CCD Is The New Film

The digicam craze is here, and it's the new film. Sort of, and I explain my reasoning in this video. I also go over my use of the Fujifilm F11 digicam I've been using over the last few months and really enjoying. It's a great little pocket camera with great potential. Just watch out for the CA ;)

Use coupon code "snappiness" for 10% off

This is where you should be buying used camera gear (to get great prices)

(The links above are from affiliate programs. Purchasing through these links will provide me compensation.)

Come connect with me!

#fujifilm #digicam #photography

[snappiness]

And how is the digicam trend NOT like film resurgence? Go. 👇

[wiggyjones]

It is fascinating to me, as a photographer who's over 60 years old, to see this happening. I came up with film cameras, was an early adopter of the first digicams, and I didn't foresee this nostalgia for the CCD era digicam. I am enjoying this very much. I think the bottom line will always be enjoyment of the art of photography, using whatever tools make you the happiest. Thanks so much.

[erwinc.]

I think the draw of CCDs is because the current crop of teenagers/young adults grew up with it. People born 1995-2005ish probably grew up with CCDs and that kinda crappy yet certainly interesting look is what they would've found in their family albums of their childhood. Film resurgence definitely had the same nostalgia factor, though the whole unique chemical process is what I think will keep film alive for longer.

[RubmaLione]

One of the main reasons for digicam nostalgia is the fact that modern smartphones all output the same flat, overly sharp, perfect HDR to the max images that just aren’t exciting, unique, random, or artistic.

[RobertLeeAtYT]

Oh, here's algorithm on collecting - anything:

1. For whatever you're into, figure the marketing half-life of whatever it is you're into - clothing, mass market audio, cars, comics, etc. For digital cameras, that half-life is about three years. Also, understand what it is in a particular marketing generation those items that were quirky, differentiated, rare, or otherwise desirable in some way.


2. The sweet spot for purchasing value is about two half-lives. For acquisition, this means you want cameras like the Leica SL (Typ 601) or the higher-end Lytro. Prices are low. Those who care about functionality recognize that the new, current gen stuff is just better; if nothing else, it's pumped by real, current marketing outlay after all. It's also recent enough that there is no rosy haze of nostalgia associated with it yet.

3. The nostalgia driven pricing curve tips up around 5 half-lives. This is when those who bought into the then current marketing in their youths can now actually acquire what they couldn't afford back then (btw, this is me and film equipment years back). Pump the items on social media too. Be slick about it. Wait for the current hipsters to latch on and echo amplify about "that special quality of whatever". Hopefully it catches. Sell the old junk for a nice profit.

[aristidesphotography]

I just recently did a project for a class where I shot all my pictures with older digital camera such as these. I had no idea there was a trend for this happening, but now I'm really excited there is a community surrounding it I can partake in!

[bigbossman]

If these old cameras bring people back to photography I think it's great. Maybe it's a fad or maybe people just like using simple cameras that still take good pictures. If it brings people joy more power to them.

[spaceman]

I took a Fujifilm F10 to Oaxaca Mexico in 2005/2006 and shot over a 1, 000 pictures with it. I still marvel over the pictures taken with it.
Great (Fuji) colors.
I still have the camera even though my main shooter it the Fujifilm X-T5.

[leeraxd]

In the 2000s, my brother gifted me PnS cameras for my birthday every other year. I mostly had the Canon Powershot cameras and I took so many crappy little photos with them, but it was the most fun I had with shooting because I was carefree. In high school and college, I enrolled in Photography classes and started using DSLRs and whatnot, and even though the quality was 10 folds better, I didn’t necessarily have more fun with those cameras, because everything looked too “perfect”.

Fast forward now, I’m still a camera junkie. I have lots of cameras and I still have some of my “digicams” from 2000s! They will never be as good as my film cams, but it produces such an aesthetic that, like film, is very hard to replicate with filters. It’s the grimy, imperfect, slightly out of focus, soft, nostalgic aesthetic that is quintessentially “Y2K” and I have tons of fun shooting with these cameras still.

