We’ve seen a lot of gimmicks when it comes to selling cameras. Especially where point-and-shoots are concerned, gimmicky features have become standard over the past few years as part of the war on smartphones. But this has to be one of most interesting: a special edition camera with the sole purpose of inserting Japanese anime characters into your pictures.

The camera is a modified Casio Exilim, and the second in a series of cameras by electronics magazine Digimono Station made especially for fans of the show “Puella Magi Madoka Magica.” Read more…

With camera-equipped phones eating up more and more of the compact camera market, manufacturers are turning to gimmicky features in order to lure consumers. Canon’s new line of ELPH cameras have a Sleeping Face Recognition mode that’ll make your camera creepy stealthy (i.e. turn off flash, assist beam, and sounds) when it detects someone sleeping in the frame. Olympus’ new VR-340 has a Beauty Make-Up Mode that offers 18 in-camera enhancements (e.g. whiten teeth, lift cheek bones) — something that Panasonic is also dabbling in. Too bad these features can easily be offered as an app on smartphones. Someone should tell camera makers to focus on ease of use and image quality — areas they might still be competitive in.

Image credit: Illustration by Disney

Here’s a unique way to keep your photographs close at hand (literally): USB flash drive cufflinks. Removing the lid on each cufflink reveals at 2GB flash drive, for 4 gigs of total storage. They’re available in gunmetal and gold finishes, and can be customized with an engraving. Sadly, these novelty items are usually absurdly expensive, and these cufflinks are no exception — the pair costs a whopping $195.

4GB USB Flash Drive Cufflinks (via Wired)