Mobile phone cameras have come a long way, making image processing increasingly important and allowing fine-grained control to allow users to adjust the image. Despite this, many people still prefer old-fashioned photography styles and techniques. Developer Alex Fox wanted to focus on that nostalgia when building the Mood.camera app.
The iPhone app allows you to switch between different retro filters when taking photos. You can also adjust the tone and sound quality using the dial. From the main screen, you can easily switch between various lenses and adjust exposure. All of this seems familiar, but what you don't get is a live preview of what your photo will look like after it's “developed.” This yields some interesting results.
Image credit: Alex Fox
Fox said the app didn't include a live preview feature because he wanted users to focus on the image in the viewfinder rather than the effects. You'll see the same thing you see in the default camera app. Similarly, the app doesn't have any editing features, nor does it allow you to import photos from your gallery and apply filters to older photos.
“Ever since the first Polaroid camera came out, photography has become more about convenience and control, and I think we've lost some of the magic in the process,” Fox said in an email. told TechCrunch.
“Some of the design decisions I've made are aimed at reducing the convenience we're used to, forcing users to worry about which filters to use or stare at edits on their phone. It encouraged me to focus on the present moment instead of focusing on it.”
Image credit: Alex Fox/Mood.camera
The developer began developing a prototype of the app in October 2023 and released a beta version on Reddit earlier this year.
Fox said that over the past two months, a group of photographers have taken more than 100,000 photos and helped further refine the app. This app he can try for free for 7 days, after which he can pay $1.99 per month or he can pay a one-time fee of $14.99.
Over the past few years, apps like Lapse, Dispo, and Later Cam have tried to recreate some of the retro cameras by limiting the app's functionality. Lapse and Dispo also attracted investors, but growth ultimately slowed. However, while indie developers won't encounter venture-backed outcomes, they have the potential to turn their apps into sustainable income and long-term success.