A DIY retro digital camera project - Blog #6 detail of screen free camera design

Eight months into this “fun” project — and by “fun,” I mean equal parts caffeine abuse, panic Googling, and explaining to friends why I haven’t shown them a working camera yet — I’ve finally got the industrial design nailed down.

The body shape? Fixed.
The structure? Locked.
The color? Well… I’ve circled that drain long enough to call it “pretty much decided.”

So now I believe it’s a good time to do a proper introduction of the camera design and interaction logic.

Front:

3 Key features of the front:

1. Swappable large shutter button:

Large = 1.5CM diameter. I am a shy and innie person, I don't like to use extreme words. Here I will use "could be" the largest shutter button in the market. 

Material = Aluminum, CNC cut

Swappable = yes, it got a copper thread, users can swap the shutter button to other colors down the road to fit your mood. Even a football (soccer) in summer 2026.

 

2. Xenon flash

I don’t think any vintage digital or film cameras had LED flashes. So my option is simple: use a proper one. I considered getting rid of the in-camera flash and adding a hot shoe, so users could attach their own if needed. However, this camera is designed for daily carry and impromptu use, and an in-camera flash will always be useful—especially when users are drinking or dancing in a dark place, I guess.

 

3. Might be the largest optical viewfinder in the market

Large = 2.5cm X 2cm. Magnification = 0.78x. 

Field of view = 40mm (with frame line), 35mm (without frame line)

Again, I am an innie, I will use "might be" here based on my research. Please correct me. Thanks. 

Optical viewfinders in the current 3D-printed prototypes were scrapped from Agfa Optima Sensor cameras I bought on eBay. Since the camera has no LCD screen, the OVF is the only channel that connects us to the world through the camera. Therefore, based on my preference and my experience with tiny tunnel-vision viewfinders on other screen-free cameras, I decided to provide the largest one possible for my product. So your experience will switch from squatting in a submarine using a periscope to standing on the bridge of an aircraft carrier.

Back:

3 Key features of the back:

1. Winder

Since I am building a retro digital camera, I would love to go all the way to not only vintage look but real vintage construction. So for the winder, 

While slowing down and immersing yourself in the moment with tactile "film" camera operation are indeed core to the experience, we won't dwell on those points. Instead, let's talk about another key truth:

With customized and complex photo processing logic, the Rewindpix processor needs a moment after you take a shot. So, while you're immersing yourself in the winding action, the processor is actually working hard to deliver the best possible result. A true win-win, wouldn't you say? Personally, I've found an even greater sense of achievement when I capture decisive moments with that winding action. Behold! A true sharpshooter's reward!

And the byproduct? No cheesy speaker-generated shutter sound. You won’t have to tape over the speaker holes or unplug some hidden wire like you’re disarming a bomb. Instead, you get the real deal: a mechanical winder spring release that goes “Click!” — the exact same sound as those old-timers.

 

2. Filter slider switch

It is straight forward: allow users to switch filters while shooting. It go 3 in camera filters. 

Sunny warm = Kodak vibe

Breezy cool = Fuji vibe

Simply Mono = Just BW

Since the camera has a 1 inch monochrome LCD screen, it will show the current filter selection, like below:

Why not dial?

Well, first of all, I think 3 in camera filters should be enough (I will introduce "film mode“ filters later, together with the companion filter app intro), Kodak gold, Fuji CC and ilford delta BW should be cover most of the shooting circumstance I guess. For example, there are hundreds if not thousands of cloth branding, I ended up stick with Kuhl for pants and Eddie Bauer for tops. 

Secondly, with a dial, you’d have to look down at your fingers every time you switch filters. Imagine a dial with eight filters—how are you supposed to know which one you’re on without staring at it like you’re cracking a safe? That extra step adds time and sometimes makes you miss the “decisive moment.”

A slider, on the other hand, lets you build muscle memory fast. With only three filter positions, your thumb knows exactly where to go without dragging your eyeballs off the scene. Which means you can stay locked in on the shot, instead of fumbling around like you’re tuning an old radio.

3. LCD screen

Size = 1 inch monochrome LCD screen

Function = 1. Battery status, 2. WIFI connection status 3. Current selected filter 4. "Film roll" count, 5. In camera mode photo count

Yes, it surprised me too that this tiny screen can actually squeeze in so much vital info. It’s like finding out your old flip phone could secretly run Doom.

As for the mysterious “film roll” count and the in-camera photo count—yeah, I’ll save that explanation for later, once the companion app is ready. For now, just think of it as “trust me, it makes sense in my head.”

Alright, that’s probably enough rambling for one post. This thing is already longer than most people’s attention spans (mine included). So I’ll stop here.

Thanks for sticking with me all the way to the end—seriously. And if you’re still curious about what comes next, stay tuned. Sample image on the way. I am building a camera anyway. 

2 colors for now: Grey and beige. Would be great if you can help me to think of 2 cool color names for KS launch and Shopify store. thanks

Grey:

Beige: shot in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen — Retro digital camera homecoming at the Cyber Fossil Festival!