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Dangermouse

Dangermouse

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No not me, but the digital film roll, has anyone bought or used one, and what are the results like.
For those that knew nothing of this system (like myself 5 minutes ago) it is a film canister attached to a 20mp sensor and simply pops into place like a film turning an old 35mm SLR into a 20mp DSLR its a Swiss brand and the videos seem to show it to be a decent system if you love the old camera feel.

I’m Back Film – I'm Back digital solutions

imback.eu imback.eu
 
I seen something on this a while back. From memory it was using a Sony M43 sensor and you had to use an external shutter button as well as a few other caveats. Must have been around for a while as I think I remember seeing this a fair time ago.
 
It's not exactly practical. It's going to get absolutely filthy if it's being taken in and out of various cameras. I'd think the sensor would end up being scratched up. It's got a lead hanging out of the back of the camera so that's going to put stress on the closing mechanism.
 
It's been around for ages and the feedback I've seen hasn't been positive.

At one time, if I recall correctly, it consisted of a replacement for the film camera's back with a small sensor and an image tunnel that resized the 24x36mm image to fit the sensor. Apparently that version didn't sell very well. The current version looks closer to what people said they wanted but as Suz points out above, dirt on the sensor will be a problem.
 
I'd be curious how big the sensor is since it doesn't seem to actually detail that which is going to make a significant difference to the crop and usability of the product.
 
Dangermouse said:
No not me, but the digital film roll, has anyone bought or used one, and what are the results like.
For those that knew nothing of this system (like myself 5 minutes ago) it is a film canister attached to a 20mp sensor and simply pops into place like a film turning an old 35mm SLR into a 20mp DSLR its a Swiss brand and the videos seem to show it to be a decent system if you love the old camera feel.

I’m Back Film – I'm Back digital solutions

imback.eu imback.eu
Click to expand...

I would watch this video first

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEjMwuwjzwo


as this chap shows that the "I'm back film" is not all it cracks up to be.
 
Setting aside the practicalities.....

They got innovation awards back in 2018 and seemingly a few left (to clear stock?) to sell

I surmise it will appeal to some folks but the novelty will wear off.

PS I too recall something like it being spoken of and promoted but this was IIRC before 2017/18 when the one discussed here was developed(no pun intended;) )
 
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So more hassle than its worth by the look of things then.
 
At the thick end of £400 (ignoring shipping, duty & VAT) it certainly is.

As @Dave Canon said, I too was interested in the late 90s. Now not so much.
 
It seems likely that the technology to do this properly now exists but no one seems to be puting it together yet.

The key facility, I think, would be that the "film" senses the shutter opening and closing - which seems not at all difficult, either by using the sensor itself or a seperate photocell. Using Micro-SD cards, there would be no need to have any part of the system outside the existing back and fitting the sensor on an expanding rail would mean that the device could be used with most 35mm cameras.

The real question is how many units would they sell and how would that translate into the unit price?
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
It seems likely that the technology to do this properly now exists but no one seems to be putting it together yet.
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I don't know how I came across this system, but I did and glad I asked, looking at the video Nick put up, the plastics seen very flimsy, definitely not up to the punishment any camera I use could take, and I look after my kit, so thanks all, its a no from me.
 
I expected something like this would have been created a long time ago when photographers still had their 35mm outfits as well as new digital models. I can't see it taking off now that most have sold, given away or scrapped their film equipment.
 

Silicon Film EFS-1 (1998)

Digitalkameramuseum.de, a source for all digicam enthusiasts and collectors. My collection of vintage digital cameras.
www.digitalkameramuseum.de www.digitalkameramuseum.de

This is the one I remember from ye olden days
 
Dave Canon said:
I was interested in this type of solution in the late 1990's when I used film cameras but not now.

Dave
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This. It's been promised ever since about 1998, from memory, and if it had been a good and practical idea it would have happened a very long time ago. It seems to me to be a poor fusion of two very different approaches to photography that simply doesn't appeal to me at any cost, let alone at a high one.
 
I think that in 2026, the people who still enjoy the mechanical picture taking process also enjoy the other aspects of film photography, and people who want to shoot digital on a budget have thousands of options, so the niche that existed for this product nearly 30 yrs ago simply no longer does.
 
The only advantage I can see is people can continue to use existing film cameras, in a clunky sort of way. The "problem" is most with film cameras have them because they want to use film.
Yes theres a few with film cameras left from the good old days, but why would I want a 20mp crop? sensor in an old manual film camera when I already have a 32mp full frame autofocus, auto exposure, brings me breakfast in bed DSLR?
I'll admit theres a fun element, but £400 and a tiny target market......
 
LeeRatters said:
I think it's one of those where it certainly sounds a lot, lot better than it actually is......
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Indeed.

There's a lot of it about ... ;)
 
When I first anticipated a film cartridge gizmo to convert a 35mm film camera into digital I was a bit naive. I hadn't contemplated or allowed for the ability to change iso, white balance, colour balance, fine tune sharpness, tone down highlights.........

I just thought that it would take pictures just like we used to do :)
 
I think it's a good idea. In principle.

But I've got a lot of enjoyment out of using my old vintage manual lenses with an adapter and a modern(ish) mirrorless camera. In fact even having to buy the camera and the adapter it was still less than this canister sensor.

It's become my favourite way to shoot over the last 18 months or so. So much so that my Canon R6ii sits mostly unused.
 
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