There are many clever uses for that old film camera collecting dust in your closet, and one of those uses is bringing it into the 21st century by transforming it into a digital camera. A Swiss team of camera-loving engineers and creatives called I’m Back have developed an ingenious device that lets you take digital images with an old analog camera.
Interest in the gadget – officially called I’m Back Roll APS-C – is reflected in the huge success of the company’s Kickstarter campaign, which recently crossed the $1 million mark thanks to the support of more than 1,800 people. The device might appeal to fans of retro 35mm SLR and rangefinder cameras who are no longer in love with cinema but appreciate the physical touch controls of older devices. It’s also a good opportunity to bring new life to any vintage lenses that have been lying around for years.
I’m Back’s camera uses a classic-looking film cartridge linked to an APS-C sensor and other smarts. The module inserts into your camera the same way you would drop in a regular film cartridge, and each time you press the shutter button, the camera records a digital image. According to its project page, I’m Back aims to start shipping the device in August 2027.
I’m back Roll APS-C
The I’m Back Roll APS-C packs a lot of technology into a nice little gadget. The cartridge looks like your average roll of film, but it houses a lithium-ion battery to power this little device. Attached to the cartridge is a flat aluminum chassis containing the electronics, chief among them being the 26.1-megapixel APS-C sensor made by Sony. At the opposite end of the cartridge is a multi-layer flexible ribbon cable that allows high-speed data transmission between the sensor and secondary circuit boards. The configuration includes SSD storage of up to 256 GB.
Setting up the I’m Back Roll APS-C seems simple enough: just open the back of the camera and remove the film pressure plate inside the door. According to I’m Back, some camera models may require a custom or 3D printed back for a proper fit. Shooting involves adjusting the dials to suit your needs, then pressing a button to activate the sensor before pressing the shutter button. There’s even an optional touchscreen on the back of the camera. To transfer images, connect the camera to your PC, laptop or mobile device via the module’s USB-C port or Wi-Fi.
DIY digital transformation
Are you looking for more of a DIY solution to achieve the same digital transformation? Then check out the popular Raspberry Pi, which offers a range of creative opportunities, including bringing digital intelligence to an old film camera. Detailed instructions can be found online, but in addition to a donor camera, you’ll need a Raspberry Pi Zero W module, a Raspberry Pi camera module (which includes the all-important sensor, a small battery, a film cartridge case to insert into the camera’s film chamber), and a MicroSD card with Raspberry Pi installed.
Simply put, the process involves removing the film pressure plate to free up space inside the camera body, and the camera sensor goes where the film would normally be placed behind the lens. As you might expect, the Raspberry Pi computer does the majority of the work, processing your images through the sensor. Images are saved to the microSD card and can then be transferred via Wi-Fi to a viewing device.
Reusing an old SLR or rangefinder camera to take digital photos may seem like a step too far for some film purists, while some young people are making film cameras popular again by using them as is. For others, however, it might be a fun way to revive a long-forgotten camera and lenses.
