Who doesn’t remember the feeling of roaming the streets with a simple disposable camera, pressing the shutter button without a second thought, and eagerly holding the developed prints in your hands a few days later?
The Flashback One35 V2 attempts to salvage this very special feeling of life into the digital age without producing new plastic waste after every excursion.
In our review today, we take a close look at this unusual camera, which promises the best of both worlds. Whether the concept of artificial deceleration in everyday life really works or whether it is just a nice little toy for in-between is something we will clarify below.
Specifications
When talking about the technical specifications of the Flashback One35 V2, you shouldn’t make comparisons with modern system cameras, as this would not do justice to the actual concept of this camera.
At the core of the small body works a 13-megapixel sensor that delivers images in the classic four-to-three aspect ratio. For storage, there is an internal memory that offers space for 27 shots at a time before the virtual film roll is full and needs to be transferred. (The actual storage is slightly larger, though.)
The lens is a fixed focal length without autofocus, which means that the focus is fixed from a certain distance, and you don’t have to worry about focusing. A small LCD screen on the back only shows the remaining number of exposures; you won’t find a color display for image preview here.
For dark environments, a real Xenon flash is built-in, which can be manually switched on via a slider on the front.
The connection to the smartphone is established wirelessly via a local network or directly via a connected cable to load the images into the accompanying app. The permanently installed battery is charged in a modern way via a USB-C port.
In Practice
Unboxing and First Impressions
First contact with the camera begins with unboxing, and here the manufacturer shows a heart for the environment. Plastic and foil were systematically avoided throughout the entire packaging, which is a highly commendable approach these days. The camera rests in a simple cardboard box and is additionally wrapped in paper for protection.
In addition to the camera itself, a cable is included in the scope of delivery, which has a USB-C connector on one side and plugs for both USB-C and older Lightning interfaces on the other. An adapter for classic USB-A ports is also included, so you are prepared for all eventualities.
As a small bonus, there are two sheets of colorful stickers to customize the body or stick in a photo album, for example. However, a small printed quick-start guide would have been nice at this point to give the package a bit more depth. Although the entire functionality is explained in great detail in the smartphone app, a printed booklet with background information would have been a nice detail if you want to give the camera as a gift.
A simple wrist strap is also missing from the box, as such a safety measure is extremely practical in everyday life to avoid accidentally dropping the device. Since most photographers already have a suitable strap lying around in some drawer anyway, this point can be forgiven.
Form Factor and Haptics
When holding it in your hands for the first time, you quickly experience a certain surprise, as the dimensions and shape of the body are extremely close to those of a classic plastic disposable camera. Although the design looks very similar in product photos, the tactile feel in reality is a completely different experience. Both the visual impression and the handling immediately evoke memories of the past.
The plastic used feels somewhat firmer and of higher quality than that of the disposable products of the past. In addition, the camera feels a bit heavier in the hand, which is likely due in large part to the integrated battery and the built-in electronics.
Due to the slightly curved grip on the right side, the camera can be held securely and comfortably. However, as a photographer, you have to be careful not to reach too far forward with the fingers of your right hand, as you can quickly and unintentionally block the lens, capturing your own finger on the final photo. But perhaps this small mishap is precisely part of the authentic charm of this style of photography. The transparent-bodied version we tested is highly appealing visually, as it is always fascinating to look directly at the internal technology and construction of a camera.
On the other hand, the shutter button leaves me somewhat divided. The pressure point doesn’t feel particularly defined and leaves a slightly unsatisfying feeling when pressed down. In stark contrast to this is the mechanical thumbwheel, which feels extremely satisfying to operate and beautifully conveys the tactile feedback of a real film camera.
Power Supply
For charging and data transfer, the camera has a modern port, which unfortunately has to do without any protective cover. Whether such a cover is strictly necessary in daily use remains a matter of taste, but a little protection from dust and dirt in your pocket would have provided a slightly better feeling.
Another aspect concerns sustainability and the long-term use of the device. Since the battery is permanently installed and cannot be easily replaced, the question arises whether the camera can still be used without problems in ten years.
However, the transparent body gives the impression that with a little manual skill and the right tools, you could open the housing and potentially change the battery yourself if necessary.
Smartphone App
The accompanying app is offered for free in the respective stores for both Android and iOS. Our experiences in this test are based on the Android version of the application, which proved to be very stable in everyday use.
