Last summer we enjoyed long sunny days while capturing it all through photos and videos. The need to capture those moments before they were gone became the most important thing. But, instead of pulling out their phones we took out their digitals cameras, just like many others did 10ish years ago.
This is now the reality for so many of Gen Z who have taken part of the trend. The initial rise of digital cameras started in the late 1990’s. The tech stuck around due to its convenience and size. However, by the the mid 2010’s they were left behind with the rise of smartphones. This gradually overtook digital cameras popularity and soon fell out of style completely.
After a long hiatus, digital cameras have seemed to be back in full swing among Gen Z users. In a time where our smartphones take high resolution photos, Gen Z has opted to choose the trendy and pixelated look of digital cameras.
“Personally, I think that digital cameras are a lot more fun than phones. These days, teenagers are so consumed by our phones that digitals cameras are kind of something different to shift our focus to,” senior Cami Ford said.“You can take it however far you want. You can decorate it. You can leave it plain. You can get a whole like case for it. I think it’s just fun and expressive”
For some, like Senior Sofia Lopez, Gen Z has turned to older tech like digital cameras for their aesthetic look and personal feel that smartphones just can’t match. The cameras offer a new look for some of their favorite photos.
“I think it’s just a new style and a different way to like, spice up photos and make them different and honestly, sometimes more appealing,” Lopez said.
As digital cameras make a comeback, it begs the question: will the trend stick around or will pass just like all the other social media trends? After all, smartphones are still are the go-to for everything.
“I feel like our generation gets tired of stuff quickly. We tend to enjoy something and then switch the next thing we like…and who knows what else we’re gonna gravitate towards later on,” Lopez said.
Although this seems to be a clear pattern with certain trends, others, like Ford, are opposed to letting the trend go and even anticipate it sticking around for longer.
“I don’t think it’ll pass quickly, because we’ve seen it slowly creep in with instant cameras and film cameras. I think people are going to actually get more interested in that. It will become a popular thing to see people with digital cameras, just because the more we move towards iPhones and technology, the more people are actually going to want to move away from it,” Ford said.
While some are still debating whether the digital cam trend will last or fizzle out, one thing’s for sure: it’s here and going strong. With the past trends of polaroids, cam corders, and now digital cameras, we have a control on our favorite memories.
It’s clear that our generation isn’t just snapping quick pictures with their phones-they’re looking for something more personal. Digital cameras provide the raw, imperfect shots, they feel more real and unique. Whether or not this trend will stick around is up for debate, but for now, its clear digital cameras are here to stay. For Gen Z, digital cams are the perfect way to snap memories without the swipe, scroll, or filter.