Sept 9, 2009
By Dan Havlik
Japanese toy camera maker Superheadz has followed up its line of quirky film cameras with its first digital model—the super cool Digital Harinezumi Camera. Though this isn't likely going to be the first, second or even third camera you might reach for on assignment, it's a lot of fun and can produce some unexpectedly pleasing results. Also, the Digital Harinezumi is so small—it fits in the palm of your hand— you won't even need to put it in your camera bag.
Deliberately primitive but with an emphasis on the magic of photographic chance, the camera has a curved black body that resembles—if nothing else—one of those old Kodak Instamatic film cartridges. There's also an analog-style spring-loaded switch to control some of the functions. Though the 2-megapixel Digital Harinezumi has a tiny LCD on back, it only works for playback, forcing you to frame your shots with a pop-up plastic viewfinder like an old spy camera. The result: You never quite know what you're capturing, which can produce "happy accidents" or just plain accidents.
The camera's creaky-looking movie clips—which simulate an 8mm film effect without sound—sum up the Harinezumi camera experience: defiantly analog style in a digital package.
Cost: $170
Available in the U.S. at: http://shopping.icp.org/store/
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