Hipstamatic for iPhone Review
There are a lot of great camera and photo apps out there for the iPhone. As a guy that shot film for many years before the digital revolution, I like that filmy look. There are lots of apps that can achieve that, but my favorite (even with it’s faults) is Hipstamatic ($1.99 from the Apps store).
The Hipstamatic was a plastic camera in the early 1980’s. According to the Hipstamatic blog (hipstamatic.com), there were only 157 of these little beauties produced. It came in white or black, featured a plastic lens, and used 35mm film.
Two Wisconsin brothers, Bruce and Winston Dorbowski, manufactured them from 1982-84. The pictures that came from the Hips (that’s my nickname for it, mainly because Hipstamatic is a long word to type) were similar to cameras like Holga, Diana, etc. They have a dreamy, artsy look to them. That’s the look so many of us love.
Well ,the good news for us is that last year the Hips came to the iPhone in the form of an app. As you may have read, I recently became an iPhone convert. The camera on the iPhone 4 is actually a really good one. That, combined with the looks and effects you can get with the app make it a great combo.
The Good:
The best thing about this app is that it’s not just 1 effect. There are 3 different variables for each photo that you take. First, you can select your film. There are reproductions of several different films, both color and b&w, and they all have their own characteristics. Second, there are different lenses to choose from. Not actual lenses, but “virtual” ones. Just like in real life, your lens choice will make a difference in your photos. And third, you can choose different “flashes”. Again, these are not real flashes (although iPhone 4 has a physical flash) but rendered flash effects. Plus, your 3 choices are recorded for each photo you take, so you won’t forget what you used to take that great photo! The Hipstamatic comes with the John S Lens, the Jimmy Lens, the Kaimal Mark II Lens, the Standard Flash, the Dreampop Flash, Ina’s 1969 Film, and Kodot Verichrome Film. There is also a random button to mix them all up and see what happens!
My dog Kelso. Hipstamatic info: Lens: John S. Film: Pistil Flash: Off
The Not As Good:
The only problem I have with this app, is that it does tend to crash. I have read the reviews in the App Store, and it does happen to lots of other people. I have had to reset my phone a couple of times to get the app to reset so I can take a picture again. I don’t know if it has to do with iOS4, or what. I am sure the developers are working on it though, because they have put so much work into this app already.
The Verdict:
Even with the occasional crash, this is my favorite iPhone app. The photos I get from this thing make the occasional iPhone reboot totally worth it. I do hope a new update will be released soon to adress the crashing, but Hipstamatic is still an amazing app.
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