photography Gear from the World’s Worst Company | Adventures With Marley]

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