THE FEELGOOD INSTANT FILM CAMERA

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 between pointing a phone at yourself, someone, something or some place, and doing the same with an instant lm camera?

Yes, the latter is bulkier. Yes, the latter costs more (yup, you have to pay for lm). 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 lters and apps to correct every single thing; and where every image is framed with a cream-coloured border. Sweet.

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 lms are available in packs of 10 exposures ($18 and $20 per pack respectively). Colour lms also come in double packs of 20 exposures ($30).

The mirror here is for seles.

Happy days are here: Leica’s rst instant lm camera Sofort comes in white and ’60s-inspired orange and mint.

There are four main modes: Automatic (uses available natural light for more natural photos), Party & People, Sport & Action and Macro.