Chuzhao Review

April 21 2025

INTRO

I'm reviewing yet another camera that takes "crappy" photos, but this time around, it's not a complete drop-shipping scam. This is the Chuzhao Digital TLR camera, a camera inspired by classic film cameras of the early 1900s.

THE CAMERA

PHOTOS

The resolution is 3456x3456: a square photo. The focal length isn't anything crazy either. I think it has an appropriate field of view. I think that the output is a little sharper than the Y4000. I like how the sky is blown out in these pictures. It gives them a dreamlike quality.

The photos remind me of the review I did for the Y4000 (link), but there appears to be a kind of configuration of the colors that feel intentional. It's got a low contrast, and a slightly higher saturation. However, it also feels right. It's not obnoxious or distracting, complimenting the photo you're trying to take. If I were to make some adjustments on the image, here is what it would look like. I may have exaggerated the alteration to make it apparent what I am trying to show. If the camera made the image look like one and not the other instead, I'd still have little issue with the images.

There's only so much I can really say about these kind of small cameras. They all use a similar kind of photoreceptor module inside and they all shoot in JPEG. I'm left to judge the result of the photo and the little gimmicky features.

VIDEOS

Speaking of gimmicky features, the camera records video by having the user constantly turn the wheel on the side, just like turning a film reel in a film camera. It's quite gimmicky, and it makes the video shake when you keep turning it, so I wouldn't try to make this a dedicated video camera, obviously. It is fun, though, and I can see someone making a small project out of recording video with it.

Unlike the photos, this camera records video in widescreen, at a supposed 1080 resolution. By now, it's clear that resolution and quality are two very different things.

BATTERY

There's not much to say about the battery. It lasts, and I haven't actually had to charge it since it came in the mail. It charges via USB-C, which is good for people who don't want to buy any extra wires.

OTHER

The screen is small, and it's on top of the camera, appearing as an old-fashioned viewfinder.

The packaging is an elegant silvery box. The way this product is presented is much more thoughtful than the Y4000, which gives it an advantage in my eyes. At least the damn thing is an original product.

Only one of the lenses on the camera actually takes photos. The other one is just for show.

The camera comes with a lanyard to attach the camera to, so you don't have to carry it around like it's a fat vape device. But, the text on it says "FIRST CAMERA FOR YOUNG PEOPLE," and it makes me feel like a target for wearing it, so I don't. They sell other lanyards without text on their website, but I'd prefer if it just came with a plain black one.

Navigating the interface when viewing photos is finicky, and I'm still not entirely used to it. I prefer just taking the microSD card out and viewing the photos and videos on a computer.

FINAL

Out of five stars? Well, the price is high, and when it gets off "sale," I really can't encourage getting it. It's a "love it or leave it" deal: Only get this if you *really* intend to use it quite often. But, as a camera, and as a gimmick, it's a 3.5 out of 5. It's a pleasant shooting experience, a unique looking camera with thoughtful design, and the photos are not bad relatively, but the price is too high.