After a series of teasers, the brand that’s been focusing on converting film cameras to digital has now launched a digital conversion kit that looks and loads like 35mm film. The I’m Back Roll APS-C is a sensor and storage all packed into a gadget a little larger than the size of an unfurled roll of film.
The I’m Back Roll crams a digital sensor and storage into a gadget that fits into the film space on most 35mm film cameras. While previous attempts required extra tech outside the camera body, the I’m Back Roll fits almost entirely inside the camera.
The only thing outside the camera is a small Bluetooth remote placed near the camera’s winder, which the company says is to synchronize the shutter. Taking digital photos with the I’m Back Roll requires pressing the Bluetooth remote button, then pressing the camera’s shutter button.
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While teasers told photographers that the I’m Back was coming with an APS-C sensor, the launch of the gadget’s Kickstarter campaign on April 3 reveals more details about how the tech works. The sensor is a backlit 26MP model – more specifically, the Sony IMX571, which is most commonly used in astrophotography cameras for its low-light abilities.
Images are saved onto built-in storage, with the Roll available with varying amounts of memory. The battery is built right into the Roll as well and supports USB-C charging. Aluminum backing helps the digital camera conversion kit to dissipate heat.
A smartphone app will allow photographers to access those images.
Importantly, I’m Back notes that using the Roll doesn’t change the film cameras capabilities – the camera can still go back to shooting analog with the digital “roll” removed. “This was never meant to replace film. It was meant to reinterpret it,” the company wrote.
The I’m Back Roll will offer digital presets inspired by film – though the company used an AI-generated image to illustrate four different looks. One of the campaign’s stretch goals is for additional film simulations.
The company says the camera works with a wide range of 35mm cameras from brands like Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Contax, Yashica, Pentax, Olympus, and Leica. Most cameras will only require removing the film pressure plate to make space for the conversion kit. However, some compact film cameras may be too tight, the company says, others may need a 3D-printed custom back for a proper fit. The company will offer a kit designed specifically for Leica M series film cameras.
A closer digital equivalent to 35mm would have been to use a full-frame sensor, not APS-C. But the company has explained why the roll isn’t full frame: it wouldn’t be able to focus. “A 24×36 full-frame sensor would interfere with the camera’s focal plane, making proper focus impossible. It’s a mechanical constraint with no real solution…A larger sensor would make the product too expensive to be viable,” the company wrote in a social media comment.
The company says that while they have a working prototype, the Kickstarter is being used to fund finalizing the electronics. Deliver to crowdfunding backers is estimated for sometime in 2027.
The launch of the Kickstarter also brings with it the first indications of how much such a device will cost. The campaign lists a $699 MSRP for the version with 64GB of storage, $749 for 128GB, or $799 for 256GB. That converts to about £529-£605 / AU$1013-AU$1158 / CA$975-CA$1,114.
Early Bird Kickstarter discounts take as much as 36% off the expected list prices. Like with all crowdfunding projects, Kickstarters come with risks, and backing one doesn’t guarantee getting a final product. But, a little over an hour since the Kickstarter went live, and the campaign has already exceeded its original goal. The campaign ends on May 15.
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