There’s a longstanding tension in the world of photography. Serious hobbyists and professionals often argue that “the camera doesn’t matter”, suggesting that any photog worth their salt should be able to make quality work out of any kind of gear. Simultaneously, there is an implied suggestion that only hacks and noobs focus on equipment while true artists are more devoted to the output. Here’s the tension, though: those same photographers will follow camera maker announcements with vigor, spend endless moola on the latest releases, and leap quickly to the new new thing. As for me… been there, done that.

Which is why I thought I’d have some fun and escape that tension for a time. The Chuzhao retro waist level digital camera is cheap. Amazon has it for about $40 but you can get it for less elsewhere. It has a tiny sensor and low resolution, making your cellphone far more capable. And the interface is a challenge; buttons are unlabeled (though I added my own) and far from intuitive. It does, however, take photos and… believe it or not… video too. To give you a sense of size, get a load of this:

So, I decided to take the Chuzhao out with me on one of my favorite local morning hikes. It’s milder than usual out, misty cool, and there wasn’t much to shoot. So, I thought I’d see if it might be possible to get some respectable images out of a super cheap camera. Here are a few:

You be the judge of whether these are respectable; I’d say it’s debatable as clearly these won’t compete with a proper camera… and I’m certain that today’s cellphone cameras will also blow it out of the water. However, it’s fun to take such a small camera out into the field and try to capture something worthwhile.

Readers of this blog will continue to see images taken with more serious gear…. however, look for me to slip in a few from the Chuzhao once in a while. Maybe you won’t even notice…?