---
title: "A Hacked Game Boy Camera Shoots the Best Drifting Photos"
description: "Limitations have a funny way of driving creativity."
date: "2022-01-24"
modified: "2022-01-24"
authors:
  - name: "Lewin Day"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/lewin-day"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/44006/a-hacked-game-boy-camera-shoots-the-best-drifting-photos"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
---

# A Hacked Game Boy Camera Shoots the Best Drifting Photos

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2022/01/rockdrift.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Typically, if you want to get into automotive photography, people will tell you to purchase a high-end DSLR and some quality lenses before you head out on a shoot. Conor Merrigan went a little off-book, however, instead choosing to show up to a drift event with a hacked Game Boy Camera in tow. Despite the meager hardware, [he came back with impressive results.](<https://www.facebook.com/groups/461241481043213/permalink/1286920495141970/?sfnsn=mo&ref=share>)

The Game Boy Camera was released in 1998 along with the Game Boy Printer which printed out photos on thermal receipt paper. The camera takes four-color greyscale images at a resolution of just 128 x 112 pixels. Despite this, the camera has gained a cult following amongst the retro set over the years, who appreciate charms of its blocky pixellated output.

![message-editor%2F1643068347761-272113460\_5024827847555208\_8856883477064806813\_n.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1643068347761-272113460_5024827847555208_8856883477064806813_n.jpg>)
*Instagram/@conorsev07*

![message-editor%2F1643068362827-271864383\_5024827950888531\_5003995858365412694\_n.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1643068362827-271864383_5024827950888531_5003995858365412694_n.jpg>)
*Instagram/@conorsev07*

![message-editor%2F1643068382308-271987307\_5024828204221839\_9201103396903311171\_n.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1643068382308-271987307_5024828204221839_9201103396903311171_n.jpg>)
*Instagram/@conorsev07*

Stock, the weedy little lens on the Game Boy Camera isn't good for much. Instead, Merrigan used a 3D-printed adapter to fit a Canon DSLR lens to the camera instead, [sharing the process on his YouTube channel](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpizq3mVY20>). This provides more zoom for better long-range shots over the stock wide-angle lens, making it better for shooting automotive content. Along with a special adapter to get photos off the Game Boy and on to a computer, the rig is fit for the track.

Merrigan posted the photos on Instagram under the handle [@conorsev07](<https://www.instagram.com/conorsev07/>), where he shares drifting content and his own project cars regularly. The resulting photos are blocky, and are best viewed closer to their original postage-stamped size as they'd appear on a Game Boy itself. At large scale, the dithering is too obvious. However, when viewed under ideal conditions, the low-resolution and four-color images have a beautiful aesthetic, particularly in the green shades of the original Game Boy's screen.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZFoPhZBi5W

While you're unlikely to find yourself scoring a press pass with a 30-year-old Nintendo console, it's fun to see the results that old-school equipment can put out with a few modern upgrades. We've seen similar builds pop up before too, such as at [the 2018 Chinese Grand Prix](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20961/this-photographer-used-a-modified-game-boy-camera-to-shoot-an-f1-grand-prix>) and, rather fittingly, at [the Radwood car show](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21770/the-radwood-car-show-viewed-through-game-boy-camera>). There's always some fun to be had when experimenting with your craft, as these projects ably show.

*Got a tip? Let the author know: lewin@thedrive.com*

## Author
Lewin Day is a contributing writer tackling everything from breaking news after the offices empty out to sharing feature articles on wrenching, robotics, and the trials and tribulations of being a down-to-earth car enthusiast. He lives in Adelaide, Australia.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://au.linkedin.com/in/lewin-day-64897944>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/rainbowdefault>)