Digital cameras have made photography a bigger part of our everyday lives than ever before. Yet, from daguerreotypes to Polaroids, the devices that traditionally allowed us to take photographs were much different than the smartphone cameras of today. The Haynes Classic Camera Making Kit takes things back a few decades with an easy-to-assemble twin reflex camera. The vintage design brings photography back to the analog age with a more visceral process than any camera app could offer.
The finished product of this DIY camera from Firebox brings all the joys of shooting in 35mm film. The top-down viewfinder puts you in the perspective of a photographer from yesteryear once the easy-to-follow instructions guide you through the building process that edifies you about the inner machinations of the camera. After developing each photo, you’ll have plenty of keepsakes for friends, family, and yourself that will hold much more sentimental value than being tagged in another post on Instagram.