If your teenager has recently asked for a camera “that doesn’t show your face too clearly”, or you’ve spotted a group of kids in Camden Market comparing film canisters like rare gemstones, you’re not imagining it – vintage photography is officially back. In an age of filters, instant retakes and digital perfectionism, the charm of real grain, gentle blur and unpredictable lighting suddenly feels refreshingly… honest.
Enter AgfaPhoto, a name that will make many parents mist up with memories of dodgy holiday snaps, school trips and that drawer full of developed-but-never-sorted prints. Their newly revived analogue and retro-digital ranges are flying off shelves, proving that 2025’s most fashionable accessory is not a phone – but a camera that looks gloriously like the ones we all carried in the 90s.
And London mums? We’ve tested them. Our verdict: absolutely delightful – and not only because nobody can ask you to “AirDrop that, please”.
The AgfaPhoto Analogue: A love letter to slow photography (£34.99)
Available in black, brown, green, red and beige.
This little 35mm film camera is everything we forgot we loved about pre-digital photography: the satisfying click, the tiny moment of suspense before winding the film, the ritual of waiting for prints… and occasionally discovering that someone (usually aged five) has taken 12 photos of their own eyebrow.
One mum’s take:
“My son was shocked when I explained you don’t see the picture straight away. He looked traumatised. Then he became obsessed. He now calls it ‘mystery photography’.” – Lucy, Hackney
Another added:
“Honestly, it felt oddly calming. Like an enforced break from perfectionism. The photos are wonky but charming – much like our family.” – Ana, Putney
It’s also become a bit of a fashion accessory for teens, who have decided film cameras are the new tote bags. Who are we to argue?
ALERT! London and UK-based photographers can get analogue film printed through high-street services like Boots and ASDA (via drop-off or mail-in), specialist labs such as Speedy Prints or Agfa processing, or professional outfits like Cipher Graphics for high-quality industrial positives and negatives, with Mail-Order options available nationwide.
The AgfaPhoto DC8200: A digital throwback to 90s Cool that TikTok Teens now worship (£99.99)
18MP, 8x optical zoom, LCD screen, multiple colours.
Remember the joy of early digital cameras? That grainy-but-iconic look of 2002 birthday parties and first-holiday selfies? The DC8200 brings it all back – but with actual decent tech inside.
This compact camera is ideal for pre-teens and teens who want fun, low-pressure photos without the intensity (and screen-time rabbit hole) of smartphones.
A London mum told us:
“My daughter said, and I quote, ‘This camera makes everyone look like they’re in a music video from the olden days.’ Apparently the ‘olden days’ means 2004.” – Teresa, Greenwich
Another confessed:
“I borrowed it for a night out. The pictures made us look ten years younger purely due to the nostalgic blur. Highly recommend.” – Jo, Hammersmith
“My daughter loves the Y2K vibe. I love that she doesn’t demand my phone every two minutes.” – Liz, Ealing
And because it comes in several colours, it’s being matched to outfits like a handbag. Very Y2K. Very fun.
Why the Retro Revival? A tiny Agfa fact file
A quick tour for those who haven’t thought about film since their early twenties:
- Agfa began producing photographic materials in the late 19th century and became a household name throughout Europe.
- If you grew up in the UK during the 80s and 90s, chances are your school trips, summer holidays and questionable haircuts were all immortalised on Agfa film.
- Their cameras were known for being affordable, practical and unfussy – the complete opposite of today’s high-stakes smartphone photography.
- Today’s AgfaPhoto line (developed by GT Company) blends that heritage with modern design, meaning:
- analogue cameras with classic charm
- digital models with retro vibes but actual functioning screens
- both at prices families can justify without taking out a small loan
In short: it’s nostalgia, upgraded — without losing the wonderfully imperfect magic that made it special.
So, are they worth it?
Absolutely. These AgfaPhoto cameras tap into something families are genuinely craving: slower moments, real creativity, and photos that tell stories rather than perform them.
And if we’re completely honest?
They’re a brilliant way to capture Christmas without ending up with 3,000 identical phone photos of wrapping paper.
London Mums approved. Grainy in all the best ways.
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
