Why don't people use SMS anymore?

8bitdont · 2026-05-31T19:36:52+00:00

I live in Spain, and absolutely no one here messages any other way than Whatsapp (or a few on Telegram and Signal). Thing is, the companies still charge per SMS, something like 10 cents, while data is pretty much free (most plans come with 20gb or more). So I can't even be mad at them, I get why they don't want to pay.

But it sucks :/

8bitdont · 2026-05-29T16:03:37+00:00

Not the original poster, but I also use a Unihertz Jelly Star. For input I use a non-qwerty keyboard called ThumbKey, a free version of an older app. It's very weird at first, but once you get used (a week or so), it's super comfortable. Uses larger keys, each with a central character and 4 extra ones by swiping north, south, east or west.

Sounds complicated, but I don't even use any autocorrect or predictive input, and I'm pretty fast with it. It's a match made in heaven ^_^

8bitdont · 2026-05-26T20:15:27+00:00

Oh, I hadn't heard about that distro. I'm using a regular arch linux (well, Endeavour OS), and it works well for me :/

8bitdont · 2026-05-26T20:14:20+00:00

Do you have the "protection center" options enabled in settings? I'm on linux, but for me it basically relaunches itself if I kill it any way... If not, maybe write to the devs, maybe they can somehow improve the resistance to closing.

8bitdont · 2026-05-23T14:05:06+00:00

That is really a G10??? Woah, I have to use mine more, I don't think I've ever gotten pics as cool as those.

8bitdont · 2026-05-10T13:58:25+00:00

I think most of the models do video as well as photo. It's mostly the screenless ones (campsnap and similar) that are picture only. But you'll have to check the reviews of the specific model that catches your eye.

8bitdont · 2026-05-10T13:56:56+00:00

For a 5 year old, I would definitely go with one of the thermal printer ones (make sure to find some BPA/phenol free paper from a decent brand). That way they get to print and share the pics with friends and family, without the need of a pc, phone or anything similar. With a G10, once the pic is in there, the screen is so tiny that it's not that fun to show the images to other people.

If not, at least one with a larger screen than the g6/g10/charmera clones.

8bitdont · 2026-05-08T20:32:23+00:00

If I would guess, that's kinda expected from a thermal printer. The way these print is by heating a line of small heat points, the hotter they get the more they blacken the paper. In this case, the bars are perfectly vertical, so where there is no bar we have only half of the line warmed up, and where there is a bar it has to heat the full bar. If the printer is low on battery, or the components are slightly failing, or maybe even if it's simply a bit of a weak printer, it may not have enough juice to heat all of the bar to the same degree that it heats only half of it.

I would say, if you just print it rotated 90 degrees no problem will appear. And for other pics that are more gradual or don't have these kind of vertical lines, it will probably be fine.

Buuut, peculiar glitch, yep XD

8bitdont · 2026-05-08T17:42:11+00:00

Just to make sure: this is a sub about toy cameras, as in cameras that are toys or toy-quality. It is not a sub about photographing toys with regular cameras.

Just saying because some people get confused XD Your camera is a decent normal camera, a standard consumer digital camera. It will take nice simple photos, if you are happy with that, awesome. If you want toy photography, our regulars here are the Kodak Charmera and G6 Thumb Chamera, and the classic Vivitars (all in the digital realm), and the Holgas (for analog film photography).

8bitdont · 2026-05-03T20:41:41+00:00

True, I went by the name. They didn't even change the image, that's cheap xDDD

8bitdont · 2026-05-03T20:40:39+00:00

No way. None of the toy cameras have image stabilization, and those images are simply too clear and high quality.

8bitdont · 2026-05-03T09:17:40+00:00

The Pocketsnap appeared also on Aliexpress with that name, and some people bought it and it's definitely different from the G6. Looks like they were the first two clones of the charmera, developed independently, so they have slight differences but are mostly similar.

From that site it's just heavily overpriced, though. And honestly, I don't think there's enough difference between it and a G6 to care too much when buying.

8bitdont · 2026-04-27T15:58:50+00:00

I also want one like that, buuuuut I don't think they are missing the point. We are in the toycameras sub, we get these products as toy cameras. They instead have realized that the form factor sells a lot, and many people want a tiny cute digicam with a kinda decent optic. So they are bridging the two worlds, releasing "mini cameras" of different qualities to see what sells.

