Hipstamatic

If you are a fan of hipster/indie/vintage photography, then Hipstamatic might be the right app for you! It's one of my favorite photography apps on the iPhone - you don't need a film camera to achieve the same grainy, cross-processed effects. Hipstamatic itself is a digital film camera, allowing you similar results as a film camera's.

Hipstamatic is $1.99 on the AppStore and additional in-app purchases are $0.99 each. It's not the cheapest photography app around, but it's definitely worth it if you want more analog variety. I went a little crazy this week and splurged on several packages within the app.

With a simple swipe, you can change the lens, frame and flash to produce a different image texture and style every time. Each lens is different. As you'll see below, I've included some photographs pertaining to each lens in my collection for your convenience, including the ones that came free with the initial purchase of the app.

When snapping with Hipstamatic, remember to factor in the amount of light present as the lighting greatly affects the quality of the photograph.

John S Lens (included with the camera)

This lens has a grungy, greenish tint. It's not my favorite, but I think it's probably good for outdoor photography under lots of light because the images automatically appear darker than they really are.

Ina's 1939 film, no flash

Jimmy Lens  (included with the camera)

Images appear sun-soaked like the one below.

Blanko Freedom film, no flash

Kaimal Mark II Lens  (included with the camera)

Inspired by the charms of India, this lens adds a reddish tint to the photographs, creating a "hipster" effect.

Ina's 1982 film, no flash

*Buckhorst H1 Lens   (included with the camera)

This lens combines yellow and green to produce wooden, wild-western photographs. It's color tones are similar to the Jimmy lens.

Ina's 1982 film, no flash

*Jane Lens  (included with the camera)

Clarity. This is the eye to strong, clear photographs.

Kodot XGrizzled film, no flash

Bettie XL Lens  (in-app purchase)

When you buy this lens, you're instantly entitled to the rest of The Mission HipstaPak, which also comprises the Ina's 1935 film and a white camera case. I use this lens a lot, simply because I enjoy the fun colors that consume the photographs. The texture is somewhat grainy, and depending on the lighting, images may appear washed out. The results are always unpredictable because the tones tend to vary from blueish, yellowish to reddish hues. Wild and playful, this lens is the portal to a new adventure. Be prepared for inevitable light leaks too! :) The film sets a clean white fence around the photographs.

Blanko Freedom film, no flash

Blanko Freedom film, no flash

Americana Lens  (in-app purchase)

This lens glazes photographs with a soft, blurry touch, dimmed with a tinge of greenish-blue. It's part of the America HipstaPak, which includes the US1776 film (a grainy black-and-white classic), Blanko Freedom film (a borderless frame with a tiny triple-striped corner) and the vintage Old Glory camera case.

Blanko Freedom film, no flash

Blanko Freedom film, no flash

US1776 film, no flash

Helga Viking Lens  (in-app purchase)

While this lens invokes a subtle bluish-purple tint, it comes with three colored flashes: lemon yellow, cadet and red eye, which offer a variety to the images when activated. It also includes the Pistil film that borders your photograph in black elegance. Together, they conclude the Williamsburg Starter HipstaPak.

Pistil film, no flash

Pistil film, blue flash

Pistil film, red flash

Pistil film, yellow flash

Roboto Glitter Lens  (in-app purchase)

Very Japanese-esque. The shades lean toward the colder colors of the spectrum, but depending on the film, it can be grungy and brown like the first picture shown below. This package includes the Berry Pop flash and Float film. Upon activating the Berry Pop flash, the screen flashes fuchsia and your image is colored purple.The film itself is a grungy black border.

Float film, no flash

Pistil film, no flash

Pistil film, Berry Pop flash

Wonder Lens (featured free package)

This was free when I downloaded it, but I don't know how long it'll stay on the Hipstamatic market. It could be a limited edition. The package includes the W40 film and a classy wooden camera case. The Wonder lens graces images with a cold, gloomy tint, so images are best shot in bright lighting. The film is a neat black frame.

W40 film, no flash

W40 film, red gel flash

Loftus Lens  (in-app purchase)

Loftus is a part of the Foodie SnapPak, perfect for food photography. The colors are sharp with a focus on the center, creating a blurry vignette around the subject. It draws attention to the subject by gently hazing out the sides. Along with the Loftus lens are the Tasty Pop flash and DC film. Quoting the original product descriptions, the Tasty Pop flash adds "delicious rays of silver light and makes every meal memorable," while the DC film adds a thin black border around the images and "brings out the most delicious tones in any image." Delicious enough? :)

DC film, no flash


Ina's 1939 film, no flash

Foxy Lens  (in-app purchase)

This Portrait SnapPak comprises the Foxy lens and Sugar film. The photographs are clear with dark shadows, framed by a thin black border, similar to the DC film.

Sugar film, no flash

Sugar film, no flash

(* I can't promise that these lenses are still free)

So there you have it, my Hipstamatic review based on the packages I have right now. The best thing about this app is that you can experiment with the various lenses, films and flashes - mix them up and save your favorites for future usage - for a unique blend of hipster photographs. Let me know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions. I hope this helped! :)