The 2000s Aesthetic is Resurrecting Digital Cameras

Do you remember the days when your friends and family would snap a picture with their point and shoot cameras? Whether at a family party or gathering, someone always had a camera on their wrist ready to snap a photo at a moment’s notice — for me, it was my great aunt (she was the designated picture taker.)

And you might think that since phones have become more advanced over the last decade that digital cameras are a thing of the past. However, that’s not true — at least during these past few months. Digital cameras are actually making a comeback all over social media. Yes, you read that right. People are dusting off their old point and shoots and getting to work (you’ve probably also noticed a rise in Polaroid cameras, too.) 

TikTok’s obsession with 2000’s aesthetic

Similar to most comebacks these days, the uptick in digital camera usage comes from TikTok users and celebrities who can’t seem to get enough of this nostalgic device. The hashtag #digitalcamera has over 240.4M views on TikTok, where users are using these cameras to capture moments on solo travels, at weddings, and even during their day to day activities. And celebrities like Charli D’Amelio, Bella Hadid, and Emily Ratajkowski have been spotted with tiny point and shoots bringing them to the forefront. 

While TikTok might be a part of the resurgence of digital cameras, many cameras have more settings to effectively capture pictures in a way that a traditional smartphone can’t — think composition and the trendy 2000’s aesthetic that everyone is trying to achieve. 

Personally, I haven’t hopped back on the digital camera trend, but that’s not to say I haven’t thought about it. I’m always looking to be ITK and at the cusp of the latest social media trends, but this one seems to be out of my scope (at least for now.) I know myself enough to know that I’d buy a camera just to have it sit around and use my phone because of convenience. With that said, I think if people are keen on getting a digital camera to stay relevant and look cool, then it’s well worth the buy. 

@bettyboobp #friends #camera #pics #pictures #111 #333 #phone #digitalcamera ♬ original sound – 𝔼𝕚𝕒𝕟

The perks of a point and shoot

Photographer, director, and storyteller Sophie Elgort says that although an iPhone camera never hurt anyone with its easy-to-use format, they still don’t provide the same effect as a traditional point and shoot. 

“An iPhone photo looks like just that – an iphone photo, and therefore looks like everyone else’s photos,” says Elgort. “I think people are going back to digital cameras to get a different look to their pictures, to create something unique.” 

You might get a different angle.

Additionally, many people have become so used to others taking phone pictures, that the reaction you get out of subjects with a traditional point and shoot may not be what you (or them) were expecting. It can be memorable and even fun to experiment with it. 

“I’ll go as far as saying that maybe you’ll even get a different reaction from your subject when they find themselves in front of a camera versus a phone,” says Elgort. 

If you want to put that idea to the test, then next time you see your friends, whip out your point and shoot and see their reaction. I bet they’ll either laugh, smile, or look confused — but either way it’ll be a moment that everyone involved will remember. 

Not only may the reaction be different, but how the photo is taken is different. “Things look different through a viewfinder so you may choose to shoot something differently than you would have with your iPhone,” says Elgort. 

If you have to look through a little viewfinder, then you might decide to change up the focal point and have a different picture as a result. For example, you might find a different angle of a flower you’d like to shoot that looks better than a head-on shot from an iPhone for instance. 

Is it worth hopping on the trend? Probably.

And the best news is point and shoot cameras aren’t as expensive as they used to be — remember when you went to Best Buy as a kid and saw them on stands for hundreds of dollars? That may ring true for some more higher-end cameras, but for the most part, you can find quality handheld cameras for less from well known brands like Polaroid, Kodak, etc. 

What kind of digital camera should you get? 

Keep on reading to see a few of our favorite picks for basic cameras you can use to hop on this 2000’s aesthetic trend while it’s hot.

Polaroid 16MP Waterproof Digital Camera

$50 at Target

Take this point and shoot camera with you on vacation since it’s waterproof for up to 10 feet. That means you can take it in the ocean as you snorkel or in the pool at your fancy hotel pool. It’s small and lightweight so you can carry it with you around without lugging around extra weight. 

Vahoiald Digital Camera 

$50 on Amazon

At less than $50, snag this camera from Amazon which is a great affordable option for those who want to hop on the 2000’s aesthetic trend without spending lots of money. It has 16x zoom so you can get up close to your subject and has 1080p resolution to capture high quality video. Available in pink, green, and black. 

Kodak PIXPRO Friendly Zoom Digital Camera

$50 on Amazon

With an LCD screen, look at your pictures right on the camera after you take them to see how they turned out. The wide-angle lens makes it easy to capture an entire scene whether that’s a family picture or an image of your backyard garden. This camera is perfect for taking pictures in your favorite POPFLEX activewear, if we say so ourselves. 

Minolta Wifi Digital Camera 

$200 on Amazon

This is a relatively more expensive option, but it’s still not too shabby, especially considering it connects to WiFi and bluetooth connectivity for easy uploads and navigation. And the three-inch screen makes it easy to view images after taking them to make sure you’re getting the look you want.