Campix Digital Camera Blows Past Kickstarter Goal With Its Retro Waist-Level Design

A new retro-styled digital camera with a waist-level viewfinder is off to a strong start on Kickstarter. The Campix, developed by Hong Kong-based photography brand Fotorgear, has raised more than $284,000 on the crowdfunding platform, far exceeding its original $4,996 funding goal.

The camera takes heavy inspiration from the East German Exakta Varex, combining vintage styling and a waist-level viewing experience with modern digital features. It also offers tactile manual controls, film simulations, and a virtual film roll designed to recreate some of the experience of shooting with analog cameras.

A Film-Like Digital Shooting Experience

The Campix includes a virtual film roll feature similar to those found in some newer retro-inspired digital cameras, including Fujifilm’s X Half. Users can select a film look and shoot through a simulated 36-exposure roll before switching to another one.

With the Campix, users can customize film looks through its companion app and save them to one of six filter slots. A physical dial on the camera lets photographers select their preferred look without navigating through menus.

Unlike many digital cameras focused on recreating the film experience, the Campix also supports RAW capture. This gives photographers more flexibility to adjust their images during post-processing rather than relying entirely on the camera’s built-in film simulations.

Interchangeable Lenses and Xenon Flash

One feature that distinguishes the Campix from many other film-inspired digital cameras is its interchangeable lens system. The camera uses a proprietary T-mount design, with five lens options currently listed: 8mm, 16mm, 60mm, and 75mm lenses, along with a 1.55x lens. Its default lens offers a 26mm-equivalent focal length and an F2.2 aperture.

The camera also features a Xenon flash with TTL support. Fotorgear says the flash has an effective range of one to three meters.

Small Sensor and Automatic Exposure

Inside, the Campix uses a 13-megapixel Sony IMX258 sensor measuring 1/3.06 inches. This is a relatively small sensor, comparable in size to those found in smartphones. The camera has an approximately 7.4x crop factor and an Auto ISO range of 100 to 3,200.

Exposure is handled automatically, while users can choose between automatic and manual white balance settings.

The Campix also comes with companion software for iOS and Android, as well as a dedicated desktop application for RAW processing.

Pricing and Availability

The Campix Basic starts at $109 for early-bird Kickstarter backers and is expected to retail for $209 with the 26mm lens.

The more comprehensive Campix Set starts at $199 for super early-bird backers and will retail for $319. It includes the camera, 26mm lens, 75mm macro lens, 60mm portrait lens, and 16mm wide-angle lens, along with Star, CPL, and UV filters.

The additional lenses are also available for purchase individually.