[Instagram Walk] ThingsCSMF - A Camera Shop Preserving Nostalgia from the Past

Vintage Camera Shop Riding the Retro Wave
From Film Cameras to Polaroids
Various Models Available... Many Foreign Customers
Monthly One-Day Classes for Beginners Open

Film cameras from various brands including Minolta displayed on a shelf against the wall / Photo by Mayena PD sw93yena@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Gayeon] Just evoking nostalgia is considered half the battle won. It can easily open anyone’s heart. The unbreakable link to the past comes in many forms. One of them is the film camera that has survived carrying someone’s memories and years. Even though high-quality records with clear melodies can be easily obtained, sometimes people seek out old LP records to listen to songs accompanied by the crackling sound. Film has gained even more precious value recently in an era where everything is digitalized. Although obtaining a single photo requires a complicated process of developing and printing, it makes the moment captured in the photo feel even more special.

Riding the so-called 'Newtro' wave that reinterprets retro recently, film cameras have regained popularity, attracting Instagrammers to a certain place. It is the vintage camera shop 'Things csmf' located in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul. If you exit from Euljiro 3-ga Station Exit 4 and turn several times down the alleys for about three minutes, you can find this place that preserves memories from before the 2000s.

On the afternoon of the 1st, around 1 PM, I visited this place. After confirming the ivory-colored wooden signboard that read 'Selected Old Things Shop' and 'things_csmf,' I headed to the third floor. The space, about 4 to 5 pyeong (approximately 13 to 16.5 square meters), was packed with dozens of film cameras, unique vintage items, and LPs. A Polaroid camera that looked like something from a movie caught my eye. The noise from the street coming through the open window, the warm sunlight, the softly playing LP turntable, and the scent of burning incense sticks made me feel as if I had stepped into another era.

To CEO Seo Heli, this space is a place that came to her like fate. As the store’s name means "Come see my favorite, come see the things I like," Seo filled the showroom with old items she personally selected. Having used film cameras for over ten years since college and being deeply fascinated by their charm, Seo brightly smiled when asked, "Which type of camera do you like the most?black and white, color, manual, or automatic?" She said, "I like them all. I don’t mind, I like all of them." That smile confirmed her affection for cameras.

Vintage camera shop 'Things CSMF' located in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul / Photo by Mayena PD sw93yena@asiae.co.kr

On the drawers surrounding the walls, various models of cameras are neatly displayed, ranging from Minolta, Canon, Yashica manual and automatic film cameras to old Polaroid cameras. On the round table in the center of the store, films with various sensitivities such as 200 and 400 are spread out. Accessories like leather straps for cameras also catch the eye.

Because of this, not only enthusiasts but also beginners seeking a unique experience frequently visit. Mainly women in their 20s and 30s and couples come here, but there are also many foreign customers. An Australian tourist who visited several times with friends said this place was "the best camera shop among many I have visited."

CEO Seo expressed strong affection for things that have endured persistently. These include film cameras and vintage items. She said, "Although many were produced in the past, it’s amazing that cameras aged gracefully?at least 30 years old, and some 50 to 60 years old?are still usable today," adding, "I became interested in old things like wind-up watches and tape players, things that have lasted well until now."

The store holds a one-day class every month. Seo explained, "Most customers who come to the shop to purchase are beginners, and as I explain things one by one, conversations tend to get longer," adding, "I wanted to teach many people and let them experience it, so it became a class. The response has been very good, so we hold it every month."

Old props such as typewriters and tape players are also placed here and there.
Photo by Mayena PD sw93yena@asiae.co.kr

This is a place where people in their 20s and 30s who are interested in film cameras but hesitant to buy gather in small groups. In the class, they learn about how cameras operate, how to manage film, and Seo’s own shooting tips. After the explanation, they take the camera and capture scenes from their own perspective. Manual cameras, which might seem difficult to operate, are especially popular among beginners. After shooting, the film is sent to a connected developing lab.

One visitor said, "I went to a light class because I liked the film vibe, and I ended up discovering its charm. I’m gradually finding my taste." As American photographer Ansel Adams defined, "A great photograph is a complete expression of emotion toward the subject in its deepest sense, and thereby a true expression of the emotions about life as a whole," photos taken with film offer a richer 'flavor.'

CEO Seo is planning a project combining travel and photography. First, she plans to offer classes for foreigners traveling with film cameras in Korea, and second, to rent film cameras to travelers. Seo said, "It would be great to capture travel moments with a film camera. I could recommend it, and it could become a cultural space," adding, "I hope everyone falls in love with the charm of film cameras."