I swapped my iPhone's camera for this Y2K-inspired digicam and theres only one point-and-shoot I want in my pocket for capturing memories

Date:
Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Lola camera embraces the nostalgia of '00s digital photography, and it's perfect for taking a break from your smartphone camera app.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The analog resurgence has been one of the biggest tech trends of 2026 after making a slow comeback last year .

Whether youve made the switch from a smartwatch to a Casio or youre taking a trip down memory lane with your old iPod, more users are reverting to analog devices to escape brain-rotting algorithms and indulge in nostalgia. The same goes for the best compact cameras and Lola is one of the next emerging
brands to embrace this simplicity. In October 2024, Lola launched its
flagship $109/ 79/ AU$159 camera, a compact device that leans into early Y2K digital photography but with smartphone connectivity features. The camera was a response to the rising lo-fi tech craze, gaining exponential traction among Gen-Z users, and I grew increasingly curious. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

Retro tech has become quite a prominent theme in my life at the moment. Recently I ditched Spotify and spent some time with the Miko cassette player by Gadhouse , but coming across the Lola camera online unlocked memories of
my childhood Id completely forgotten about.

I havent used a digital camera for the best part of 15 years, so it was time for a reunion. You may like Forget the Kodak Charmera this miniature digital camera is a lo-fi bargain RewindPix review: the first 'digital film' camera that gets the feel right Kodak Charmera returns in new Millennium Edition that's pure Y2K nostalgia A tiny camera, but a big first impression (Image credit: Future) For the past few weeks, the Lola camera has lived inside my everyday bag, and I used it at every opportunity I could but I will never forget how I felt when I first took it out of the box.

First of all, the camera is absolutely tiny with dimensions of 3.75" x 0.75"
x 2.25" and a weight of 0.5lbs (approximately 225 grams). I cant remember if thats always been the standard size for a digital camera, but I felt like a giant holding it in my hands. That said, its a handy pocket-sized device with a simple design to go with it. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Future) Just like your average
point-and-shoot camera, Lola has a built-in flash, supports SD cards, and packs an array of 19 fun effects, as well as 9 scene modes including Party, Beach, Night, & Portrait. One of the biggest differences is its USB-C
charging port, which also comes in handy for transferring images to your smartphone.

Lola has numerous editions of its digital camera, including a cute Betty Boop-themed version and one in a clear shell finish that lets you see the inner workings of the camera. I quite like the stripped-back standard silver version because its minimal, but can still turn heads.

Then it was time to put the pedal to the metal. What to read next The best point and shoot cameras, all tested thoroughly The ultra-cheap Camp Snap 2
has the makings of another viral hit Lomography's new point-and-shoot is like a disposable with double the shot count it comes pre-loaded with film Classic, but with a twist (Image credit: Future) Overall, Lola is a camera thats bound to satisfy casual users who want to revert to a compact
smartphone alternative for snapping images and creating memories. Its great for taking photos to fill up a scrapbook or for your next Instagram photo dump, but its not one for established photographers who want crisp results.
If anything, its for those who want to embrace imperfection.

Going into it, I knew that it wasnt going to give picture-perfect results
like professional cameras, but I developed a quick admiration for it as a beginner-friendly device. While its 8MP resolution is low by modern
standards, its more than enough in this case, producing clear-looking images with a soft lo-fi finish that looks more authentic than a retro smartphone
app filter particularly for outdoor shots. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original I found taking photos outside much easier than taking photos
indoors, and for the most part, the camera adapts very well to natural environments. In some cases, however, it can be quite sensitive to sunlight, resulting in harsh, overexposed spills in the images.

This can be fixed with a few minor tweaks in the settings, and they dont require a lot of photography knowledge. All I did was bring the exposure down to -1, increase the ISO to 100, and enable the Daylight preset in the White Balance setting. You can see the difference it made in the images below.
Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original While these amendments made a big difference, it does mean that some parts of your image will appear darker
than others in order to balance out the harshness of the light. In the second image, you can see the footpath and trees are slightly darker, but the grass patch in the background isnt as overexposed, so for me its not too much of a setback.

But another feature that caught my eye was Lolas surprising x20 digital zoom, which goes further than you think. Of course, the further you zoom in, the more crunchy your image will turn out, but zooming roughly halfway to two-thirds in is great for spotlighting the finer details of architecture and infrastructure, or for framing subjects in an entirely different way. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 5 View Original
Image 2 of 5 View Original Image 3 of 5 View Original Image 4 of 5 View Original Image 5 of 5 View Original Lola takes everything you loved about
your 2006 digital camera and puts it back into a refreshed device, but this
is the 2020s, and the company is fully aware of your social media-posting intentions. This is where the SD card adapter comes in handy.

One of the biggest pain points I found with digital cameras 15 years ago was the importing process, which usually required a laptop or computer to
transfer your images, since smartphones weren't as advanced as they are now. Admittedly, I was probably just too lazy to do this.

With the Lola camera, all you have to do is insert the SD card into the adapter, which goes into your phones charging port. You can then select the images you want to import right from your camera roll, and theyre imported in seconds, making it a lot easier to share them with your friends. For me, this was the icing on the cake. (Image credit: Future) Digital photography is timeless Theres a handful of elements with the Lola camera that could do with some improvement (mainly its sensitivity), but for a $100 digital camera I think it has solid value for casual users. But beyond that, reverting to a digital camera removed the obsession with the finer details, evoking a deeper appreciation for being in the moment.

Sure, you can add effects and filters on the camera, but you cant fine-tune individual settings such as saturation, contrast, shadows, and highlights on the device itself. That way, you have no choice but to embrace the realness and humanity of capturing what's before you.

I recently attended a bridal fitting for one of my closest friends, and instead of using my phone, I captured everything with Lola (I havent shared the images for obvious reasons). Though these photos have since been imported to my iPhone gallery, they stand out differently because I know how they were taken, and I look back at them filled with the same feelings of excitement from that day.

Simple, effective, and raw at its core, Im going forward with a new attitude to memory-making. For some reason, somehow you remember the joy of each
moment more vividly. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a
preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/compact-cameras/i-swapped-my-iphones-camera- for-this-y2k-inspired-digicam-and-theres-only-one-point-and-shoot-i-want-in-my -pocket-for-capturing-memories


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)