The allure of analog photography in a digital world has held the world in a tight-fisted grip. Despite their advancements, modern cameras can provide sterile images, which can be too much for many. To ensure that photographers get the best of both worlds—the ease of digital but the beauty of analog—Yashica partnered with I’m Back as part of a new campaign. The two have worked together to create three exceptional new products, which we are certain you’d fall in love with.
The images are provided by I’m Back. Used with permission.
I’m Back Film: A Hybrid Photography Kit
I’m Back is a Kickstarter campaign that gives old film cameras a new life. As part of this, they have launched I’m Back Film, which transforms film cameras into hybrid systems. How so? It uses a Four Thirds sensor, which can capture digital pictures with classic film equipment
Key Features
- I’m Back Film includes a 21.27 MP MFT Sony IMX269 CMOS sensor.
- It features a Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA) circuit and a 12-bit Analog-to-Digital converter, and it can shoot up to 27.27 fps stills.
- Processor: NT9853X.
- RAW, JPEG, and film presets, including Kodachrome and Fujifilm.
- 4K at 60fps/30fps video formats.
- Can connect to Type C, HDMI, WiFi, and TF card.
- 256GB SD Class 1 memory card.
- 0.250 kg weight.
The camera will also work in tandem with the I’m Back mobile app, making instant sharing, control, and editing easy for iOS and Android users. So, while you enjoy the look and feel of an analog camera, you also get the benefit of digital features.
I’m Back 35: A Digital Camera
This is another exciting hybrid offering that turns 35mm cameras into digital devices. It is also the first affordable digital back designed for 35mm cameras, allowing photographers to enjoy a modern camera’s vintage appeal. I’m Back co-founder and CEO Filippo Kenji Nishino says the aluminum universal cover is “compatible with nearly all popular analog cameras.” Some of its key features include manual control settings such as aperture and exposure. It supports RAW and JPEG, 4K at 30fps, and 1080p at 60fps. It also has a better ergonomic design and printed circuit board (PCBA) for better performance.
Specification:
- Panasonic 34112 sensor with Icatch V39 processor.
- 2-inch LCD display.
- 14M, 10M, 8M, and other photo resolution.
- Micro SD/Class 10, max capacity 128GB memory.
- 1kg weight.
- 30 × 25 × 30 cm in size.
- Connectivity: Type C, HDMI, TF card, MIC, 3.5mm, Sync cable, 1.5mm
I’m Back MF: Breathes Life into Medium Format
This one is perfect for those who like to shoot with vintage 6×4.5, 6×6, and 6×7 film cameras. I’m Back’s digital backs are capable of retaining the details and shallow depth of field seen in large format cameras in their digital versions while making it easy to shoot pictures and videos.
So, how does the camera ensure the same quality? For starters, there is a depth-of-field adapter, which projects the images on the focusing screen. This will eliminate cropping and retain the details of an image. There is also a 16MP Panasonic sensor, which will allow users to capture images with 20m to 3m resolution and VGA. A 2-inch touch display helps to navigate the menu, too. With WiFi connectivity, one can easily transfer the images to their smartphone to share. Furthermore, the smartphone can also be utilized to control the camera.
Specification:
- 16MP CMOS sensor and NT 96660 processor with 100 to 3200 ISO range.
- JPG (Color/Sepia/B&W) and RAW (Black and White)
- Micro SD (Max 128GB) stroage.
- Focusing screen.
- UHD24 (2880×2160) to VGA (240) video recording capabilities.
- USB Type-C interface.
- 0.250 kg weight
- 30 × 25 × 30 cm dimensions
- 2,700mAh battery.
I’m Back’s campaign is truly revolutionary in every way. The company has already launched Kickstarter campaigns for the three devices for funding, and the next phase targets production and distribution. In a time when there was a market for used cameras, I’m Back allowed photographers to experience a hybrid camera with which neither Sony, Canon, nor Leica could compete. This campaign is marking the start of an excellent era in photography, which gives users enough flexibility to achieve their creative vision at affordable prices. If this hasn’t excited you, we don’t know what else will.