When I first picked up the Clickster — a retro-inspired, no-fuss Instamatic-style camera — I honestly didn’t expect much. Let’s be real: in an age of mirrorless marvels and smartphones that practically edit your shots for you, this little box feels like a relic. But after spending some time shooting with it, I have to admit… there’s a surprising bit of joy in its simplicity.
Specifications:
- Format: 8 Megapixels, 1/3.2 CMOS
- Image Resolution: 3264×2448
- Lens: Fixed-focus plastic lens, approximately 43mm equivalent
- Aperture: Fixed (around f/11-ish, though unmarked)
- Shutter speed: Single speed, approx. 1/125 sec
- Focus: Point and shoot; no adjustments
- Viewfinder: Simple optical viewfinder
- 3 film-emulation presets
- Build: Lightweight plastic body, roughly 200g
- Price: Typically under AUD$80 – $120 (depending on retailer)
- Micro SD-Card
- USB-C to USB-C charging
- Manual Flash on/off switch
- Colours: Pink, yellow, Green
It doesn’t get much more basic than this. Frame your shot, and click. No settings. No screens. No excuses.
My Thoughts
Let’s start with the obvious: the images aren’t going to win you awards. They’re soft, sometimes grainy, and often imperfect. But that’s also exactly why I found it so refreshing.
Shooting with the Clickster was like giving myself permission to just play. I wasn’t worrying about ISO, white balance, dynamic range, or sharpness. Instead, I was looking for moments — a splash of light, a funny little scene, a fleeting gesture — and capturing them as they were.
There’s also a quiet kind of nostalgia baked into it. Holding this camera, hearing the click of the shutter and the scratch of the wind-on lever, reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place: the magic of freezing a moment, flaws and all.
Will I keep using it long term? Honestly… probably not. It’s more of a novelty than a workhorse. The limitations are charming at first, but if you’re serious about consistent results, it will quickly frustrate you.
But would I recommend everyone try it at least once? Well, maybe.
Final thoughts
The Clickster isn’t here to compete with your mirrorless camera or even your smartphone. It’s here to remind you that photography can be fun, spontaneous, and imperfect — and that’s okay.
Because sometimes, the joy of photography isn’t in perfection — it’s in the click.
