Gift idea | Paper Shoot: the cardboard camera


Marc Mitrani

Smartphone expert

December 01, 2022 at 09:00 a.m.

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Paper Shoot © © Paper Shoot

© Papershoot

George Lin, youngest of a modest Taiwanese family, would have loved to have had a camera during his youth like most of his friends. This would have allowed him to keep images of his entourage, and especially of his big brother, who died prematurely.

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But his parents preferred to use the little money they earned to feed him, which is understandable. Thus in 2010, having become an adult and after good studies, George Lin had the idea of ​​creating a camera that was easy to handle and at an affordable price, as he would have liked to have had in his childhood. To achieve this, he gets rid of everything he does not consider essential.

Exit so the display screen, viewfinder optics and sophisticated shooting modes. The bulky (and expensive) external case is replaced by a thick paper folded in half, in which the electronic card has been inserted. This feature will also give it its name: Paper Shoot.

Paper Shoot © © Paper Shoot

© Papershoot

But why stop on such a good path? George Lin also removed most of the keys and mechanical controls from his camera. Finally, a few judiciously placed cutouts give access to the trigger and mode selector (soldered to the motherboard) while the viewfinder is a hollowed-out rectangle.

Find Paper Shoot on its designer’s website

Twelve years of evolution

Twelve years later, Paper Shoot has evolved a lot, but retains the spirit of the original model. For his 10e generation, the device gains a more defined 18 Mpxl sensor, a USB-C port, timelapse recording and a slot for a “function card”.

© Papershoot

The latter, optional, comes in the form of a SIM card that is inserted into the device. It offers additional functions (new color modes, addition of frames, double exposure, etc.) to vary the pleasures.

Paper Shoot can very easily change its appearance: just remove two nuts, then insert the electronic board into one of the many shells available at low prices. Indeed, for a few extra euros, its creator offers dozens of models with very varied patterns and colors. If the majority remains made of paper (more exactly stone paper, much more resistant and eco-responsible), we find in the catalog some more luxurious variations. For example, you can choose to dress your camera in wood and metal, but also in an amazing Plexiglas shell that lets you see the electronic board.

Paper Shoot © © Paper Shoot

© Papershoot

George Lin points out that its shells are made of environmentally friendly and recyclable materials. If you feel the soul of an artist, you can even acquire an entirely white shell that you can customize according to your tastes.

A fun experience

Taking pictures with Paper Shoot is very fun. Halfway between the disposable camera and the digital compact, you will need to connect it to a computer in order to discover your creations.

Paper Shoot © © Paper Shoot
Paper Shoot © © Paper Shoot

© Papershoot

The image quality is correct, nothing more, and recalls that of the digital compacts of the years 2000-2010. you will also have to get used to a certain trigger latency, the on-board electronics not being very sophisticated.

Paper Shoot © © Paper Shoot
Paper Shoot © © Paper Shoot

© Papershoot

It is possible to add optional lenses to the camera in order to take fun images (wide-angle, macro, prism, etc.). These attach to the main lens using a clever system of magnets. The video part is not forgotten, and you can make short sequences in 1440p, timelapses as well as vintage camera sequences. To do this, you will need to acquire a function card (13 euros) and a very original crank which will control the recording speed of the sequence. This was unfortunately unavailable at the time of our test.

In summary, Paper Shoot is not as powerful as a smartphone or a conventional camera, of course, but it still offers pleasant images, whose imperfections have their charm… Simple to use, it is very popular with younger, especially in its customizable version.

Our only small regret is its price, which has increased quite a bit over the different versions. It will now cost 120 euros to acquire it. That said, George Lin’s company uses a significant portion of its revenue to support the educational needs of school children.

Find Paper Shoot on its designer’s website

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