Product Review: The Clickster Instamatic Camera
When I first picked up the Clickster — a retro-inspired, no-fuss Instamatic-style camera — I honestly didn’t expect much. Let’s be real: in an age of mirrorless marvels and smartphones that practically edit your shots for you, this little box feels like a relic. But after spending some time shooting with it, I have to admit… there’s a surprising bit of joy in its simplicity.
Specifications
Format: 8 Megapixels, 1/3.2 CMOS
Image Resolution: 3264x2448
Lens: Fixed-focus plastic lens, approximately 43mm equivalent
Aperture: Fixed (around f/11-ish, though unmarked)
Shutter speed: Single speed, approx. 1/125 sec
Focus: Point and shoot; no adjustments
Viewfinder: Simple optical viewfinder
3 film-emulation presets
Build: Lightweight plastic body, roughly 200g
Price: Typically under AUD$80 - $120 (depending on retailer)
Micro SD-Card
USB-C to USB-C charging
Manual Flash on/off switch
Colours: Pink, yellow, Green
It doesn’t get much more basic than this. Frame your shot, and click. No settings. No screens. No excuses.
Captured with a mirrorless camera
My Thoughts
Let’s start with the obvious: the images aren’t going to win you awards. They’re soft, sometimes grainy, and often imperfect. But that’s also exactly why I found it so refreshing.
Shooting with the Clickster was like giving myself permission to just play. I wasn’t worrying about ISO, white balance, dynamic range, or sharpness. Instead, I was looking for moments — a splash of light, a funny little scene, a fleeting gesture — and capturing them as they were.
There’s also a quiet kind of nostalgia baked into it. Holding this camera, hearing the click of the shutter and the scratch of the wind-on lever, reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place: the magic of freezing a moment, flaws and all.
Will I keep using it long term? Honestly… probably not. It’s more of a novelty than a workhorse. The limitations are charming at first, but if you’re serious about consistent results, it will quickly frustrate you.
But would I recommend everyone try it at least once? Well, maybe.
Captured with the Clickster
Final Verdict
The Clickster isn’t here to compete with your mirrorless camera or even your smartphone. It’s here to remind you that photography can be fun, spontaneous, and imperfect — and that’s okay.
If you’re looking for a little creative reset or just want to relive a bit of photographic history, grab one from a online and let it surprise you. I also think that due to its rugged durability and lightweight, this could be really good at getting children engaged in photography. The fact that it is also quite cheap is a bonus for kids. But let's face it, it's never going to win you any awards.
Because sometimes, the joy of photography isn’t in perfection — it’s in the click.
