Leica’s Sofort brings back the fun of picturetaking – in a retro way.
Leica’s Sofort brings back the fun of picturetaking – in a retro way.
No offence, mobile phones (or Instagram), but you have taken the joy out of taking pictures. You’ve made it so systematically convenient and ubiquitous that capturing a moment now feels like automated documentation – as much fun as robotic scrolling.
So what’s the difference bet ween pointing a phone at yourself, someone, something or some place, and doing the same with an instant film camera? Yes, the latter is bulkier.
Yes, the latter costs more (yup, you have to pay for film). But it does one thing no cellphone can, the way Spotify isn’t a turntable and vinyls: It transports us to a time where we are capturing/ creating special moments as opposed to capturing/ creating every moment; where we hold our breaths and fan the Polaroid in anticipation of what’s coming in a minute (60 seconds is really not a lifetime); where we appreciate the simple pleasure of a photo instead of using filters and apps to correct every single thing; and where every image is framed with a cream-coloured border. Sweet. – JE & TMY
Leica Sofort retails at $425, at Leica stores at Ion Orchard, Mandarin Gallery, Raffles Hotel Arcade and The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Colour and monochrome films are available in packs of 10 exposures ($18 and $20 per pack respectively). Colour films also come in double packs of 20 exposures ($30).
