Technology products are constantly being updated, and most people naturally expect prices to drop. However, in recent years, a craze for “electronic antiques” has swept the Chinese market. Many discontinued or older-model digital cameras have surged in popularity again due to their unique image styles, boosted by social media platforms and internet influencers, causing prices in the second-hand market to soar. Some netizens were surprised to find that the value of old cameras they bought six years ago has not fallen but actually risen. Popular models like the Ricoh GR3 have even doubled in price over the past five years, earning the joke that they’ve 'increased faster than gold.'
According to Chinese media outlet Jiupai News, a netizen recently dug out a Canon camera he purchased six years ago for 2,459 RMB (1,391.5 MYR). Out of curiosity, he searched online and found that the price of the same second-hand model had now risen to over 4,000 RMB (2,263.52 MYR), a shocking appreciation.
Among this retro camera craze, Ricoh is one of the most extreme examples of appreciation. Some consumers noted that back in 2020, a brand-new Ricoh GR3 sold for just over 4,000 RMB on the official website, a price that seemed a bit steep then, so they didn’t go for it. Unexpectedly, today, the same model’s second-hand price has soared to nearly 9,000 RMB (5,092.92 MYR), almost a 100% increase over five years. Some have joked that the situation is 'almost like gold.'
Another Japanese brand, Fujifilm, has likewise turned into a 'financial product.' Some consumers mentioned that hot models like the Fujifilm XT30 II, though officially priced at more than 8,000 RMB (4,527.04 MYR), are perpetually out of stock. Every time there’s a new shipment, they sell out instantly. If you want to buy one at retail, you often have to pay dealers an extra one or two thousand RMB.
● CCD 'Point-and-Shoot' Cameras Increase Tenfold in Value
The most striking price surge has happened with so-called 'CCD cameras'—early 2000s digital cameras. These point-and-shoot cameras use CCD sensors and were discontinued long ago with the advent of smartphones. Four or five years ago, they could be found on the second-hand market for only 100 to 200 RMB (56.59 to 113.18 MYR).
In recent years, these cameras have gone viral on social media because the photos they produce come with a 'retro filter' effect, with unique soft and cool tones that perfectly match the aesthetic trends of today’s youth. As a result, they are popular again. Now, even a well-preserved CCD camera sells for at least 700 or 800 RMB (396.12 or 452.7 MYR), and newer models can fetch over 1,000 RMB. Prices have risen nearly tenfold in a short time, with second-hand trading extremely active. This retro electronics speculation trend, driven by 'nostalgia' and 'scarcity,' is expected to continue for some time.