Pairing is incredibly simple: after opening the app, you only have to turn the camera’s thumbwheel, and the device is automatically recognized in the app. In the overview, you can read important information such as the current battery level and the number of remaining shots. Unfortunately, the exact battery level is not displayed on the camera’s small screen itself, so you always have to look at your smartphone to check it.
Within the app, you also define all the basic settings for the camera. Here you can decide whether you want to use the device in direct mode like a normal digital camera, or whether you want to activate the classic development mode. The latter ensures that the images only become visible in the app after a 24-hour waiting period, which significantly enhances the analog character. You can also set whether the current shooting time should be imprinted directly onto the photo, just like on old prints.
A central element of the app is the selection of the desired film style. Various simulations are available, such as FlashbackClassic, FlashbackMono, FlashbackBeta, FlashbackCine, FlashbackGold, RetroHaze, FlashbackDispo, and FlashbackDMG. The app displays two sample images for each of these styles.
For beginners, a brief written explanation describing the color characteristics of each film and which lighting conditions it is best suited for would have been nice here.
Once you have decided on a roll of film, the name of the selected film is unfortunately not displayed in the app’s main overview. A small graphic representation, for example in the form of a stylized film canister, would have been a visually appealing solution here. The range of functions is rounded off by a self-timer, which allows delay times of three, five, or ten seconds.
Operation and Photographic Workflow
The actual shooting with the Flashback One35 V2 is wonderfully uncomplicated. It is precisely this simplicity that people also appreciate in classic instant cameras: a tool that practically anyone can use to take a picture immediately, without running the risk of accidentally choosing the wrong setting.
Whether the final result becomes a creative masterpiece is, of course, a completely different story. But especially at parties, family gatherings, or on vacation when you hand the camera to a stranger for a quick souvenir photo, it is of invaluable worth that the operation is self-explanatory.
The most common mistake in everyday use remains the aforementioned hand in front of the lens. When you press the shutter button, a mechanical click is heard, followed by a quiet electronic beep indicating a successful shot. After that, however, there is a pause, because just like with an analog camera, you now have to keep turning the thumbwheel until it locks. Only then is the shutter button released again.
The flash can be activated via a slider on the front. As soon as the small LED on the back lights up solid red, the flash is ready for use. At this point, we would have found a green LED much more appropriate, since the color red on many other devices signals that a charging process is underway or that the system is not yet ready.
As soon as all 27 shots are taken, the display shows the number zero. Now the virtual film roll must be brought to the laboratory via the app. There are three ways to do this: connection via cable, setting up a hotspot with the smartphone, or connecting via home Wi-Fi. After the copy process, the camera’s memory is cleared and ready for the next pictures.
Depending on the selected mode, the images are displayed in the app either immediately or after a development time of 24 hours, from where they can be shared or exported. The fact that you are forced to transfer the data after 27 images fits well with the disposable camera analogy, but it can also be questioned. One could argue that in the past, you would have simply pulled a second camera out of your bag. The beauty of analog photography is precisely that you can temporarily detach yourself completely from your smartphone. An option where a new virtual roll is automatically started in the internal memory after 27 images would therefore be a welcome middle ground for longer trips.
On the other hand, a very practical feature is the ability to re-develop a previously transferred film roll with a different filter look afterwards, in case you are unhappy with the first result. In addition, the images can also be exported as unprocessed files to develop them yourself on a computer.
Image Quality and the Aesthetics of the Imperfect
When judging image quality, it is of little use to examine the photos at extreme magnification on a screen and academically analyze the sharpness to the outer corners or the noise in low light. Such criteria play no role for a camera of this type.
Much more important is the question of how well the sensor and software convey the typical character of a disposable camera. For digital filters, it is crucial to me that they create a harmonious aesthetic. A good effect is characterized by the fact that you don’t even perceive it as an artificial filter at first, but simply enjoy the beautiful and atmospheric colors.
The image effect should never be so dominant that it distracts from the actual subject. Many other apps and digital cameras with a supposed film look make the mistake of massively increasing saturation, using extreme sepia tones, or placing artificial light leaks across the entire image.
Whether the Flashback can perfectly replicate the real analog look ultimately remains a very subjective decision of the observer. Especially since there is no such thing as “the” one film look anyway, as this depends on countless factors such as development, the scanner, and the film material itself. In addition, even the simplest analog camera has a decisive advantage in depth of field due to the 35mm format, which cannot be physically replicated one-to-one with a small digital sensor. Nevertheless, the results of the Flashback are visually very appealing and exude a unique charm.
