- Cameras
Two monochrome-only compacts and a Super 8-style instant camera – what's going on?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
- Copy link
- X
- Threads
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletterWe’re six weeks into 2026 and there have been three major camera launches so far; the Leica Q3 Monochrom, Ricoh GR IV Monochrome and Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema.
That’s two pricey black-and-white-only compact cameras and a Super 8-style instant camera…that also shoots video.
In one sense, I’m hardly surprised. Compact camera shipments for 2025 rose by 30% year-on-year, driving the first real overall growth in camera shipments for many years.
You may like-
Compact cameras aren't dead: new data for 2025 shows a remarkable 30% rise
-
I’m a seasoned photographer — this is my dream camera gear for 2026
-
The best compact camera: top choices to take anywhere
However, there’s a growing sense that experience-led camera design over outright capabilities – in other words how a camera makes us feel – is what's winning through.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri posted in January that: 'The camera companies are betting on the wrong aesethetic. They're competing to make everyone look like a pro photographer from 2015. But in a world where AI can generate flawless imagery, the professional look becomes the tell."
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.In other words, Mosseri thinks that quality photography is dead and blurry photo and shaky videos are the future. Could that future be retro cameras with dated tech?
Judging from 2026 so far, that tide could be turning already – the megapixel race is drawing less interest, and a growing part of the market is for quirky retro cameras.
A new dawn for camera design?
I remember the first digital compact camera I tried – my dad's Nikon Coolpix 950. Released in 1999, it had a 1.9MP CCD sensor and a swivel body where you twisted one half to point the lens.
You may like-
I’m a seasoned photographer — this is my dream camera gear for 2026
-
The best compact camera: top choices to take anywhere
-
The worst camera for 2025 was this Lumix compact — here's why
I later tried another Coolpix compact with built-in stand for hands-free shots way before selfies were a thing. Those were some fabulous, wild design ideas.
Could we be approaching a new dawn of wacky camera design ideas such as these? A rewind of the clock, where safe and serviceable models are a thing of the past?
If rumors are true, there could be a follow-up to Sigma’s BF – a mirrorless camera that broke the mold last year.
And Fujifilm is on a roll – it seems like every new model arrives with a new kind of feature; the aspect ratio dial in the GFX100RF, the Film Simulation dial in the X-E5, the film roll mode of the X half and yes, that Mini Evo Cinema with its Eras Dial.
It’s about time for new ideas, and frankly, I’m here for it. Sure, my conventional Nikon mirrorless camera serves its purpose for professional work – with its comfortable grip, logical button placement, and high-speed performance, it handles wonderfully for demanding assignments.
But it’s the weird cameras that could appeal to the masses in 2026. Gen Z loves the viral tiny Kodak Charmera keychain camera because its quality is awful. Enthusiasts are willing to spend extra on a pricey, no-color fixed lens compact like the GR IV Monochrome because of its limitation (and improved quality within that limitation).
Will leading camera makers want to get into this trend? Will we see Sony, Nikon, and Panasonic back in the compact camera game with new CyberShot, CoolPix and Lumix models, or is the booming secondhand market sufficient for retro camera fans?
Or is this just a fad that the big brands are riding out until ‘normal’ resumes?
Perhaps in 2026 we’ll see that less is more. A licence for designers to try new things. That’s what camera fans are wanting right now, it seems.
Truth is, of course, that there’s a place for both the functional and the fun. But what do you make of the new cameras of 2026? What would you like to see in future cameras this year? Hit me with your comments below!
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
Today's best Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, Fujifilm Instax Evo Cinema and Kodak Charmera deals
Kodak Charmera
SG$50.49ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
The best compact camerasTop pocket choices to take anywhere➡️ Read our full best compact cameras guide1. Best overallFujifilm X100VI2. Best with zoomSony RX100 Mark VII3. Best smallRicoh GR IIIx4. Best full-frameLeica Q3
Timothy ColemanSocial Links NavigationCameras editorTim is the Cameras editor at TechRadar. He has enjoyed more than 15 years in the photo video industry with most of those in the world of tech journalism. During his time as Deputy Technical Editor with Amateur Photographer, as a freelancer and consequently editor at Tech Radar, Tim has developed a deeply technical knowledge and practical experience with cameras, educating others through news, reviews and features. He’s also worked in video production for Studio 44 with clients including Canon, and volunteers his spare time to consult a non-profit, diverse stories team based in Nairobi. Tim is curious, a keen creative, avid footballer and runner, and moderate flat white drinker who has lived in Kenya and believes we have much to enjoy and learn from each other.
View MoreYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
I’m a seasoned photographer — this is my dream camera gear for 2026
The best compact camera: top choices to take anywhere
The worst camera for 2025 was this Lumix compact — here's why
Fujifilm brings back Super-8 for the social media age, with the Instax Mini Evo Cinema
The 12 most exciting cameras to expect in 2026 — from DJI's first 360 drone to the iPhone 18
World's largest camera store reveals its best-selling cameras and lenses for 2025 — here are the winners
Latest in Cameras
Micro Four Thirds has a mysterious new member – will it revitalize or kill the system?
DJI's Osmo Pocket officially has a new rival: meet the two-eyed Insta360 Luna
'It is never just a photo' — how these stunning Iberian Lynx photos are aiding conservation work
Noisy FPV drones are dividing viewer opinion at the Winter Olympics
Viltrox AF 85mm F1.4 Pro review: the classic pro portrait lens, for less
430mph! Aerospace engineer (unofficially) reclaims the drone speed crown
Latest in Features
The Arcade2TV-XR is the Meta Quest 3 accessory making me love VR again
I tested LG G5 OLED TV’s HDR upgrade, and the brightness boost is very real
5 innovations I want from Android phones
No Resident Evil Requiem demo? Frustrating, but it’ll be worth the wait
The top 3 Ring alternative video doorbells I recommend, with local storage for your videos
Nano Banana Pro AI images against Seedream 5.0
LATEST ARTICLES- 1Who remembers IRC? Clearly some hackers, as a new Linux botnet uses some incredibly old-school methods to cut costs
- 2Holographic tape inches closer to mass market ahead of silica, ceramic media - 200TB WORM tech set to debut in 2027 after successful dry run in an LTO tape library
- 3'I'm grieving': OpenAI has switched off ChatGPT-4o, and angry users are backing a #keep4o campaign to restore it
- 4'1 second in tens of billions of years': China's ultra-precise optical lattice clock gets international recognition as it challenges US hegemony on time
- 5My favorite League of Legends spin-off since Arcane just got even better – but the upgrade only amplifies my stock availability woes