As if the iPhone weren't already annoyingly awesome enough, with it's apps and ability to read your email and talk on the phone at the same time. Now they've come out with the Hipstamatic app which imitates the grainy, oversaturated look of old school toy camera's like the Helga and Diana but for the camera on your phone - which coincidently also offers low resolution and grainy images. A brilliant marrying of old and new.
The images are marvelously rich and analog looking for what you think you can do with a digital camera.
Hipstamatic was first invited in 1982 by two brothers, Bruce and Winston Dorbowski who got their first toy cameras from their Dad for Christmas in 1972. Loving the Kodak Instamatic and wanting an affordable camera for everyone, they came up with the Hipstamatic. Tragically, they were both killed only two years later by a drunk driver with only 157 cameras ever made. In a tribute to them, their camera lives on thanks to the folks at Synthetic.
Just like with toy cameras, you get weird color effects, blurred subjects, and vignettes. This isn't a camera defect; far from it, in fact. This is where Hipstamatic truly shines and is the reason why so many Lomo fans love their toy cameras. It¹s all about the unpredictability. And yet, with the ease of a few finger swipes, you can view your photos just like with a digital camera. Unpredictable, but easily editable.
Like a real camera the Hipstamatic app has a front and a back. With the front facing you on the iPhone's screen, you may change the lens by swiping a finger across the front of the camera's body. By pressing the button on the lower right corner of the screen, it will flip the camera and open so you can select the type of film you want to use. Once this is set, simply look into the camera¹s small viewfinder and press the big yellow button to your right. Wait a few seconds for "developing" and you can view the images by selecting the small frame at the lower left corner. There is even a "flash" feature, although I haven't quite figured out how to use it in a good way just yet.
A good number of films and lenses come with the Hipstamatic, however, if you simply just can¹t get enough, (I don¹t know of any photographer that ever is), additional films and lenses can be easily purchased. I ended buying additionally, the Shibuya Float Film, Pistil Film as well as the Helga Viking Lens. I'm sure I'll get more.
