Kodak’s mini cameras are flying off shelves — here’s why
Sep 15, 2025, 6:00 AM | Updated: 6:39 am
Kodak's new keychain camera, Kodak Charmera — a nod to the beloved Kodak Fling from the ‘80s. (Eastman Kodak Company)
(Eastman Kodak Company)
Kodak is back — and more compact than ever.
On Wednesday, Kodak unveiled a new 1980s-inspired keychain camera on Instagram, the Kodak Charmera. Within hours, the pint-sized digital toy camera had already sold out.
Billed as a “tiny digital camera supporting both photo taking and video recording,” the collectible Charmera weighs just 30 grams, fits in the palm of your hand and comes with a 35mm F2.4 lens. The cameras are sold in blind boxes, adding a layer of surprise and collectibility across seven retro styles.
Fans are scrambling to get their hands on it. Kodak’s website now warns of shipping delays up to 10 business days and tells fans to watch its Instagram for restock updates.
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Why it’s flying off the shelves
The Charmera appears to tap into a mix of nostalgia, authenticity and a growing interest in retro technology from Gen Z.
On TikTok and YouTube, the hashtag #digitalcamera has amassed more than 555,000 posts
“I think people are feeling really nostalgic for that era — the early 2000s — when everyone would bring their digital cameras to the club or a family gathering,” freelance reporter Elizabeth Gulino told NPR.
“Those images make us feel nostalgic. And I think people are chasing that.”
Casey Fatchett, a professional photographer and host of the “Nerdy Photographer” podcast, added digital cameras produce a look smartphones can’t replicate. “There’s so much processing that goes on in your phone that you don’t have any control over. So I think there is a yearning among young people for photos that look real.”
Retro tech expert Adam Fuerst, who runs the site Retrospekt, told CNBC the popularity reflects a broader cultural shift. “The more convenient things get, the more the experience matters, even if it’s inconvenient.”
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That combination of nostalgic design, lo-fi authenticity and blind-box collectibility seems to explain why Kodak’s newest device is flying off shelves.
Kodak’s road back into the picture
CNBC noted that “the Charmera’s early success suggests Kodak may have tapped into Gen Z’s growing appetite for the vintage look from Y2K fashion to film-style photography.” The Global Wellness Institute named “analog wellness,” which includes predigital technology, its top trend for 2025.
Kodak isn’t the only brand leaning into Y2K nostalgia. Taco Bell recently launched its Decades Y2K Menu, reviving 2000s-era favorites like the Double Decker Taco and Caramel Apple Empanada.
The Charmera also taps into what seems to be another Gen Z craze: blind-box collectibles. Beijing-based Pop Mart has seen success building around the thrill of mystery-box buying, with figurines like Labubu, a wide-eyed monster doll created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, generating millions of TikTok posts.
