Echolens Merges Late 2000s Digicam Sensors With Vintage-Inspired Hardware

The digicam trend is really something special — and I’m so glad that photographers are majorly getting into it. I adore the lo-fi aesthetic of older camera sensor technology. However, the new Echolens is something that seems to be the most intriguing so far. Previously, we stated that it’s going to appeal to Gen Z — but we actually think that Millennials might be the ones who adore it the most. And there’s a big reason for that.

The new camera is launching today on Kickstarter, according to the company’s website, and it’s going to feature something very special that Millennials might really love. The Echolens has an 8MP sensor at the heart — which lines right up with cameras that came out around the middle to late 2000s era. In fact, I remember using an old HP Digicam for my photojournalism classes in college.

Here’s what you should know about Echolens:

• It’s got a vintage Leica-inspired design
• The team says that it’s inspired by old disposable cameras from the 90s
• Full retail cost will be $150, but Kickstarter pricing will be lower
• There’s a built-in Wifi button to upload images directly to your phone
• There’s no screen
• It’s made with Polycarbonate Composite & Aluminum
• It has a Xenon flash
• It uses WiFi and USB-C
• There are various film filters to capture that vintage look
• Pure images, no AI smoothing or excessive sharpening

Honestly, I’m really shocked that the bigger camera manufacturers don’t want to get into making cameras like this. And more importantly, I love that it means that more camera manufacturers are becoming relevant in the photography market right now. For way too long, the Japanese manufacturers have been more or less just copying one another. I love the idea that there is now new, unique, and innovative cameras that are actually doing something different.

You see, it’s not always about the tech. It’s about the experience. And you can’t quite get the same experience from taking a disposable camera lens off of a camera and attaching it to a digital interchangeable lens camera at all.

To recap what I’ve also been saying for years, digital photography is way too sterile. The opportunity for happy accidents is gone now and I want that to come back so badly. More importantly, digital photography is very linear as opposed to film photography.

I hope that the bigger camera manufacturers wake up soon.