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The Cameras Used by Your Favorite Anime Characters

Monochromatic Aberration September 11, 2025

It should come as no surprise that two of my hobbies are photography and anime, and of course, I’m always fascinated when the two overlap. Anime is such a broad and deep medium, that this isn’t that rare of an occurrence, but I find it interesting nonetheless. These range from things as simple as a camera appearing in a series (is it modeled on a real camera, or is it imaginary?) to full shows based on photography (in truth, or ostensibly). I’ve been meaning to take a look at a few of the notable examples in aggregate from works I’ve seen, and see if a pattern emerges.

Let's take a look at some notable examples, or things that caught my eye.

This post borrows screenshots from Infinite Zenith__and__ Ani-Came!, two real good websites. Go check them out for more.

What Camera is Used in Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru Season 2?

Marin holds her Canon EOS Kiss M (EOS M50 outside of Japan)

I must admit, I was fair lukewarm on Sono Bisque Doll when the first season aired. I thought it was kind of cute, but suffered from an overly-passive protagonist, leaned too heavily on fanservice. I've recently rewatched the series, and continued on to season two, and I've definitely warmed to it. I find it a lot more charming this time around, even if the general arc flow leaves a bit to be desired.

Season two finds Marin finally purchasing her own camera, in an attempt to take better cosplay pictures, and really there's no guessing here: they directly state it's a Canon EOS Kiss M , which was called the EOS M50 outside of Japan. This is a nice little mirrorless camera from 2018. Generally, the photography in this series takes a backseat to the characters, and general love for cosplay more directly, but with how much Marin and Gojō gush over this camera, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a brand deal.

What Cameras are Used in Mono?

Mono cover

Recently, I wrote a bit about Mono, an anime that is ostensibly centered on a photography club (the “cinephoto club,” after they merge with a film club) at a high school, though in the course of the narrative (beyond all but the first episode), the act of photography is largely incidental to the actual plot. The characters may stop to take photos, or an arc might be based on their attempt to set out to capture an image or a video, but it’s secondary to the relationship of the characters, which takes center stage. This is one of the things I find interesting: how close or far any given series gets from photography, even if it’s seemingly central to the story.

The cameras the characters use here are not directly identifiable, but it doesn’t really matter for the plot. Still, as I wrote before, I found it interesting that as beginners looking to purchase their first cameras, the pair opts for a 360 camera (still an incredibly niche product) and an action camera. I think this mirrors something of the characters themselves; they’re interested in what the cameras do (though Satsuki admits she likes the artificial shutter sound of her 360 camera) more than conforming to tradition. Satsuki wants to make timelapses; shoot interesting, wide panoramas, so the 360 camera is a logical choice. I’d never even seen one of these in America, though the leader of the run club I attend brings one on every run for promotional photos.

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What Cameras are Used in Irodzuku: The World In Color?

Hitomi with unidentified camera

Irodzuku: The World in Color also deals with a photography club, but I think it leans more towards the background here too. This is one of those series I recommend immediately to people curious about anime—it feels like a story that couldn’t exist in any other medium. Hitomi is a young witch who suffers from achromatopsia: she cannot see color. In an attempt to ease Hitomi’s struggling, her grandmother sends her 60 years into the past to meet her when they were the same age.

I don’t believe any of the cameras are based on real models. Photography isn’t the focus here, but neither is the presence of magic; oddly enough. This is a character-driven narrative through and through. Still, the characters are all part of the Magic Photography Arts Club, which is as much of a hodge-podge as the name suggests.

In one sequence, the characters are overlooking the city, aiming to make images of the sparkling night landscape, and end up doing monochromatic photography, a touching moment given Hitomi’s condition. It lets her see something she’s embarrassed about, views as a weakness, as a more-neutral difference. In a certain light, it could even be a strength. Of course, I’ve always loved monochromatic photography, and trying to use cameras in the “wrong” way. But I think this speaks towards a deeper point in photography: the ability to see something in a new light, and then to share that view with others; the unique way you view the world.

What Cameras are Used in Tamayura?

