Yashica FX-D brings nostalgic film simulation from approx. RM1017 on Kickstarter
Yashica, a brand that you most likely have not heard of if your first smartphone is an iPhone, has just announced a Kickstarter campaign for the Yashica FX-D. Riding on the nostalgia wave started by the film simulation modes popularized by Fujifilm, the Yashica FX-D promises a more affordable entry point, starting from as low as $239 (~RM1017) as part of the Kickstarter campaign.
Yashica FX-D: selling nostalgia with film advance lever, film simulation modes
The Yashica FX-D doesn’t try to win you over by superior specifications. The camera sensor for the Yashica FX-D 100 is a tiny 13MP 1/3.06-inch Sony IMX458 sensor, while the Yashica FX-D 300 touts a slightly larger 50MP 1/1.56-inch sensor. The FX-D 100 offers optical zoom, with a 25-76mm (eqv.) lens that goes from f/1.6 to f/2.8 at its widest across its zoom range. Meanwhile, the larger sensor of the FX-D 300 sits behind a stabilized 24mm (eqv.) f/1.8 lens. To put all these numbers into perspective, the iPhone 15 Pro has a larger 1/1.28-inch sensor, behind a faster f/1.78 aperture.
But that’s not the main selling point of the Yashica FX-D series. What they’re selling you is the nostalgia and aesthetics of shooting film, without the trouble of limited film rolls and developing said films. The Yashica FX-D is designed to recreate the look of Yashica’s iconic film stocks — Ruby 60s, Sapphire 70s, Yashica 400, Golden 80s, Mono 400, and B&W 400 films — and can even allow you to customize your own “film” look.
To further immerse you into the experience, there’s a film advance lever to move onto the next frame during your shoots. The lack of an optical viewfinder is probably the biggest dealbreaker in this “analog” experience, but Yashica is readying the FX-D S300 with an electronic viewfinder. What I do quite like, however, is the 180-degree flip 2.8-inch screen, which is great to shoot your photos and videos (and selfies too) from different angles. Speaking of which, the FX-D duo can record 4K videos at 30fps and even FHD 120fps slow-mo. Try that with your classic camera.
Living up to the motto of “your first digital film simulation camera”, the FX-D 100 is priced at $359 (~RM1528), but it’s currently available on Kickstarter for just $239 (~RM1017). Likewise, the FX-D 300 can be yours for $339 (~RM1443), down from an MSRP of $549 (~RM2337). Yashica expects to ship the FX-Ds out starting in August. As usual, do your due diligence before backing any Kickstarter campaign.
