My inner child is doing backflips – Lego has created the ultimate gift for camera nerds like myself who never quite outgrew those little plastic bricks. The new Retro Camera creator set packs all the charm of a vintage film camera into a tiny, 20-dollar buildable toy.
As both the TechRadar Cameras Editor and a lifelong Lego fan, I feel uniquely qualified to appreciate the details that went into this set. The old-school SLR design features a movable lens, functioning film advance lever, pop-open back door to access the film canisters – they even printed tiny sample photos onto the brick “film”! As an avid photographer, I can’t help but smile at the clever reproducibility packed into just 261 Legos.
The Retro Camera is part of Lego’s budget-friendly 3-in-1 Creator series, meaning those same pieces can be reconfigured into either a video camera or analog TV set. It strikes me as the perfect stocking stuffer or office gift exchange item for any creative kiddos or nostalgic adults in your life.
Unfortunately, demand must be high, as the set won’t be available until January 1, 2024. No matter – at just $20, I’ll happily be buying one for myself as a quirky collector’s item for the new year.
The Retro Camera isn’t Lego’s first foray into photography-inspired toys – but it’s undoubtedly the most accessible set yet for camera lovers of all ages. So while I wait eagerly for January to roll around, some other great Lego Cyber Monday deals are still up for grabs.
