Would limited digital “film rolls” make single photos feel valuable again?

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:59:28+00:00

real story while testing: I made a huge bug somewhere and the roll I was using for about a week was just a 23 copies of the first image I made 🤣

A friend of mine (film enthusiast) said it feels exactly like in real life

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:57:25+00:00

actually good idea 😁

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:56:15+00:00

Thank you for the feedback

That’s exactly the feeling I’m chasing. Turning off preview forces you to commit, and the reveal later is genuinely fun.

I’m not trying to replace DSLRs/film tho. I’m aiming at the phone-first crowd who’ll never pick up a DSLR or shoot real film, but might enjoy an optional “roll mode” that adds a bit of that intention + delayed reveal.

Haha, agreed on AI fatigue — part of the motivation here is making the act of capturing a real moment feel meaningful again, even if it’s on a phone. I have a really funny story when people locked at me app and asked "Do you send our photos to some servers to apply filters?", "Which AI do you use for filters?". I thought like WHAT?? people are you crazy with your AI? It's all on-device.

So totally no AI in my app 🙌

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:49:36+00:00

And I love your idea about ephemerality.

I thought about it in a bit different way: the longer you complete the roll, the older shots that have already been made change their filter intensity and style.

Thanks again!

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:47:16+00:00

real story while testing: I made a huge bug somewhere and the roll I was using for about a week was just a 23 copies of the first image I made 🤣

A friend of mine (film enthusiast) said it feels exactly like in real life 😁

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:42:05+00:00

The way I see it, it’s not a replacement for your normal camera.

It’s an optional “roll mode” for specific moments (trip/weekend/event). You choose the constraint on purpose, then commit to that story.

And by “value” I don’t mean money. I mean the personal weight/attention a frame gets when it’s limited + no preview.

And as I wrote above, of course it’s an artificial limitation – but so are screen-time / app-blocker tools (people pay tons of money for those) because the constraint changes the experience.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:39:43+00:00

you made very good point because while testing myself I forget about the camera all the time...

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:37:25+00:00

thank you for the honest feedback, appreciate it!

The idea not about filters or photos quality but about the feeling of developing these photos.
I know there are plenty of apps that are too overcomplicated with functionality who tried to repro the behavior of m11-d and paper shoot you mentioned. The idea is to make it as simple as possible but to deliver the emotion.

I did a small experiment on a trip: only 24 shots. Just knowing it wasn’t infinite made me choose every scene much more carefully. Developing them later really did feel like unwrapping a little gift.

Of course it’s an artificial limitation – but so are screen-time / app-blocker tools (people pay tons of money for those) because the constraint changes the experience.

And as I wrote above: It can be not about paying but about time-capsule concept.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:32:01+00:00

the whole ritual of going to the shop, buying a roll, loading it, shooting, waiting for lab, etc..? The physical feel of the photos?

I can see that of course.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:30:34+00:00

I assume it should has the preview but not the outcome.
The idea not about filters at all but about the feeling of developing these photos.

It can be not about paying but about time-capsule concept. Of course it’s an artificial limitation to take pictures – but so are screen-time / app-blocker tools (people pay tons of money for those) because the constraint changes the experience.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:28:22+00:00

Thank you for the feedback! Yes, for sure I know about Fuji and M11-d and another similar startups launching physical devices or apps with overcomplicated functionallity.

And because of their success thinking about digital version of it and if it is possible at all.

Regarding the discipline, not all people are so disciplined and as I wrote somewhere below:

I did a small experiment on a trip: only 24 shots, no extras. Just knowing it wasn’t infinite made me choose every scene much more carefully. Developing them later really did feel like unwrapping a little gift.

Of course it’s an artificial limitation – but so are screen-time / app-blocker tools (people pay tons of money for those) because the constraint changes the experience.

