“I’m Back 35“ Updates – Interview with the Creators

by Olaf von VossMay 11^th, 2020

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Since the launch of the new Kickstarter campaign in April, the upcoming “I’m Back 35” digital back is already funded by a good 2000%. Time for a heads up with the creators as part of our ongoing Virtual Show! Meet Filippo Kenji Nishino, Gaetano Acunzo, and of course the man himself, Samuel Mello Medeiros.

Different makes and models of supported analogue SRL cameras. Image credit. I’m back 35

The I’m Back digital back for old analogue SLR cameras was quite popular when it first hit the market back in 2018 but that didn’t stop Samuel and his team to go back to the drawing board to develop a new version. The next iteration was all about medium format cameras, again the old, analogue ones. Now it’s 2020 and we’re about to see the third version of the I’m Back back: This time labeled I’m Back 35.

I’m Back 35

So what exactly is this thing? Since we’re talking about old(ish) analogue cameras, the I’m Back 35 is all about transporting old but trusted tech into the modern age: it acts as a digital back and substitutes the actual film stock with a ground glass and a sensor. Use your beloved vintage lenses from back in the day and bring your old camera, too. Add the I’m Back 35 to it and you’ll be rewarded with vintage-looking, dreamy footage. The ground glass is on double duty here: it captures the incoming light from the lens and offers a focus plane for the sensor behind.

image credit: I’m Back

That way, even though the sensor is somewhat tiny, the system does not introduce any crop. There is a vast amount of supported cameras, so it is very likely that your camera will fit the I’m Back 35 system. If you want to integrate it even tighter, there are a bunch of dedicated back plates for a kind of seamless look’n’feel. Check the Kickstarter campaign page for more details.

Technical Specifications

I have said it before and I will say it again: This is not a tool for pixel-peepers! Use a recent mirrorless for that, the I’m Back 35 is all about the look, atmosphere, and a little bit of artistry. The somewhat underwhelming specs support that idea, it’s not about pure performance but about reconnecting with the past.

• Processor: Icatch V39
• Sensor: Panasonic 34112
• LCD: 2.0 inch
• Display: 240*RGB*320 LCD
• Video format: 4K 3840*2160/30FPS – 1920*1080P/60fps – 1280*720P/120fps
• Video format: MOV
• Photo resolution: 14M/10M/8M/other
• Photo format: JPEG and COLOR RAW
• Memory: Micro SD / Class 10 Max 128G
• Microphone/Speaker: Built-in
• Frequence: 50Hz/60Hz
• Power interface 7.4V – 1A
• Battery: 7.4v lithium battery
• Type C – HDMI – TF card – MIC – 3.5mm – Sync cable – 1.5mm
• System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows7, Mac OS 10.3.6 and above

In comparison to the first iteration, the 35 branded version supports an all manual mode, so it’s even more like using your old camera. Read all about the new model in our recent article here.

Working in Lockdown Mode

Samuel and his team seem to be very dedicated to what they do and since they are pretty much used to collaborate with each other from different parts of the world, the ongoing situation we’re all facing is not affecting the process in making the new I’m Back 35 a reality. They still aim for a holiday 2020 delivery. Hopefully, everything goes according to plan and we’ll see first results at the end of this (very weird) year.

image credit: I’m Back

The Kickstarter campaign is live until May, 31st [EDIT: They have extended the campaign and set up a new one, the links have been updated!]. Of course, all the early bird pledges are long gone but you still can support Samuel by pledging for your desired setup. Just remember that Kickstarter is not online retail, but a crowdfunding platform with all the risks and/or delays involved.

Links: Kickstarter Campaign | Website