Nah. Standalone point-and-shoot digital cameras were never a "key member of the squad" specifically because you only brought them with you when you anticipated taking pictures and never had them around when you actually needed them.
I owned a PowerShot SD1000 (technically still do, if my parents haven't gotten rid of it) and I doubt I took more than two digits worth of pictures with the thing just because, unlike my phone these days, it wasn't part of my EDC.
I had friends and we didn’t have cameraphones back then so I always brought mine with me and I have insane amounts of pictures of amazing times with those friends, a few of who are now dead.
So yeah, definitely “key member of the squad” if you were born before 1990 and had friends
I feel like a hipster, or maybe a troglodyte, but I got an instant camera. I don't take a lot of photos anymore but I do look at every single one of them. They go right on my wall/desk/wherever.
I have my "camera" all the time but I never have it ready.
Too many distractions when I try to use it.
Too many clicks to open the camera.
Too easy to take photos you never look at.
And honestly too good a resolution. I just want to remember the moment not see all my imperfections.
I just wish it wasn't so dang expensive.
In my experience those fuckers made the worst pictures one can imagine ever. I'm not exactly talking about the picture quality by the way even though they take also a prominent part in the results. Just the fact that they were pocketable enough and you didnt need to think about developing costs anymore before the internet became important. Sure, there are enough people these days who lack any decency and whip out there phones. But these little fuckers where sometimes whipped out with the full intend to take a pic of the worst possible sujet one can think of. Some of these pre-facebook pics still haunt us till this day as memes. Some are forgotten. Most of them never made it to the public and hopefully all get taken by bitrot.
I remembered that I have one of these lying around a few years ago and I always found the picture quality fairly servicable, especially for such a light camera. I think its probably not up to modern phone standards but having a lens and optical zoom gives you a lot of options. I will not deny that the photos I have taken are pretty much the worst though xD You can also technically get raw output if you use modded software which is cool
My memory of photography in high school was, about 1/3 of the girls had one of these little point and shoots in her purse. Like, a girl was more likely to have a camera than a cell phone in those days. And then like, four guys were REALLY into photography and had SLRs with interchangeable lenses and tripods and such.
Well most people didn't worry about developing costs. My mom had one for 10 years and complained digital cameras cost just as much as film cameras to operate, to which I replied "huh wut?"
She said she had to buy a new SD card every time.
I'm like "no, once you transfer the photos to your computer you can reuse the cards, where are you cards?"
She replied that she had been throwing them in the garbage. SMH
I still have mine! And several other models along the way, right up until I finally went DSLR with a rebel.
Now I've got a slew of lenses (especially ooold ones) and a crapton of adapters so I can stick em on my Fuji. Really thinking about getting a full frame, but...
Now I kind of want to take a little pocket camera out for fun shots
One thing that improved since these cameras is no more moving plastic gears and parts that will fail due to dust and debris. Back then you’d often get a lens stuck because someone sneezed and you’d have to buy a new one. Also forget about taking it on a picnic or to the beach, you basically were signing up for a new camera as soon as you packed it.
These are huge with the younger kids now in Japan.
They're trendy here too
I was looking for mine yesterday as I think ot might be nice to move back to more single purpose devices, but I think I got rid of mine 🥲
I don't miss the days of having to carry both a phone and a camera. And, cameras on phones have become very, very good. OTOH, I do miss real, physical zoom.
It's sitting nicely on the shelf just to the left as I enter my closet.
I'm sure the SD card in it is corrupted beyond readability, but I kind of want to see what's on there. I haven't used it since 2012.
At Walgreens it's what we use to make your passport photo.
Ixus squad represent.
Part entry-level digital camera, part fashion statement, all cool.
edit: oh wow, the Ixus range is still going!