I’ll be the first to admit that when I first started taking my photography seriously, I looked down on people who used their mobile devices to take pictures. I’m also a bigger person and have grown much as a photographer. The cameras available on mobile devices are far better now than in the early 2000s, and I have come to appreciate the power they bring. While I have written on this subject in the past, this entry will be different. Rather than focus on mobile photography, I’ll look at some of the apps I have collected and why I like using them outside the stock camera app. So, throughout March, I took the opportunity to do some serious work with the following applications to put together this post. These applications include Hipstamatic Classic, FIMO, and NOMO Cam, all shot using an iPhone 15 Pro and uploaded to Flickr. Each week, I went out for two or three days to use the app of the week to make images like I would with a digital or film camera. I wasn’t setting on a single preset either, I went with whatever felt good the moment I saw the scene.
Week One – Hipstamatic Classic
In looking up details about the app’s history, I found something interesting: there was an actual camera named the Hipstamatic 100, a simple 35mm plastic camera produced from 1982-4. I was inspired by the simple use of Instamatic cameras. While the 100 was a commercial failure, it inspired the first version of the Hipstamatic app. As an app, it allows the user to apply different effects to a photo taken with the phone camera using various ‘lenses’ and ‘films’, some of which come stock with the app or others that are microtransactions that expand the use. Hipstamatic is the oldest and most used app in my toolkit and the one I have the most updates to and additions of film and lenses.
The one thing that makes Hipstamatic handy is how easily it is to adjust all the different settings and how many different combinations you can use. Of course, this all comes at a cost because a small set of films/lenses is included with the base app, but you can purchase additional packs. Now, new packs are not being released as much these days, and some equipment has vanished. Now, having a large selection of gear, one thing that I did was turn off some options that I didn’t like the results of, making it a lot easier to scroll through the selections. You can also switch between two of the lenses available on my phone. Of course, you can also load any photo from your camera into the app and edit it with the film/lens/flash options.
As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, my biggest problem is not having access to all three lenses on my phone, precisely the ultra-wide option. Of course, the alternative is to take the photo with the standard camera app and then edit the image in the Hipstamatic app. Another issue that I’ve found since updating my hardware is that when I switch lenses, the viewfinder goes fuzzy, making it hard to see and compose the scene; the fix is closing and reopening the app. You are also stuck in the square format when using the app; again, you can always shoot outside the app and edit in the app. My final beef is that, like many other apps, Hipstamatic has gone to a subscription model, which does allow access to all the kit but with a monthly fee. And I don’t know about you, but there’s enough of that today.
Week Two – FIMO
I don’t remember where I learned about the FIMO app, but I feel it is because of the Embrace the Grain Podcast monthly challenges. I am 90% sure that is where I got the idea to download the app. Like Hipstamatic, FIMO is another film simulation app that allows you to modify the look and feel of an image. The interface looks like something out of Lomography, almost like the Lomo’Instant. I should note that the Pro version of FIMO is available as a one-time cost or as an annual subscription.
Where Hipstamatic leaned into the ‘toy camera’ look and feel, FIMO uses the power and quality of the camera in your phone, and you can easily use all the outstanding features. A zoom allows me to access all three lenses, ultra-wide, wide, portrait, and telephoto, as well as every position in between. On most films that come in stock, you also have a standard frame size. However, some films have a dedicated size (more later), and you also have access to the Flash. The interface is clean and easy to use, and the ‘viewfinder’ is large, which makes composition a breeze. The quality that comes out of the frames is good and clean. The ‘lofi’ presets are low-key in their presentation. Some have light leaks, and others have sprockets visible with rebate printing.
While many things are going for FIMO, there are some downsides to the ‘free’ version. First, many of the presets have a similar look and feel; the KD Chrome and EK80 look the same, except the KD Chrome has a slide frame around the image. Also, films with a set preset, like Delta 100 and 400TX, are locked into their frame size; you need to go Pro to unlock the ability to change the frame size on all the films. Honestly, I don’t mind the square format for Delta 100 (I do like the square format), but the faux-panorama for the 400TX annoys me the most. The app also does ‘drop’ items from the main interface if you don’t use them after a while, which is annoying, but they are easily accessed with an extra step.
Week Three – NOMO Cam
Now, NOMO is one that I for sure picked up as part of an Embrace the Grain challenge, and out of the three apps I have reviewed, this one is my least favourite. The reason is that it has the least creative control over the final images. I didn’t realise how much more came with the free option than I first thought because after checking out some other parts of the app, I found several presets that I forgot were part of the app. You can purchase additional ‘cameras’ for a one-time cost, but most of the extra ‘cameras’ are only unlocked by a pro annual subscription fee. In the end I ended up sigining up for a free seven day trial of the Pro version and ended up having a much better time.
The best things about NOMO are the simplicity and interface look and feel—the interface changes based on the camera that you have loaded up. So your Instax will look like an Instax, and Polaroid will look like a Polaroid. There are even appropriate sound effects for the film ejected. The two instant options are probably the best for the app. You even have to wait 90 seconds for the photo to develop. Of course, you can also open it up in the app and watch it or shake the phone (with haptic feedback) to accelerate the development. The disposable cameras will also look like the old disposables. Now, I haven’t tried any of the ‘good’ camera options because I don’t want to pay for them or pay for the pro subscription.
As I mentioned previously, the interface changes depending on the camera loaded. This is good because it gives an immersive experience, but it is also a bad thing. The bad aspect is that the interface changes where your controls are located, and the viewfinder is always tiny or weird. You also are locked into whatever format or ‘film’ is loaded. Honestly, I only have one with a black-and-white option, and you’re stuck in a weird panoramic format. NOMO is also hobbled by the fact that you have only a limited number of ‘free’ options and even a limited number of single-pay options. Most of the good choices are under the pro subscription. But even then you’re locked into whatever preset comes with that camera. And these days, there are way too many subscription services.
Like many such apps, the biggest drawback to all of them is that many are pay-to-play. Either you have to buy the app initially, and then there are micro-transactions to add additional options; Hipstamatic is the biggest offender here, but thankfully, once you purchase the pack, it is yours almost forever, so while I don’t add onto it anymore, I still have access to all the items I have purchased. FIMO is the same way, but I only picked up one or two outside-the-stock items that come in, and with NOMO, I haven’t purchased anything. These are fun things to have around and have helped me execute a creative vision when I see a scene. While I still enjoy working with my ‘big’ cameras, having one in the pocket that can easily change how the image is displayed is always fun. You can check out all my pictures from Mobile March over on Flickr.