Kenko Tokina Pieni III: An 18-Gram Camera

The tiny Pieni III weighs 18 g, charges via USB-C, and attaches to metal with a magnet. It takes photos and videos in modest quality; in Japan, prices start at 6,600 yen.

The tiny Kenko Tokina Pieni III weighs 18 grams and attaches to metal

While Kenko Tokina develops its first new lens in several years, the company continues to release compact cameras for the Japanese market. One of its latest models is the digital Pieni III, which can be worn around the neck. Its recommended price is 6,600 yen, or about $38.

The camera measures 53 × 35 × 18 mm and weighs just 18 g. That's about 0.63 ounces and roughly one nine-thousandth the weight of a Noct lens. The microSD card slot is one of the few components for which there was enough room in the body.

The Pieni III has a built-in battery that charges via USB-C. The previous model, the Pieni II, used a micro-USB port for charging. Another new feature is the magnetic back panel: the camera can be attached to a metal object, such as a railing, to take a selfie.

Here, a tiny body matters more than image quality

According to the Japanese publication CAPA Camera Web, the camera has a Type 1/10 sensor. Its stated resolution is 1.38 megapixels, although the device upscales photos originally taken at 0.32 megapixels. The Pieni III also records 720p video at up to 30 frames per second.

The built-in lens has a 1.8 mm focal length and an f/2.8 aperture. In 35mm-equivalent terms, it corresponds to a 42mm prime lens. It can focus from 0.3 m to infinity, though with such a tiny sensor, almost everything in the frame will probably appear sharp. Sample photos show modest image quality; a photo with a microSD card next to the camera illustrates just how small the Pieni III is.

Sensitivity is fixed at ISO 100, and the shutter speed is selected automatically. The camera has neither an electronic viewfinder nor a display for reviewing photos. Images can only be viewed on another device, such as a smartphone or computer.

Standard colors and versions featuring Sanrio characters

The Pieni III is available in blue, pastel pink, white, and black. There are also versions featuring Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, and Hangyodon—a character who is half fish and half human.

The standard version is sold in Japan for 6,600 yen, which is about $38 at the current exchange rate. The Sanrio editions cost more: 8,470 yen, or over $53. Images provided by Kenko Tokina.