Kodak’s miniature keychain digital ‘charmera’ brings back retro point-and-shoot photography

Kodak unveils compact and digital Charmera with a keychain

Kodak revives the retro point-and-shoot photography and vintage filters with the miniature keychain digital Charmera. A modern twist on the brand’s first signature single-use camera, the KODAK Fling, the device brings back the throwaway cameras from the 1980s, now able to save and transfer photos and videos using a USB-C cable and without using any film rolls. The compact and portable device functions as both a digital camera and a collectible item. It is so small that four of these can fit in the user’s hand.

The Kodak digital Charmera with a keychain includes seven different retro-style filters replicating the nostalgic film and vintage photography aesthetics. Alongside these, there are four different Kodak-branded frames that add decorative borders to images and the return of classic photography elements like film sprocket holes or vintage camera branding. A date stamp feature allows users to mark their photos with shooting dates, which is a common feature from film cameras of earlier decades.

Retro Device model with transparent shell 

Inside the compact case sits a digital image sensor that captures both still photographs and video recordings. The camera processes images through built-in software that applies vintage-style filters and frames automatically. There’s no need for them to develop any film; it is all digital. The Kodak digital Charmera with a keychain also connects to external devices through a USB-C port for file transfers without needing WiFi connections. The device requires a micro SD card to store the images and videos, another feature that now seems unusual in personal gadgets.

Kodak offers its digital Charmera with a keychain in seven designs, and one of them comes with a transparent shell so users can partly see the components inside. When they flip the device, a small screen allows them to see the pictures and videos they’ve taken. Another stunt that the brand pulls is the ‘blind box’ selling, meaning users don’t know what kind of design they’re getting until they open the box. Retro photography appeals to the new(er) generation, and Kodak hopes to contribute to the trend through its digital Charmera with a keychain.