A camera prototype swallowed my memory card and other weird stories from the life of a camera reviewer

Summary

A decade of reviewing camera prototypes has yielded unusual experiences, including a memory card that vanished inside a Rewindpix camera and required disassembly to retrieve. Another instance involved a frozen Instax Mini Evo Cinema that needed a sewing needle to access its reset button. The author also recounted drowning a laptop while testing a supposedly waterproof bag. These events underscore the complexities and challenges in perfecting camera design before market release.

Key points

• A memory card disappeared inside a prototype Rewindpix camera, necessitating its disassembly for retrieval.
• A frozen Instax Mini Evo Cinema required a sewing needle to press its reset button.
• Testing a Kickstarter bag led to a laptop being damaged due to a failed waterproof claim.
• The author's experiences highlight the unseen work involved in camera design and durability testing.