Yashica unveils pocket-sized Tank compact camera
Camera brand Yashica has announced a new pocket-sized digital camera aimed at photographers looking for a simple alternative to shooting with a smartphone.
The new Yashica Tank Compact Digital Camera combines lightweight design with basic photo and video features, including a 12-megapixel sensor and 4K video recording.
Designed for everyday photography, the camera focuses on portability and ease of use rather than advanced controls or interchangeable lenses.
The camera uses a 1/2.8-inch CMOS sensor with an effective resolution of 12 megapixels. According to the manufacturer, the sensor is intended to produce clean images while maintaining a slightly softer look reminiscent of older digital compacts.
A fixed autofocus lens with a 2.3 mm focal length and f/2.0 aperture is built into the body, with a focus range from 0.1 metres to infinity. The camera offers several metering modes, including central, matrix, average and single-point metering, along with exposure compensation between minus three and plus three stops.
White balance presets include daylight, cloudy, tungsten and fluorescent options. The camera also features 11 built-in filters that allow users to apply stylistic effects directly while shooting.
Still images are recorded in JPEG format at 12, 24 or 36 megapixels, with 12 megapixels set as the default resolution. ISO sensitivity can be left on automatic or manually adjusted from ISO 100 to ISO 6400.
For video, the camera records at several resolutions, including 4K at 30 frames per second, 2K at 30 frames per second, and Full HD at 60 or 30 frames per second. A 720p option is also available at 60 or 30 frames per second, with footage saved in MP4 format.
A built-in LED light serves as both a flash for still photography and a continuous light source for video recording in low-light conditions.
The camera is equipped with a 3-inch flip-out LCD screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 360 by 640 pixels. The display allows users to frame shots from different angles and review recorded video clips, supported by a built-in speaker.
Measuring 10 × 2 × 5.5 centimetres and weighing around 105 grams, the camera is designed to fit easily in a pocket or small bag.
Power comes from an 800 mAh BL-5B lithium battery, with charging and data transfer handled through a USB-C connection. Images and videos are stored on MicroSD cards ranging from 8 GB to 256 GB, with Class 10 U3 cards recommended for higher-resolution video recording.
To conserve battery life, the camera also includes an automatic power-off function that can be set to five or ten minutes.
Small point-and-shoot cameras are arguably the camera industry's hottest property right now, as photographers look for devices that separate photography from smartphone apps and notifications.
Many of these devices focus on simple operation, fixed lenses and compact bodies suited to travel, street photography and casual documentation.
However, Yashica has not won many fans with its other digital cameras, which, despite featuring on-point nostalgic branding, have left many users disappointed with their shoddy builds, low-resolution sensors, slow autofocus, and inconsistent image quality.
We'll wait and see if the Tank is any different.
Availability
Pre-orders for the camera are now open, with shipping expected to begin during the week of March 27, 2026.
According to the company, the first 100 customers who place a pre-order will receive a complimentary Yashica USB card reader.
You can order yours from Yashica's website.