Why Gen-Z is buying point & short when iPhone is better
If you judged cameras purely on image quality, this trend would make no sense.
Modern smartphones, especially the latest iPhones, outperform many compact cameras in almost every measurable way. They produce cleaner images, better low-light performance, impressive computational photography and outstanding video. So why are Gen Z photographers queuing up to buy cameras like the Kodak PixPro FZ55?
In the latest Platypod video, Kara heads into the streets of London with one of the world's most talked-about compact cameras to discover why these simple point-and-shoot cameras have become one of photography's biggest surprises.
A Camera With Just One Job
One of the biggest reasons for the compact camera revival has very little to do with image quality.
Unlike a smartphone, a point-and-shoot camera exists for one purpose only: taking photographs.
There are no notifications interrupting the moment. No social media apps demanding attention. No temptation to instantly edit or upload every image.
Instead, you simply look, compose and press the shutter.
That slower, more intentional process is becoming increasingly appealing to a generation that has grown up with smartphones constantly competing for their attention.
The Kodak PixPro FZ55 Phenomenon
The Kodak PixPro FZ55 has become something of a cult favourite.
Its images are not technically perfect. The colours can be unpredictable, the direct flash has a distinctly retro look and the files lack the heavy computational processing found in today's smartphones.
Ironically, those limitations are exactly what many photographers enjoy.
Rather than striving for perfection, the camera produces photographs that feel spontaneous, imperfect and full of character.
It is less about pixel peeping and more about capturing a feeling.
Five Photos Across London
To put the camera through its paces, Kara takes on a fun five-photo challenge through central London.
Starting at Westminster, she photographs:
- An unmistakable London landmark
- A classic London street moment
- An interesting architectural detail
- An intentionally imperfect frame
- A creative self-portrait using Platypod gear
The challenge highlights how creative limitations often encourage photographers to see differently.
Instead of relying on endless shooting and computational corrections, each photograph becomes a deliberate decision.
Small Gear, Big Creativity
The final self-portrait demonstrates how compact support equipment can make creative photography incredibly simple.
Using the Platypod Delta as a stable base together with the Platypod Grip acting as a lightweight ball head, Kara creates a self-portrait almost anywhere without carrying a full-size tripod.
It is a reminder that creative photography often depends more on flexibility than on carrying large amounts of equipment. Compact support solutions allow photographers to experiment with angles and compositions that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.
Is This Really Nostalgia?
One of the most interesting discussions in the video asks whether this trend is actually nostalgia.
For many older photographers, compact digital cameras bring back memories of the early 2000s.
For Gen Z, however, these cameras are something entirely different.
They are discovering them for the first time.
What feels like nostalgia to one generation feels fresh and exciting to another.
That may explain why worldwide shipments of built-in-lens cameras increased significantly during 2025, with the Kodak PixPro FZ55 becoming one of Japan's best-selling compact cameras.
Photography Isn't Always About Technical Perfection
Photography has always been about more than resolution charts and laboratory tests.
Sometimes the camera that inspires you to go outside, notice details and enjoy the process is the best camera you can own.
Whether you're using the latest iPhone, a professional mirrorless system or a compact point-and-shoot, the important thing is creating photographs that mean something to you.
This video is a great reminder that creativity often comes from embracing limitations rather than eliminating them.
Watch the full video to see Kara's London challenge, discover why compact cameras are making an unexpected comeback, and see how Platypod tools make lightweight, creative photography possible wherever your adventures take you.
(Pro Tip - if you have an old point & shoot in the attic gathering dust, get it on eBay now!)
