An ordinary place, a hacked topicazo, and a terrible way to start a post, I know; but I can’t help saying this: time flies. This year marks twenty years since Nintendo stopped producing the Game Boy Camera (GBC), the late ’90s accessory that lets you use your Game Boy like a primitive digital camera. With 20 years in the tech arena almost three lifetimes, it didn’t take long enough for GBC fans to forget how fascinating they were. pixelated photos. Nostalgia, you know.
Christopher Graves is a fan of GBC’s retro images. Pixel and limited gray scale. In her case alone, the homesickness served more than just keeping her old ’90s Camera pristine or going out in search of pixelated snapshots.
From his passion for GBC and photography and moderatorGraves had a feat: creating your own version An incredible prototype of a camera based on the Game Boy value different names– decided to baptize as camera Mor M1.
“I wanted something to be proud of”
Sacrificing the Game Boy Pocket to transform the stylized aesthetic of the Fujifilm X-E4 into a mirrorless camera with a look and finish somewhat reminiscent of the Fujifilm X-E4.
“The M1 is a modified and redesigned Game Boy for exclusive use as a Game Boy Camera. Takes a lot of design cues from SLR cameras (single lens reflex) and for photography it looks like something a little more professional and polished than a Game Boy,” says Graves.
In addition to the Game Boy Pocket for styling, it’s basically a synthetic leather case tailored to its design, custom PCBs, and a backlit IPS display. The design was further enhanced with the modification of the Game Boy Camera cartridge itself to incorporate the Game Boy Advance SP controls and sensor into a CS mount.
An example of a photo taken with Camera M.
Another of his obsessions when designing Camera M was autonomy. Result: In the prototype, AAA batteries were replaced by a rechargeable 1,800 mAh battery, which, according to Graves’s estimation, allowed the camera to work for a long time. about eight hours.
The full list of specifications is shared by the company. moderator on the website he launched to promote his creation. And it includes, among other features:
- custom shell
- synthetic leather cover
- custom PCBs
- Shutter A on top
- Ignition switch redesign
- CS/C assembly
- Backlit IPS display
- Attachments for combining different accessories, including tripod or strap
- Game Boy Link port
- 1,800mAh battery
- USB Type-C charging port
“It is a completely personal and selfish project aimed at finding solutions. improve my skills What moderator and photographer. I’m self-taught and my career has nothing to do with these skills,” she says. “I set out to create something I’m proud of, and I think I’ve succeeded.”
However, being proud does not mean that he gives final approval to the result or that he will stop thinking about new improvements to his designs. “Even though this ‘prototype’ is complete, I am still not 100% satisfied,” he admits. The points he wants to continue moving forward include chassis, optimization of PCBs or simply, simplify production.
Its purpose is to sell some complete M1 units and even mounting kits. It has also launched different channels in search of support and resources so that Camera M continues to delight photographers with its retro and pixelated aesthetic.
Of course, he is not alone in his passion.
Pictures | Game Kids Camera