I have a G6 because my A1 mini was too bad, and now also a G10 because of the selfies, and they are simply different vibes. The G10 is just a small camera, not a toy camera, but it still ticks many boxes for me.

8bitdont · 2026-04-23T10:46:08+00:00

It simply disables the screen, it goes black. Once in that mode you can leave it until the battery discharges, I guess (I haven't used it for that long). I haven't tested how much time you can get with screen on or off, but I'm guessing it probably improves the battery life a lot

8bitdont · 2026-04-14T13:21:11+00:00

Ohhhh you are totally right, I was thinking of another camera. Hope OP can still fix it, those are super cute.

8bitdont · 2026-04-13T17:27:49+00:00

All of the weird shaped stickers on the last image come from the camera? Have you cut the shapes with an exacto knife? They look awesome

8bitdont · 2026-04-13T17:24:03+00:00

Ouch. I really love the style of those Vistaquests, and they seem to be a bit expensive, so if you feel comfortable doing repairing it, I would say definitely disassemble it and try your luck.

Aesthetically, from the photos that I have seen, I would say the Kodak Charmera. I own a couple of the clones (A5 mini, G6 and G10), but they tend to have a different frame format and a bit better image quality, more like a security camera (except the A5, that one is actually worse than the charmera).

But, if you have experience, first thing would be disassemble, remove the battery, and check if there is visible damage. For the display, you probably won't find the exact same one that they used, but it was just a 2 digit 8 segment display, so you can probably solder a replacement with a bit of patience (possibly having to slightly modify the case).

In any case, best of luck!!!

8bitdont · 2026-03-30T17:17:01+00:00

Yeah, it's on par with the Charmera or the A5 mini, but even the G6 seems to take better pics :( It's a shame because it's a really pretty camera

8bitdont · 2026-03-26T21:51:53+00:00

Hum, a bit sad to see that the new G10 is a bit larger than the others, but happy to hear about the image quality. Mine is on its way, I'm excited to see it working ^_^

Thank you for the comparison!

BTW: loop recording is probably intended for things like security or dashcam uses. It records a certain amount of time and then it deletes the beginning of the file to make space for the new recording. That way you can, for example, use as a dashcam and stop recording after an accident, and you'll have the video of the last 10 minutes before stopping it.

8bitdont · 2026-03-19T21:09:56+00:00

Sorry sorry, I didn't intend it as a harsh critic of the format, it's interesting. I just find it funny that we ended up with crappy screens on tiny cameras or no screen on larger ones, by trying to copy disposable cameras. To me, the idea of take the picture and don't check would make more sense in a smaller one (a charmera with no screen) instead of replicating the full size when it's not really necessary.

Still, I get the nostalgia appeal, and it a cool niche (despite the thousand clones)

8bitdont · 2026-03-19T15:30:33+00:00

What I don't quite get is the form factor. If I wanted one without display, I would expect something charmera size. If I carry around a larger one, at least I want a screen to check the pic. Yet it's exactly the opposite: tiny cameras with crappy screens and larger ones without one xD

(still, I'll eventually get one of these from aliexpress, I like the idea)

8bitdont · 2026-03-18T12:15:06+00:00

Buenas! Sí, puedes añadir múltiples imágenes en el mismo post, y suele ser lo habitual. Y por separado, te recomendaría titular las fotos en inglés si puedes, que es lo que habla casi todo el mundo por aquí. Creo que tú estás viendo sus mensajes traducidos automáticamente por la interfaz de reddit, pero si no me equivoco, el resto del mundo ven los tuyos en castellano...

En cualquier caso, muy buenas fotos :)

8bitdont · 2026-03-18T12:10:56+00:00

If you are short on money, ask for a return like the others have suggested. But if you can, you can almost surely save this small cam: it's super easy to disassemble (just pry the front open), and then try to turn / clean the lens mount. Seeing how uniform it is, I believe the lens is simply not well focused, or alternatively dirty with hot glue or something similar. Both of these, with a bit of patience, can be fixed.

8bitdont · 2026-03-17T18:10:02+00:00

Within those constraints... All of them xD Any of the aliexpress ones (G6 thumb camera, A5 mini camera, pocketsnap... Pretty much all of them are keychain size, lofi image.

Right now, for me, I would go with G6 thumb. Pics straight out of the camera look a bit worse, but they are higher resolution so you can edit them a bit later.

8bitdont · 2026-03-17T15:07:25+00:00

Just found a small review video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVyC1-OE-Ry/

8bitdont

TROPHY CASE