Just a few years ago, the digital camera was a forgotten relic, collecting dust in the back of desk drawers and boxes. Smartphones replaced cameras, making cameras nearly out of date. But lately, an unexpected trend has emerged– Gen Z is ditching their iPhones for pixelated digital cameras from the early 2000s. Scroll through your Instagram feed, and you’ll quickly find an array of photos with the gentle blur and the aggressive flash of an old point-and-shoot.
For many, digital cameras do more than capture memories, they bring the past to life. The overexposed quality mimics the aesthetic of old family photos and early Instagram posts, creating a sense of nostalgia that today’s high quality smartphones could never replicate.
Many have rediscovered old cameras from family members, like Loyola Academy senior Madison Czuba. “I started using a digital camera after I had found one of my mom’s old ones,” Czuba said. “I use it because the quality is generally higher in a way and it often has a nostalgic look to it.”
Digital cameras don’t just bring nostalgia– they also encourage more intentional photography. Taking photos on a device that is strictly meant for photos allows people to feel more in the moment and connected with those around them, whereas with a smartphone it’s more tempting to go onto social media, which leads people to feeling more disconnected.
Loyola Academy senior Nia Nikas has experienced this firsthand. “I think yes for sure my camera does help me be in the moment,” Nikas said. “I’m not distracted by social media or texts when I’m using a camera, so I can capture those important memories.”
Beyond their role in preserving memories, digital cameras are the most recent example of an old trend making a comeback because of social media. Over the past few years, there has been a revival of early 2000s fashion, film, and aesthetics. TikTok has played a major role in bringing back interest in the cameras that remind people of the pre-smartphone era. This recurring cycle of bringing back old trends is nothing new– vinyl records, low-rise jeans, Y2K fashion, and tracksuits have all been recently popular among younger generations.
The unique quality of digital camera photos is one of the reasons why cameras are trending now. Unlike the AI-enhanced images taken on smartphones, digital cameras offer a raw, unfiltered aesthetic that many people find appealing.
Regina Dominican High School senior Parker Meziere appreciates the difference in quality. “I think they stand out because the quality is different from a phone camera and they give a different vibe,” Meziere said.
Click. Snap. Flash. The noises in a camera signal that a moment has been captured. Frozen in time. While some trends fade as fast as they appear, digital cameras seem to be sticking around. In a world filled with instant shares and easily forgotten images, people are craving something new, something different. They want photos that aren’t buried deep into a never ending camera roll, but instead ones printed in photo albums, on memory cards, and in scrapbooks.
As Meziere puts it, “Digital cameras make a picture feel more like a memory and not just a typical picture.”
