Val Salikhov( I, 25-) on the unique appeal of outdated technology
The Wykehamist
Why‘ Worse’ Can Sometimes Feel Better
Val Salikhov( I, 25-) on the unique appeal of outdated technology
Not long ago, digital cameras were gathering dust in our parents’ drawers, MP3 players were relics of a forgotten era and vinyl records were little more than decoration in charity shops. Most people assumed they had suffered the same fate as fax machines, floppy disks and BlackBerry phones— replaced by newer and better technology.
Yet somehow, they survived. Today, young people are spending hundreds if not thousands of pounds on compact cameras from the early 2000s. Vinyl records have outsold CDs in the US for several consecutive years. Film photography is not just popular nowadays— it is thriving, and dedicated MP3 players are quietly sneaking their way back onto the market.
The obvious question is: why? After all, smartphones are more than capable of taking sharper photos, whilst streaming services provide access to millions of songs. Modern devices are faster, more efficient and more convenient than anything that came from the 2000s. Logic suggests that this ancient technology should have died out years ago.
However, such logic does not account for our growing obsession with authenticity. Think about the average photos and videos we capture on our smartphones. They are automatically sharpened, colour-corrected, brightened and processed within milliseconds of being taken. The result is often stunning, that is a fact. Yet, there is a catch. As cameras become better, the resulting images become increasingly similar. Scroll through Instagram and you will notice patterns; these photos and videos are all missing one thing— a soul.
Older digital cameras offer something different for our generation. Something we have not yet seen, something that instantly hooks us. Their harsh flash, softer details and occasional imperfections create images with character. A photo taken on an early 2000s Sony Cybershot looks noticeably different from one taken on something like an iPhone. What we once considered poor image quality has now become a rare aesthetic in its own way— sought for by many. In fact, videos online featuring vintage cameras have received millions of views, whilst certain models now sell for hundreds of pounds. There is something undeniably amusing about watching people my age spend hundreds of pounds on technology their parents were desperate to get rid of.
Film photography takes this idea even further. Imagine having only 24 opportunities to capture a moment. No deleting, no retakes and no checking whether someone blinked. Suddenly, you realise how much every frame matters.
In my view, modern technology is made to capture our attention. Notifications appear constantly. Social media platforms compete relentlessly for every spare second that we have. An MP3 player does none of that. It has one job and it performs it exceptionally well. In the age of constant digital overload, the simplicity feels almost like an innovation. Perhaps, this is the true paradox of progress. For decades, technology has been getting smarter and more efficient. Yet, many people are now willingly paying extra for slower, less capable and less convenient devices, not because they are better pieces of technology, but because they provide us with the forgotten happiness, something we truly lack from new innovations.
Old cameras, film photography, vinyl records and MP3 players all have something in common— they ask more from their users. They let us connect with them. More patience. More attention. More intention. And maybe that is exactly what modern technology has been quietly but effectively taking away from us.
After all, if convenience alone made us happy, these antiques would have disappeared years ago. Instead, they are thriving. Their survival suggests that people are searching for something personal, not something that happens to have better processing power. People search for meaning. And perhaps this is why in our world, where many are obsessed with having the newest things, so many fall in love with the old ones.
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