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| Image: Yashica, via Digital Camera World |
Compact cameras have become increasingly popular with young people, some of whom are tired of the sharp, bordering on the over-processed look of modern smartphone photos. While many are turning to thrift shops and eBay to get cameras with a vintage look, some companies have started putting out new models that aim to re-capture the point-and-shoot experience.
One such company is Yashica, which has announced two new compact cameras, the City 100 and City 200. On the surface, they seem like the type of camera that would go viral on TikTok. However, it’s probably worth taking a closer look.
Details on the cameras are sparse
Details on the cameras are sparse – they don’t appear to be mentioned on Yashica’s website or Instagram page, and we weren’t able to find an official press release. The image at the top of this article appears to be the only look at the two models. According to Digital Camera World, which appears to be the original source for the announcement, both the City 100 and 200 will use a 13-megapixel Type 1/3.06 (4.7 x 3.5mm) sensor from Sony.
That’s substantially smaller than the traditional compacts from which Yashicas draw their inspiration. In the past, most point-and-shoots used either Type 1/2.3 (6.2 x 4.6mm) or Type 1/1.7 (7.6 x 5.7mm) sensors. While most people buying point-and-shoots aren’t terribly concerned about image quality – and if they are, they’re worried about it being too good – a sensor that small may struggle to produce intelligible images in anything but excellent light, though both cameras do have a built-in flash.
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| The sensor in the Yashica cameras would be notably small, even for a smartphone. |
As a reference for just how small the sensor in the Yashica cameras is, the main camera on the iPhone 16 uses a Type 1/1.56 (8.2 x 6.1mm) sensor, which is over three times larger. The main camera on the budget-oriented Google Pixel 8a is also substantially larger at approximately 7.4 x 5.5mm.
Of course, compared to phones, the benefit of compacts is that they can zoom optically instead of digitally – the City 100 reportedly has a “3x”‘ optical zoom, while the 200 sports a “10x” zoom, though unlike the City 100, there’s no focal length information printed on its lens in the press images. Still, the City 200 could fare a bit better than most phones at its maximum zoom length; the iPhone 16 Pro’s “10x” lens is in front of a 4.5×3.4mm sensor, which is smaller than the one in the Yashica, though it almost certainly benefits from more advanced processing.
The City 100’s zoom range appears to be roughly 26-77mm equiv., given the 3.45 – 10.35mm focal range printed on the lens and its sensor’s roughly 7.4x crop factor. The lens has an aperture range of F1.6 on the wide end and F2.8 on the long end.
According to Digital Camera World, both cameras will feature subject-detection autofocus and 4K60p video recording and will have a maximum ISO of 3200. The outlet says the City 100 will be coming out in February for £219.99, while the City 200 will cost £259.99 and release in March. The cameras will reportedly also be available in the US and Australia, though Digital Camera World doesn’t have official market pricing yet. Those prices are relatively high; for less than half, you can find several similar point-and-shoots using tiny sensors and branding of once-respected camera companies.
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The City cameras aren’t Yashica’s first compacts. Image: Yashica |
Many people – us here at DPReview included – have been waiting for a major camera manufacturer to release a compact camera again, either an entry-level model or something truly aimed at enthusiasts. However, if you’re considering these cameras, it may be worth waiting for some official reviews or at least user-created sample images. The specs are relatively unimpressive, even compared to many of the vintage point-and-shoots you can pick up on the used market, and while the cameras bear a name that may be familiar to photography enthusiasts, Yashica isn’t the same company that made cameras and lenses throughout the 20th century.
The trademark has been passed around in the past few years, but it appears that it’s currently managed by the Hong Kong-based 100 Enterprises. The Yashica name has appeared on several products since 2017, including the retro-styled ‘digiFilm Y35’, night vision goggles, and even a few other low-end compacts that are being marketed towards “Teen Girls and Boys.” The brand has also been involved with I’m Back, a company that’s been working on digital film cartridges that it says will let you take digital pictures using your existing film camera.
Despite the company telling DPReview that the Yashica x I’m Back Film would be entering retail availably in November, that doesn’t appear to have panned out – the company put out a Kickstarter update saying it was starting to ship units to backers in December, though there currently aren’t any comments from customers who’ve actually received theirs. The two brands have also collaborated on a “smart” bike helmet currently being sold through crowdfunding site IndieGoGo, as well as a “micro mirrorless” camera.
It’s possible we’ll see compacts from more established brands start to come along, as they catch up to the unexpected surge in demand. Panasonic, for instance, just announced the TZ99, a point-and-shoot with a 20MP Type 1/2.3 sensor and 24-720mm equiv lens. At around $500, it’s certainly more expensive than the Yashica models, but we’d expect its larger sensor to produce much more pleasing images.
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This article comes from DP Review and can be read on the original site.