Yes, there is a surge of Gen-Z shooters who are making “digicams” trendy right now, so prices of these old cameras are probably quite high. But I think that’s what keeps the community engaged and fun. To this day, some of my favorite photos of all time, were shot on a Powershot. It’s also important to note, that in terms of nostalgic cameras, Y2K is the last line of true digital nostalgia, because anything produced in 2010 and after, starts to use larger censors that we see today. Even in 30 years, the most unique cameras will be relics of film cameras and the digicams of the 2000s. So in other words, the best time to invest in a digicam (2000s point and shoot) is now!

[ToryTyler]

point and shoot CCD digicams do give off disposable film vibes for sure. however, for the film SLR look, the early CCD dslrs are the cameras to grab.
I recently got a Fuji s2 Pro and Olympus E-1, and I just can't put them down. The CCD sensors by fuji + kodak respectively have the best out of camera color science I have ever seen.
also, the low MP+ higher ISO noise (ie; 800 iso) of CCD sensors give a very film grain look, it's really a look difficult to achieve w/ modern high MP sensors.

[kcphotogeek]

I think individuality is also there, people like to stand out from the crowd and there are some great camera designs from the early 2000s to early 2010s ranging from quirky to beautiful. These can be great conversation starters in groups, on the technical side they pose a challenge that can engage a photographer in his craft again. And yes nostalgia definitely nostalgia

[Crlarl]

I think a lot of it has less to do with the technology and more to do with the form factor. By using a pocket camera you can take it anywhere while not using your cell. No distractions, just photos.

[jooyoonchung]

I’m happy to see any trend that brings more people into photography. It’s this kind of thing that keeps the community thriving — even if the community is different from what it was before. Even though I’m a bit of an old timer, I’m happy to welcome and embrace the change.

[shiroganesam]

CCD definitely does have its own look that's very different from CMOS sensors. I was once talking to a Japanese photographer who uses the Pentax medium format system as his main system. He was talking about how he prefers the 645D over the 645Z in situations where you have complete control over the lighting. Arguably the smaller dynamic range is the biggest challenge with the CCD sensored 645D. I've also been thinking of getting a used 645D to experiment with CCD medium format.

The smaller megapixel count on the old digicams is not as big of an issue as it used to be since we have some very good enlargement tools available now.

Also for alternative sensor type digicams I have to mention the older Foveon based Sigma DP compact cameras, those files also have a very special look to them.

[Davidwags]

I can never pass these up at thrift stores when they’re all usually dirt cheap. I found a $2 Sony mavica that used a floppy disk. The photos look like 2010 webcam quality, it was so much fun to use. Rip

[DursTuckle]

Man, that little startup "boopideeboop" the FinePix made brought me back...My dad had a lot of Fuji cameras.

[Greybell]

It wouldn't surprise me we're gonna have late-00s phone camera aesthetic revival too by the time the 2020s ends.

[Bscrambler]

Highly recommend the Fuji F40 FD. Images out of that little gem are gorgeous with a noise pattern quite similar to the original X-Trans sensor. Has become my go to pocket cam :)

[michaelbell]

Another great video but not all CCD sensors are created equal. In fact, I would say probably 70% of them are junk. Ive been doing the digicam thing for nearly 20 years. The Fujifilm SuperCCD sensors are the best IMO, especially in the S5 Pro. In the point and shoot bodies, the Finepix A series starting with the A400 on up are great. The F series from the F10 to the F41fd as well. The early Canon Powershot models, like the G series up to the G6, the A series starting with the A60 up to the A95 and some of the SD if you want entry level no manual anything. Sleepers are the early Panasonic Lumix FX and LX series with the Leica lenses that are the same cameras as the early Leica C-Lux and D-Lux models for 1/3rd the price. Pre EasyShare Kodaks are great as well. The rest is a mixed bag of meh IMO.

[yesteryearcameras]

Great video! I love my F10 too. The first one I've owned in the early 2000's was a great step forward in image quality. As I was looking for good old cameras now, I remembered this, bought it again and was excited to see, how good it is, even today. You could have a lot of fun for so cheap!