“I’m Back” is back again with the “I’m Back 35” digital back to support more 35mm SLRs
Apr 13, 2020
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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For those who haven’t heard of it before, “I’m Back” produces a range of digital backs for various analogue film cameras. After several successful Kickstarter campaigns in 2017, 2018 and 2019, I’m Back is, not surprisingly, back. This time they’re bringing the “I’m Back 35”, which offers compatibility with more camera models as well as manual mode shooting.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samellos/im-back-35-new-version-with-manual-priority-function
Not surprisingly, the new version is up on Kickstarter and runs until May 31st. The big focus with the newest version is compatibility with as many different 35mm SLR camera models as possible. Their current campaign lists over 50 compatible popular models of camera…
- Canon A/A1/AE1/F1/FT/FTB/EOS300
- Contax II/RTS/G1/G2
- Diana F/F mini
- Leica M1/M2/M3/M4/M6/M7/Leicaflex SL/R4/R5/R6
- Minolta Dinaxx 7000i/Maxxum 7000/SRT/XD
- Nikon EM/F/FA/FE/FE2/FG/FM/FM2/F2/F3, F4/F70/F90x/F100/S2/S3/Nikkormat FTN/EL
- Olympus OM1/OM2/OM4/OM10
- Pentax ME/ME super/K1000/Spotomatic
- Praktica b200/MTL
- Ricoh KR10
- Yashica JP/FX3
That’s a nice range and I actually own six of those cameras on their current list. The last time I looked at their list, I didn’t own a single one that was mentioned. I haven’t gotten any new film cameras since then, they’ve just dramatically increased their compatibility with the latest iteration.
The other big feature with I’m Back 35 is that you get full manual exposure control from the camera itself. You choose the shutter speed and aperture with the camera’s dials the same way you normally would with film, instead of having to go through the 2″ touchscreen user interface built into the I’m Back 35 unit.
While it’s still not the most compact of designs, I’m Back 35 does sport a more ergonomic design than its predecessors. It is powered by a Sony NP-F style battery and puts out 14, 10 or 8-megapixel raw or JPG image files. The campaign doesn’t specify, but I’m assuming those would be DNG raw files. It’s also capable of shooting 4K U HD video at up to 30fps or 1080p at up to 60fps.
Delivery of the new I’m Back 35 units isn’t expected to begin until December, but the campaign runs from now until the end of May. It’s already smashed through its initial goal, and while Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform, not a web store, the company does have several successful Kickstarter campaigns under their belt. So, chances are, this one will be delivered as promised.
To find out more, head over to the I’m Back 35 Kickstarter, where you can back the project to receive one of your own starting at only $249.
Have you tried any of the “I’m Back” products yet? What do you think?
[via Cinema5D]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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17 responses to ““I’m Back” is back again with the “I’m Back 35” digital back to support more 35mm SLRs”
Im wondering how much it crops in since its using a 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor. (Panasonic MN34112)
5.5x same as the Pentax Q/Q10.
It doesn’t actually Crop in at all. It’s like a mini compact camera that’s taking pictures of ground glass that sits where the film usually does. A 50mm lens would act exactly like a 50mm lens but the problems in contrast, sharpness, resolution come as well as loss of light come as a result of that ground glass. I understand why the choices were made, I just wish they would have taken a more difficult and expensive route even if it came at the cost of such wide interchangeability.
Youhave answered all my questions, thanks
Are they actually selling these things? Absurdly inconvenient and crappy results… I wouldn’t be surprised if news came itss just a mafia money laundering front.
But… why? If you’re using a vintage camera, wouldn’t the point be to use film? Otherwise, why not just use a digital camera that will inevitably have a better sensor?
Not surprisingly, we’re still not interested.
Back to the back to the back.
You can get them at say Adorama for $49US.
And as they say there, more a lomography kind of a thing than a pro digital back.
what can you get at Adorama?
I did a search there and I couldn’t find anything similar. Not that I like the idea of this bulky back but, for the sake of argument…
https://www.adorama.com/imb.html
thank you!
When you thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse ?
So do you end up with a crop or does it have optics inside that can compress the image onto the small image sensor perfectly?
How about a FF sensor on a back that simply replaces the film back? Aren’t most removable? Save your clumsy adapter for cameras that aren’t.
I understand wanting a digital back for something like a Hasselblad, but what is gained by having one for a 35mm?
I would avoid this man and his businesses.
His medium format campaign on indiegogo includes dodgy practices to ensure no-one can ever get a refund.
After you make your contribution you normally have 10-14 days to get a refund because the item isn’t actually in production yet. BUT within 24 hours of your payment he locks your contribution so you can not request a refund and claims “Your money is already invested into the product” so they “can not refund you”.
DODGY DODGY DODGY