Hansmare’s Haru Mini Retro Camera resembles a miniature classic camera, but one that fits in your pocket. At 52 millimeters wide and 40 millimeters tall, the entire thing weighs only 67 grams, allowing you to toss it in any pocket or clip it to your keychain without hesitation. A standard neck strap is even included, allowing you to wear it like you’re carrying around a full-size camera from the past.
Don’t be fooled by its small size; the Haru Mini Retro Camera contains a surprising amount of functionality. Stills are taken with a 20-megapixel sensor, while video is recorded at a decent 2K resolution; both are saved directly to the camera’s microSD card. You compose your photographs on the 1.47-inch rear display and can even take a quick look at any previous shots. What about the top prism viewfinder? Several controls exist primarily for aesthetic reasons rather than functional ones.
- Support photo taking and video recording
- 4 frames and 7 filters available in photo mode
- 1440 x 1080 image output; 1.6M megapixels
Connecting the camera is quite straightforward. One USB-C connector handles all of your charging, file transfer to your phone or computer, and even allows you to use it as a webcam during chats, eliminating the need to navigate settings or fiddle with different attachments.
Given the small sensor and simple lens, image quality isn’t particularly impressive. Even a quick look at the sample images reveals where it’s falling behind the competition: detail and low-light performance are the first to suffer. Hansmare describes the result as beautiful and high quality, but this doesn’t fully match up with real-world instances. On a strange note, people don’t buy devices like this for excellent photographs; they want something unique.
The Haru Mini Retro Camera lives up to this expectation. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket while yet feeling like you’re carrying a real camera. Available now in Japan through Rakuten for 5800 yen (about $38); overseas buyers should consider additional shipping and import fees. Still, if you’re looking for a compact, lightweight camera that feels authentic, the Haru Mini Retro Camera should be a no-brainer.
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