Some say it’s the phone that changed the game, but not for gamers, for photographers. Some say the iPhone 4s, from 2011, was when people started thinking about camera phones as actual cameras that could be used for photography. Whether this is entirely true or not doesn’t matter now. But what does matter is that the iPhone 4S is from a “vintage” period of time in digital photography, pre advanced HDR, pre-overprocessing and before everything else that gives modern images a fake digital look. And for this reason, people choose this phone, as a ‘vintage digital camera’ phone… I thought I’d give it a try and see what all the fuss was about.
iPhone 4s quick facts:
- 8MP f/2.4 rear camera, 35mm equivalent (1080p video)
- VGA (0.3MP) selfie camera (best avoided)
- 2011 – the year the iPhone 4s was released
- Other uses: mp3 playback, retro gaming
For just $24 (£18) on eBay, I got an iPhone 4S with 16GB storage, an 8MP camera, Full HD video, and a 3.5inch screen, which is STILL bigger than most cameras today, despite being 15 years old. Once I had it, I had to get a charging cable for it, and boxed examples are likely to set you back more money (but could also save hassle in the long run, as I soon found out).
Setting up the phone I had to connect the phone to iTunes on my computer using the USB cable, and go through a setup process, although at some point I did find a “Skip” button as it didn’t like my Apple log on.
And voila… I was in…
It looks like a toy, like a child’s toy phone, which was in fact a copy of this early iPhone. It’s kind of the perfect retro digicam, but a small phone at the same time.
It was uncanny how small the 3.5inch screen looks compared to a modern phone, but for some reason people are still accepting of 3inch screens on real cameras.
I waited for some sunny days to take the iPhone 4s out with me and take photos…
Once I’d taken some photos I had to work out how to get the photos off the iPhone… Nothing seemed to work.
I then tried connected the phone to an Apple MacBook Air, and realised the cable was at fault, so had to find another cable… another $8 (£6.50) wasted, I mean, cleverly invested in the pursuit of photography…
Once I’d got a working cable, I managed to connect it to my computer, and browse the phone using the DCIM folders.
Here are some of the results…
I’m told you can even use wired earphones as a remote release for taking photos.
Overall… not terrible. Not as bad as some modern day plastic cameras that cost more, and a lot better than the Kodak Charmera. And somewhat nostalgic looking, in the lack of the perfect, the lack of advanced HDR and lack of dynamic range. This gives them a “vintage” and “retro” digicam type look… and taking photos with an old, tiny, iPhone 4s is kind of fun. You have to work with what you’re seeing, and it can be quite an enjoyable experience. You’ll get shots that don’t work, at all, and this makes the good photos you do get, somehow better.
Being able to go out and take photos and leave the real phone safely in your pocket is a nice way to switch off from being permanently connected.
With an iPhone 4S (without a SIM) you remain disconnected from notifications, like using a standard camera, but it’s even smaller and more compact. There are some serious limitations, including a lack of image stabilisation, a slower aperture than modern cameras, and high chance of shake or other image issues in low-light. But this is part of what makes it fun. You can even hold the shutter release button and take continuous shots if you want.
It gives a similar-ish experience to the Camp Snap 2, and other screen free cameras, but with the bonus of a screen 😉 Plus it’s so small compared to modern smartphones, and other real cameras that are often much larger, that it really does make it possible to take it with you everywhere you go, and isn’t that what fun photography is all about?
The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of Amateur Photographer magazine or Kelsey Media Limited. If you have an opinion you’d like to share on this topic, or any other photography related subject, email: [email protected]
- 5 genius things to do with your old iPhone rather than leaving it in a closet
- Don’t bin your old phone – I just saved $100 by setting up my old iPhone as a security camera
- The 10 most significant iPhones ever released and how they changed photography
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About
Joshua Waller has been reviewing cameras since 2004, originally setting up an online review site DigiCamReview. Following this he joined ePHOTOzine in 2011 as Technical Editor where he was in charge of reviews, and setting up a detailed test system. Josh joined Amateur Photographer in 2021, and as Online Editor, is responsible for bringing great content to the site, as well as reviewing cameras, lenses, smartphones and more.
