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MagyarInnovative digital film cartridge raises US$250k in 3 days on Kickstarter, further product details revealed
Last week we had reported on the innovative I’m Back digital conversion kit for film cameras, which uses a film-roll shaped 20 MP micro 4/3 sensor unit and an external camera base to make almost any 35 mm film camera capable of capturing digital images. The project’s Kickstarter campaign went live on October 14 and has met with resounding success, achieving its US$$27,754 funding goal in a mere 17 minutes. In its first three days, it has raised over US$250,000 and counting, with 46 more days to go.
The launch confirms the previously tentative price of CHF 639 or US$711 for the kit (MSRP will be set at US$899 when it goes into regular production after the campaign). Some more details about the device and its working have also been revealed.
Most importantly, it clarifies exactly how the digital system meters and captures images in conjunction with the analog camera’s settings and shutter release. There are two modes of operation. In Manual Mode, one sets all the parameters, including shutter speed, from the camera, based on its in-built exposure meter or one’s own judgement. To click the photo, one must activate the sensor by pressing a button on the I’m Back unit up to two seconds before clicking the camera’s shutter.
The Automatic Mode provides a more standard digital camera experience with live-view. For this, the shutter must be set to ‘Bulb’ or ‘Time’ setting to be held permanently open. Then, one can preview the image on the unit’s LCD, set parameters like aperture, focus, zoom, and click the ‘digital shutter release’ button to capture the image. The in-built processor will adjust shutter speed and ISO to get the right exposure.
A new video (posted below) also explains how the smaller micro 4/3 sensor can be centred in the full frame area. This ensures that the sensor captures exactly what the user frames through the optical viewfinder. There are also new details of the mobile app (available for iOS and Android) through which photos can be transferred from camera to smartphone, and of the device’s own LCD touchscreen interface.
The I’m Back kit will be officially distributed by B&H Photo Video and Adorama in the US. For now it can be ordered at its reduced price by backing the campaign on Kickstarter.
For a different experience of analog-digital photography you can buy the retro themed Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic instant camera or the hybrid Instax Mini Evo, both available on Amazon. Or for a full-manual experience, you can go with the more premium Polaroid I-2 camera.
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