Concept8cam is a Polaroid-style digital camera designed not to save photos—but to make the act of photography itself a playful, social experience.
In contrast to typical cameras, 8cam doesn't store images. Instead, each photo becomes a trigger for interaction—something to be reacted to together in real time, turning every shot into a shared moment.
Core Experience: How You Enjoy the PhotosEvery time you take a photo with 8cam, you can enjoy it in one of three ways:
- 🖨️ Print it instantly on a thermal printer via Bluetooth, with a built-in “omikuji” (Japanese fortune) and a QR code to the image
- ☁️ Upload it to the cloud via LTE-M (SORACOM Beam → S3), then scan the printed QR to view it online
- 📱 Send It directly to a smartphone using a QR code and Captive Portal—no internet connection required
Each option transforms the photo into something more than data: a gift, a shared surprise, or a moment of connection.
Technical Details- Captures photos at 300, 000-pixel resolution
- No internal storage — the experience is ephemeral by design
- Transparent 1.5" OLED display for real-time live view
- Scroll unit used as the shutter button
- Photos are converted to 1bpp grayscale BMPs for thermal printing
- Uploads to S3 via Stamp CatM + SORACOM Beam API
- BLE thermal printer support (MXW01)
- Offline photo sharing via Captive Portal over Wi-Fi
Personal StoryI built 8cam to enjoy with my two sons, ages 7 and 3.I wanted something that we could use together, where the joy wasn’t just in the final image, but in the process: framing the scene, pressing the shutter, and reacting to the result together in real time—whether it’s the omikuji fortune or the photo itself.The tiny printouts often become impromptu gifts, sparking even more interaction.
Design Highlights8cam’s exterior is built almost entirely from LEGO Technic parts, giving it a lightweight, modular, and playful form.The only non-LEGO part is a 3D-printed bracket used to secure the cellular antenna in place—designed to fit neatly into the frame.
The idea of using a transparent display as a viewfinder was inspired by 由井河あきら’s “Pixel Art Camera.”
I’m deeply grateful for such a brilliant idea.
Demo
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