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'Devil camera': '90s point-and-shoot horrifies tech-savvy kids

Watch the next generation of photographers attempt to use a camera with actual film. Get ready to feel old thanks to the latest "Kids React" video from The Fine Brothers.

Bonnie Burton
Journalist Bonnie Burton writes about movies, TV shows, comics, science and robots. She is the author of the books Live or Die: Survival Hacks, Wizarding World: Movie Magic Amazing Artifacts, The Star Wars Craft Book, Girls Against Girls, Draw Star Wars, Planets in Peril and more! E-mail Bonnie.
Bonnie Burton
3 min read

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"I don't know how I would have survived!" Chloe, age 10, said. Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET

When tech-savvy kids are asked to operate old cameras, the result is both confusing and hilarious in the latest "Kids React" video.

In the "Kids React to Old Cameras" video by new-media production duo Benny and Rafi Fine -- also known as The Fine Brothers -- kids attempt to figure out how to operate a Canon Sure Shot 85 Zoom camera.

Past episodes of the series have seen kids hilariously attempt to figure out rotary phones, Walkman cassette players, old Apple computers and a Nintendo Game Boy.

"This time we showed them a camera that we may not feel is old -- a 1998 point-and-shoot film camera -- but to these kids, who were not even born then, they immediately call it old, and have no idea what to do, except one astute 13 year old," Benny Fine told Crave.

When handed a Canon Sure Shot camera -- which was made in 1998 -- the kids aren't sure how to take a photo. Once they figure out which button to press to turn it on, they're surprised by the sound it makes.

Even after the kids start snapping shots, they're reminded by the Fine Brothers that they haven't actually taken any photos because the camera is missing a key component. The kids take their best guess.

"A battery? A plug? A tape? A little card thing?" Addy, age 11, guessed.

"There's no photo fluid in this thing!" Shannon, age 10, said.

The kids are told cameras need film, and watching them try to load the gadgets is even more interesting to witness.

"I hope there's like a YouTube tutorial video for this or something, that would be great," Tyler F., age 11 suggested.

"Who knew taking a picture could be such hard work?" Morgan A., age 11, asked.

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"Old-time selfie!" Krischelle, age 10, exclaimed while taking a photo of herself. Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET

"After finally getting the film in and taking the photo, once they find out there is no way to view it immediately, they almost all call the camera 'pointless' and 'useless,'" Fine told Crave.

When Krischelle, age 10, is informed there's no way to see photos right after they're shot she complained, "What's the whole point of taking it?"

Explaining that people had to take their film to a store and wait for an hour or more for it to be developed before they could even see the final photos horrified the kids.

"When did real camera come out where you didn't have to do all that?" Tyler F., age 11 asked.

When the Fine Brothers then explain that people paid for film, then paid to have it processed every time they wanted photos, the kids were confused why people would spend that much money on photos.

"I feel bad for those people," Claudia, age 12, replied. "This is the devil camera."

Only 1 out of the 10 kids who tested the camera preferred the old camera to its current digital counterpart.

"Usually if you take a picture on your phone you want it to be there forever but it's not gonna stay there unless you print every single picture you've taken out," Tyler F., age 11 said.

As Fine reminded, "So much changes so fast as these episodes always remind us. Technology has come quite the long way."