Is Low-Res Photography the New Analog? (2025)

The embrace of older technology among the younger generation is something worth studying. From vinyl to the use of older Nokia phones, the young are not shying away from things that connect them to their past. In photography, this also marks the resurgence of vintage cameras, which are now known as having Y2K aesthetics. This means that the youth loves to go back to the early 2000s, and hence, they are reviving everything from fashion to technology trends to achieve so. However, this resurgence also makes one wonder: Is low-resolution photography playing the same role as analog?

If you look at it, then the answer echoes a yes. When digital cameras were introduced, there were many who called it the end of photography. However, with time, people had no other option but to switch to digital for its efficiency and price. While most were happy, and gradually, high-megapixel sensors began to come in, a group of individuals always switched back to analog for varied reasons.

In more recent years, such as 2012 or 2015 onwards, analog photography has become a tool of expression. For starters, it offers unique images, especially if one is using an infrared film or an expired film. The grain and the tones are somewhat impossible to replicate digitally, making one’s work stand out. There is also the tactile experience that makes the experience even more engaging. You load the film and keep turning the lever to make a new photograph. At the same time, it teaches you to be a better photographer. The slowness of the process, the inability to see what you photographed, and the dance with exposure are a few things that many DSLR and mirrorless users crave. Moreover, it is compact and traditional, which allows you to connect with photographers who shot with Nikon FM2 back in the heydays of film photography. Overall, analog photography offers a new world to the tired eyes of digital photographers.

Fast forward to 2024 and 2025, a similar resurgence has been seen by people who are tired of clinical images shot by their phones. According to a study by the Independent, the term digital camera has been doubled in search engines since 2021. In addition, sales of old vintage cameras have also seen a sharp rise in several countries. In fact, the youth also favor cameras such as the Ricoh GR, Canon Powershot G7, and Fujifilm X100 series. A quick search on eBay will also showcase how some of these cameras fetch you hundreds of dollars if you owe one.

Furthermore, just like Pentax 17 made a comeback for film enthusiasts, digital cameras are also making a comeback for low-res digital photography. There was a time when pixels were everything, but now it seems like the more grainy or old a photograph looks, the better. In fact, a Kickstarter campaign is also in the works to create a pixel-less camera, which basically gives your images old Gameboy aesthetics. This not only serves the purpose of cleaning away from smartphone photography but also creates images that can truly stand on their own.

Low-res digital photography and analog have showcased a deeper cultural shift of people valuing authenticity more now than they did five years ago. This is what happens when you reach a plateau in any art form: people want to reinvent the wheel. How far the younger generation is able to take this trend ahead remains to be seen, but for now, it feels like it’s a good time for photography.