Way back in January, we wrote about how retro cameras were making an unexpected resurgence. Now we're nearing the end of the year, and that trend is showing no signs of slowing — and I've rounded up some of our favorite old-school styled cameras of 2026.
'Retro' is a broad term, and these cameras span a wide spectrum too. Leica and Ricoh's dedicated black-and-white cameras are serious snappers optimized for monochrome photography, while the OM System PEN and Fujifilm X-T30 III have retro designs that'll beginner photographers will love.
At the more frivolous end of the market we have Camp Snap's basic, screen-free point-and-shoot, and a fuss-free film camera from Kodak that managed to produce some charming, characterful shots in our tests. And no retro camera roundup would be complete without the viral Kodak Charmera — a dinky keychain snapper that our Cameras Editor hates to love.
Scroll down to learn more about all of these retro wonders, and hit the View Details button for more info and links to our reviews.
Retro snappers
Read more: I tested Kodak's cheap and pocketable film camera, and it's packed with retro-futuristic charm
Pros
- Clean, compact and stylish design
- Delivers characterful shots in good lighting
- Useful OLED panel on top
Cons
- No exposure controls
- Weak flash limits indoor capabilities
- Extra cost of film development and prints
Pros
- Sharp stills and video
- Tidy retro design
- Can be stowed in jacket pocket
Cons
- Modest upgrade of the X-T30 II
- A bit pricey
- Loss of shooting mode dial
Pros
- Thumb-sized
- Retro design, collector colorways
- It's a fully working camera!
- A genuinely great gift idea
Cons
- Probably the worst image quality I've seen
- Tiny battery
- There's a risk it'll quickly become an unused gadget
Read more: I tested the Leica Q3 Monochrom – it's a top digital camera for black-and-white photography purists
Pros
- Same superb design and lens quality as the Q3
- The purest experience from a digital camera for black and white photography fans
- High-resolution full-frame sensor
Cons
- As niche a digital camera as they come
- Limited customization for its standard color profiles
- Pricier than the Q3
- As with the Q3, stabilization is only okay, battery life is average, tilt screen is awkward
Pros
- Multi-media skills
- Unique design and well-made
- Fun color mode dial
Cons
- Sluggish operation
- Poor image quality
- Video clip length limitations
- Pricey
View on the Camp Snap website
Pros
- Super-easy point-and-shoot operation
- Filter dial adds a few creative options
- Very lightweight, with stylish looks
- Affordable price tag
Cons
- Flash unit overexposes images
- Can't handle high-contrast lighting
- All-plastic body doesn't feel robust
Pros
- Excellent value
- In-body image stabilization and neat computational photography modes
- Classy design
- Splash-proof, as is the new kit lens
Cons
- Basic video features
- Some controls are fiddly
- Design less suitable for long lenses
- Lower rated weather resistance than the OM-5 II
