Despite the image sector having been dominated for years by increasingly powerful smartphones and action cams, the dedicated video camera is slowly carving out space again among enthusiasts and creators. A certain nostalgia for the aesthetic of home videos, combined with a growing saturation of content produced with phones, is helping the camcorder format re-emerge as a simple and immediate tool for recording video.
It is within this context that the new Yashica-branded camcorder arrives. It should be noted that the brand today has no connection with the historic Japanese company that defined an era in photography during the twentieth century: in recent years the name has been revived by a new company that uses it to propose accessible imaging devices aimed at enthusiasts and creators.
The new camera is called Yashica Journey and follows precisely this philosophy: compact design, intuitive use, and an affordable price. It is not intended for professional use, but for those who want a practical video camera to carry everywhere in order to capture footage without relying on a smartphone.
Launched through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, the model can record stabilized 4K video at 60 fps with a 115° ultra-wide lens and a focusing range from 0.5 meters to infinity. Designed primarily for vlogging and travel videos, the Journey integrates a 2.2-inch touchscreen that flips 270°, useful for self-recording, along with a series of creative filters to customize clips.
Its dimensions are particularly compact — 10.7 × 4.3 × 5.3 cm — and it weighs 167 grams, slightly less than an iPhone 16, allowing it to be used comfortably even with one hand. The 1,250 mAh rechargeable battery provides up to 100 minutes of continuous recording on a single charge.
The camera does not include internal storage but supports microSD cards up to 256 GB. Footage can also be transferred directly to a smartphone via a dedicated app, designed to speed up sharing on social media.
The Yashica Journey is not yet available in stores: it can be preordered through the Kickstarter campaign starting at $188 (around €164) in white or black. The first international shipments, including Italy, are expected in July, just in time for the holiday season.