| Image: Yashika, via Digital Camera World |
compact cameras have become increasingly popular With young people, some of whom are tired of the intense, over-processed look of modern smartphone photos. While many people are turning to thrift stores and eBay to get cameras with a vintage look, some companies have started introducing new models that aim to recapture the point-and-shoot experience.
One such company is Yashica, which has announced two new compact cameras, the City 100 and the City 200. On the surface, they seem like the type of cameras that would go viral on TikTok. However, it’s probably worth a closer look.
Details on cameras are sparse
Details on cameras are sparse – don’t seem to mention them Yashika’s website Or instagram pageAnd we couldn’t find any official press release. The image at the top of this article appears to be the only view of the two models. according to digital camera worldFrom what appears to be the original source of the announcement, both the City 100 and 200 will use Sony’s 13-megapixel type 1/3.06 (4.7 x 3.5 mm) sensor.
It is much smaller than the traditional compacts from which Yashica takes its inspiration. In the past, most point-and-shoots used either type 1/2.3 (6.2 x 4.6 mm) or type 1/1.7 (7.6 x 5.7 mm) sensors. While most people who buy point-and-shoots aren’t too concerned about image quality – and if they are, they’re concerned about Very The good – a small sensor may struggle to produce sensible images in anything but excellent lighting, although both cameras have a built-in flash.
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| The sensor in the Yashica camera will be quite small, even for a smartphone. |
As a reference for how small the sensors are in Yashica cameras, the iPhone 16’s main camera uses a type 1/1.56 (8.2 x 6.1 mm) sensor, which is more than three times larger. The main camera on the budget-oriented Google Pixel 8a is also quite large, at around 7.4 x 5.5mm.
Of course, compared to phones, the advantage of compacts is that they can zoom optically rather than digitally – the City 100 reportedly has a “3x” optical zoom, while the 200 has a “10x” zoom, although the City 100 Unlike the , there is no focal length information printed on its lens in press images. Still, the City 200 may be a little better than most phones at its maximum zoom length; The iPhone 16 Pro’s “10x” lens is fronted by a 4.5×3.4mm sensor, which is smaller than the Yashica’s lens, though it almost certainly benefits from more advanced processing.
The City 100’s zoom range appears to be equivalent to about 26-77mm, given the 3.45 – 10.35mm focal range printed on the lens and the approximately 7.4x crop factor of its sensor. The aperture range of the lens is F1.6 at the wide end and F2.8 at the long end.
according to digital camera worldBoth cameras will feature subject-detection autofocus and 4K60p video recording and a maximum ISO of 3200. The outlet says the City 100 will arrive in February for £219.99, while the City 200 will cost £259.99 and release in March. , However, the cameras will reportedly also be available in the US and Australia digital camera world There is no official market pricing yet. Those prices are relatively high; For less than half the price, you can find many similar point-and-shoots using smaller sensors and the branding of time-honored camera companies.
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City cameras are not Yashica’s first compact. Image: Yashika |
Many people – We are included here at DPReview – Waiting for a major camera manufacturer to release a compact camera again, either an entry-level model or something else Really aimed at enthusiastsHowever, if you are considering these cameras, it might be worth waiting for some official reviews or at least user-generated sample images. The specifications are relatively unimpressive even in comparison to many of these Vintage Point-and-Shoot You can buy from the used market, and while the camera’s name may be familiar to photography enthusiasts, Yashica is not the same company that made cameras and lenses in the 20th century.
The trademark has been passed around over the years, but it appears that it is currently managed By 100 Hong Kong-based enterprises. The Yashica name has appeared on several products since 2017, including Retro styled ‘Digifilm Y35’, night vision gogglesand even some others low-end compact Which is being marketed towards “teenage girls and boys”. The brand is also associated with a company named I’m Back Working on digital film cartridges It says it will let you take digital photos using your existing film camera.
Despite the company telling DPReview that the Yashica . , although currently there is There are no comments From customers who have actually received theirs. The two brands have also collaborated on a “smart” bike helmet that is currently being sold through the crowdfunding site Indiegogo, as well as a “micro mirrorless” camera.
It is possible that we will start to see compacts from more established brands arriving, as they catch the unexpected increase in demand. For example, Panasonic, just announced The TZ99, a point-and-shoot with a 20MP type 1/2.3 sensor and 24-720mm equiv lens. At nearly $500, it’s certainly more expensive than the Yashica model, but we’d expect its larger sensor to produce more pleasing images.