Fū with her Rollei 35S, and another character's Fujifilm X100S

Tamayura is another series about a photography club, though one that takes photography a bit more seriously than Mono (Mono is still good, it’s just not really about photography). In it, Fū Sawatari is a girl who connects with the world around her through the process of taking photos; always with a Rollei 35 S , a gift from her deceased father. Much of the original series deals with her looking at the photos she’d taken previously, or her father had, and trying to find the ethereal quality she occasionally found. While this might not manifest in the same way for most people (for Fū, it’s often in the form of some sort of orb-like artifacts on her images), but I think anyone who’s done even a bit of photography knows the feeling of looking at a photo they’ve taken and knowing they got it.

The Rollei is an interesting little camera—very little! When it was released, it was the smallest 35mm film camera. My film camera these days is the teeny-tiny Minolta CLE, and somehow the Rollei is even smaller—I’d love to give one a go someday. It’s such a cult classic, it was recently remade by another company to add autofocus (albeit slightly larger than before). For Fū, it’s her constant companion, and the microscopic size makes it an ideal daily-carry camera.

What Cameras are Used in Kimi wa Hōkago Insomnia?

Nakami and Magari with his Canon 5D IV

This one’s not quite about a photography club—instead, main characters Ganta Nakami and Isaki Magari restart their school’s astronomy club—but Kimi wa Hōkago Insomnia still feels like it fits the bill to me. I loved this anime, it’s one of those series I continue to think about long after it finished airing; I’ve got to read the source manga soon. It’s a lovely, thoughtful series. I wrote previously about how it handled the difficulty between one’s interests and their obligations, and finding places where you feel at ease, and photography is often how this is explored.

In Hōkago Insomnia , both Magari and Nakami bond over their shared suffering from insomnia, which leads to various difficulties in the school and personal lives. The two agree to share the school’s defunct observatory (nice school) as a nap space, before relaunching the astronomy club in earnest as their interest in the stars and each other develops. Nakami in particular becomes interested in astrophotography, a unique discipline I know very very little about. The photography aspect here is a bit more important than in some of the other series, with the pair’s efforts to improve their abilities and take nicer photos leading to meeting new people and deepening their connection. The gear is somewhat secondary, but Nakami uses a Canon 5D IV , kind of an iconic workhorse camera though now surpassed by a lot of newer options.

What Cameras are Used in Eureka Seven?

Stoner with his Nikon F3

Photography plays a central role in Eureka Seven , an epic mecha anime that I feel is only recently getting its due. In it, a band of outlaws called Gekkostate exist at the margins, using a self-produced magazine called “ray=out” to share about their exploits. It’s through ray=out that protagonist Renton Thurston initially connects with them, before joining the group himself.

Of course, the photography for the magazine is a key part of crafting their image, which Renton soon learns clashes with how they actually are. The person behind the photographs is Stoner, a sort of classic photojournalist character, who true to his “old-head” ways uses a Nikon F3 , often with the motor drive attachment to allow for high-speed shooting even on 35mm film.

The F3 is a classic for a reason though, and Stoner wields it well. He’s got a propensity to distribute wisdom whenever the thought arises, and knows the power of a well-composed photograph. It’s funny to me that in a series that takes place in the year 12005, they’re not only still using 35mm film, but distributing physical magazines. We could be so lucky.

What Cameras are Used in FLCL?

Finally, I wanted to do kind of a “lightning round,” just identifying some cameras I saw come up. FLCL is quite famous overall, and Mamimi Samejima uses Olympus cameras; mainly the OM-1, but I like her use of the XA2. Like the Rollei 35S from Tamayura , this is another tiny compact camera, well regarded for the quality of its fixed lens as much as its pocketable size. I’ve previously owned one, but sold it before moving. I should get another.

Mamimi with her Olympuses

What Cameras are Used in K-ON!

In K-ON! and K-ON!!, the KyoAni series about a highschool band club, Mio Akiyama uses a Lomo LC-A. This is a funny little camera, sort of a cult classic, though I've never owned one, and unfortunately can't really figure out why! Cool that Mio uses one, though.

Are There Any Anime Series That Feature Leicas?

I was curious to see if any series had showcased Leicas, but was surprised at how few I found. Apparently, a Leica M6 appears in an episode or two of Fire Force, though I haven’t seen enough to know.

Fire Force character with a Leica M6A Leica M3 in SPYxFAMILY A Leica M3 in Darling in the Franxx

I’d forgotten about this, but a Leica M3 appears in both SPY x FAMILY, and Darling in the Franxx. These are such classic cameras, they fit perfectly these respective series’ worlds—but surprising there’s not much more!

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