Young millennials, Gen Z, and the older Alphas, are showing a growing interest in analog technologies, bringing back what made things gnarly during those eras. From vinyl records to cassette tapes, it’s fascinating to see these technologies are not extinct or obsolete relics or lost arts, but actually pieces of history that people want to keep in their lives.

Fujifilm, a pioneer in the photography business since the ‘30s, has taken notice and they are answering the call by launching Fujifilm Prints, a new product lineup meant to bring the experience of printed photographs to the new generation.

The Fujifilm QuickSnap is a compact, single-use camera. Back in the day, we just called these disposable cameras, because they only had a limited set of exposures. Once you ran out of exposures, you could do nothing more than have them developed.

In QuickSnap’s case, 27 exposures, meaning you can only capture 27 pictures. You won’t even know how the picture looks until you have the film developed. And don’t even think about burst shots.

The distinct lack of instant gratification in a fast-paced world where people want to see immediate results is part of analog technology’s appeal. Back then, families would have to take these disposable cameras to a photography studio. You left the film stock there for a day or two, maybe a few hours if you’re lucky, and then came back to claim the envelope of developed pictures. This envelope would hold the precise moment when the pictures were taken. Again, there are no redos here and many days have passed. You get what you get. You may get a family picture where one member is not ready – say, because a cat jumped on him – and this is the picture you see and everyone laughs. Sure, it may not be the perfect family picture, but it is one that captures a family moment and shows so much personality.

The younger generation seems to get this. The authenticity of the moment is what builds a connection between them and the photo. It’s a lesson in imperfection and serendipity. Living in the moment, as they say.

To dive even deeper into the experience, those who want more than the QuickSnap are Fujifilm’s film stocks, the C200 and C400. The numbers in their names represent their ISO, meaning it determines how sensitive they are to light. Lower ISO means it’s less sensitive to light and would require more background light for a proper exposure. This means lower ISO may be ideal for outdoor photoshoots where the sun can be very bright. Higher ISO is the opposite. You can shoot at locations with less light and still get good pictures out of it.

There was a time when we felt analog film disappearing, something just for old photo albums. Film cameras we thought would be left in display cases. While digital still makes photography much more accessible, we see that film is being appreciated again as an experience in itself.

We might’ve thought that analog would soon lose its luster like overexposed film. Instead it seems it’s back in the right light.