Generation Z rediscovers digital cameras for authenticity and a retro feel

In an increasingly digital world dominated by artificial intelligence, Generation Z is pushing back by embracing retro technology, particularly digital cameras. This trend, dubbed a "retro boom," reflects a desire for authenticity and a departure from the constant connectivity of smartphones.

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When you take out the digital camera, everyone gets so excited. But if you take out your phone instead, the atmosphere is different. I think many people find it unpleasant when you pull it out.

Shipments of digital cameras have more than doubled in the past five years, with Generation Z leading the charge. For 19-year-old Saga, using a digital camera at social events transforms the experience. "When you take out the digital camera, everyone gets so excited. But if you take out your phone instead, the atmosphere is different," she explains. "I think many people find it unpleasant when you pull it out."

Beyond the social aspect, the image quality and the feeling it evokes are crucial. Saga notes that the pictures feel more like a memory, offering a retro vibe akin to photos taken by parents. Twenty-four-year-old Estrid agrees, appreciating the "feeling" in the images, though she acknowledges the practicality of smartphones for immediate sharing. She primarily uses her digital camera at festivals.

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The pictures feel more like a memory and you get a retro feeling, almost like the pictures were taken by your parents.

Max, 29, shares this festival preference and finds digital cameras excel in low-light conditions, particularly with flash. "The best pictures are taken when it's dark and you can use the flash," he says, recalling "fantastic" portrait shots taken in a Paris nightclub. Twenty-four-year-old Alva values the "rawness" captured by digital cameras, which she finds more liberating than smartphone photos. "There is a rawness that you don't get with a mobile phone. It's quite liberating," she states.

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I always have my phone with me, and the pictures end up in it directly. With the camera, I first have to upload the pictures to the computer and then to the phone.

Alva also believes digital cameras foster a more genuine interaction. "When you take out your phone to take a picture, people often start posing. If you use a digital camera instead, they continue to be in the moment." This encourages a more present experience for the photographer as well, as mobile phones often lead to distractions with notifications. The growing weariness with constant digital immersion appears to be a significant driver behind Generation Z's turn towards these older technologies.

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The best pictures are taken when it's dark and you can use the flash. I took portrait pictures at a nightclub in Paris. They are absolutely fantastic.