Holga vs Hipstamatic: Signing Nature

Holga vs Hipstamatic: Owl picnic area -- by Joe Reifer

Holga vs Hipstamatic: Orchard -- by Joe Reifer

Holga vs Hipstamatic: Fern Dell -- by Joe Reifer

Holga vs Hipstamatic: Old Church -- by Joe Reifer

Holga vs Hipstamatic: Big Meadow -- by Joe Reifer

Holga vs Hipstamatic: Trail's End -- by Joe Reifer

One shot was made with a Holga toy camera loaded with Kodak 400VC film. The other shot is with an iPhone 4 and the Hipstamatic app on the Buckhorst H1 lens setting. As with previous toy camera vs toy camera app comparisons that I've done, the real toy camera wins. Why? The much wider dynamic range of film. The sharp center with the radical falloff to out of focus. The true randomness of the light leaks. Not waiting around for the digital file to "develop." The longer wait before seeing the results. Talking to the friendly folks at my local lab. The only things I don't like about film are paying for it and scanning. You can click any of the diptychs above for a bigger image.