Especially noteworthy is the integrated flash, which contributes a large part to the typical aesthetic. Particularly for indoor shots, the harsh light of a flash is simply part of the disposable camera look. Even if the illumination sometimes seems a bit too intense or unflattering, it is precisely this imperfection that makes up the appeal of the images.
Battery Life and Viewfinder
In our test, the camera proved to be pleasantly enduring in terms of power supply. After around 200 shots, the indicator in the app still showed a charge level of 44 percent, with the Xenon flash switched on for about every tenth photo. With a full battery charge, you should easily get through several days or a long weekend.
In everyday life, the camera’s optical viewfinder only serves as a rough guide for framing. It quickly becomes apparent that the built-in sensor captures a significantly larger area than what you see through the viewfinder. On the finished pictures, there is usually a bit more to see at the edges than you suspected when looking through the body, which you should keep in mind during image composition.
Ideas for a Future Version
During our use of the camera, we came up with a few creative ideas that could make a potential successor version even more interesting.
An exciting approach would be, for example, a so-called “mystery film”, where the camera randomly selects a different look for each image or mixes different aesthetics together. A waterproof version or a special underwater edition would also be an excellent addition to use the camera at the beach or in the pool without having to worry about the sensitive electronics.
An integrated test mode, with which you can apply all available film styles directly to a single subject, would make it easier to compare the looks, even though this is already possible through the detour of subsequent development.
Finally, a direct connection to a real photo lab would be a charming idea: you send the full film roll digitally and receive real, printed prints in your mailbox a few days later without having seen the images on your smartphone first—just like in the good old days.
Conclusion
Can the Flashback One35 V2 completely replace a real analog disposable camera? The honest answer is no. However, this is less due to the qualities of this specific camera and more due to the fact that real analog photography with all its chemical and mechanical processes can never be completely transferred into the digital world. Nevertheless, the Flashback comes surprisingly close to the original feeling and represents an excellent, environmentally friendly alternative.
In our test, we particularly liked how quickly the device is ready for use and how intuitive the entire process is, allowing you to fully focus on the moment. You quickly forget that you are actually holding a digital device in your hands when taking pictures.
Of course, this camera is not for everyone’s taste. You have to consciously commit to the artificial limitations, which have actually become technically obsolete in this day and age.
The limitation to 27 images and the waiting time during development may seem outdated at first glance, since you could take the same photos with your smartphone and edit them later. But it is precisely these limitations that unfold a noticeable creative effect. Because the number of images is limited, you think much more carefully before pressing the shutter button about whether the subject is worth the shot. You change your position for a better perspective or wait patiently for the right moment. As a result, every single image gains in meaning and appreciation.
Waiting for the results also heightens anticipation and changes how you view your own shots, as you evaluate them in a completely new way with some time lag. While some purists might argue that such cameras harm real analog photography, we see the opposite.
The Flashback One35 V2 is a wonderful entry-level tool. Especially for younger people who have only photographed with smartphones so far, this concept can spark interest in conscious photography and pave the way to a real analog camera.
Given the increased prices for film stock and development, this model offers an excellent opportunity to dip your toes into the world of decelerated photography without taking an immediate financial risk.
Buy
If you are now in the mood to dive into this decelerated world of photography and try out the Flashback One35 V2 yourself, you can purchase the camera directly from the manufacturer’s official website.
At joinflashback.co, the model is offered in various color options, with the transparent version we tested being a particularly unique eye-catcher. The ordering process is straightforward, and shipping is directly to your home, so nothing stands in the way of your next photographic adventure.
Giveaway
For our loyal readers, we have a very special surprise in store in cooperation with the manufacturer. We are giving away one copy of the Flashback One35 V2, so you can test the camera yourself thoroughly very soon.
To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is send us a short email with your name to the address [email protected]. The deadline for entry is July 10th. The lucky winner will be chosen at random after this date and notified directly by us via email. We wish all participants the best of luck and “allzeit gutes Licht” (good light at all times) on their hunt for subjects.
Sample Photo Gallery
#FlashbackClassic
#FlashbackMono
#FlashbackBeta
#FlashbackCine
#FlashbackGold
#RetroHaze
#FlashbackDispo
#FlashbackDMG
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