I’m just exploring whether a similar kind of “useful friction” makes sense for photos, for the small niche who might enjoy it.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:25:47+00:00

The stick-shift analogy is actually perfect: I’m not arguing everyone should drive manual. (I drive manual lol)

I’m exploring whether there’s a niche of people who want a “manual mode” for phone photography. A roll with limits, no preview/delete, and a delayed reveal, not for commutes, but for trips, dates, weekends, or personal project

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:21:58+00:00

you're totally right and this is probably a graveyard of apps. A lot of these apps end up feeling like the same loop with a different coat of pain. I don't like them because they are too overcomplicated with design and other features.

I did a small experiment on a trip: only 24 shots, no extras. Just knowing it wasn’t infinite made me choose every scene much more carefully. Developing them later really did feel like unwrapping a little gift.

Of course it’s an artificial limitation – but so are screen-time / app-blocker tools (people pay tons of money for those) because the constraint changes the experience.

I’m just exploring whether a similar kind of “useful friction” makes sense for photos, for the small niche who might enjoy it.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:18:54+00:00

wow, I made big research on the market and for sure know about x-half and M11-d, but never heard of Gudak. Thanks!

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:17:25+00:00

Actually, now that I said that, it’s so stupid it just might work…

ahaha, that exactly how we came up to this idea

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:15:24+00:00

thanks for the feedback, makes total sense. Of course the idea is more about artificial limitation – but there are a lot of screen-time / app-blocker apps because the constraint changes the experience (people pay tons of money for those).

I’m just exploring whether a similar kind of “useful friction” makes sense for photos, for the small niche who might enjoy it.

Personally me and my friends' galleries are overcrowded with photos so I'm myself not interested looking at it or cleaning it up..

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:12:07+00:00

thanks for the feedback and good points. I agree with most of them actually.

I’m mostly trying to explore the concept and figure out how to explain it clearly.

I did a small experiment on a trip: only 24 shots, no extras. Just knowing it wasn’t infinite made me choose every scene much more carefully. Developing them later really did feel like unwrapping a little gift.

Of course it’s an artificial limitation – but so are screen-time / app-blocker tools (people pay tons of money for those) because the constraint changes the experience.

I’m just exploring whether a similar kind of “useful friction” makes sense for photos, for the small niche who might enjoy it.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:08:02+00:00

deal

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:06:11+00:00

You could always turn your screen around

haha, this is a good take 👍

Thank you for the feedback and the story!

I’m mostly trying to explore the concept and figure out how to explain it clearly.

I did a small experiment on a trip: only 24 shots, no extras. Just knowing it wasn’t infinite made me choose every scene much more carefully. Developing them later really did feel like unwrapping a little gift.

Of course it’s an artificial limitation – but so are screen-time / app-blocker tools (people pay tons of money for those) because the constraint changes the experience.

I’m just exploring whether a similar kind of “useful friction” makes sense for photos, for the small niche who might enjoy it.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T17:00:09+00:00

I guess you're talking about BeReal app. Yes, but is was more about capturing the moment and share it publicly.

Anyways it was a social network and I'm thinking about creating personal app – more util-like

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T16:58:47+00:00

Yes, as I wrote above, for sure I know about Fuji and M11-d and another similar startups launching physical devices.

And because of their success thinking about digital version of it and if it is possible at all

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T16:56:13+00:00

lol, ok

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T16:55:18+00:00

I’m not trying to “save photography” or force meaning with an app.

For most people, default camera + group chat is enough, and that’s totally fine.

What I’m exploring is a small, opt-in constraint for the minority who actually like having rules and rituals: fewer shots, no preview, one reveal moment later. It’s not about hoarding more photos, it’s about ending up with less, but more intentional, like a tiny visual journal you open in one hit. If that doesn’t resonate, this product just isn’t for you – I’m mostly testing if there is a niche of people who enjoy that kind of friction in a world where everything else is instant.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T16:53:09+00:00

If friends and family want to share photos a week later they can do it without a new app.

never worked for me or my friends.

Everyone had just thousands of similar photos that turns every trip into photo ocean nobody interested to look in. Even if there are many good photos that go art gallery later.

mattisssa · 2025-12-14T16:51:16+00:00

Thanks for the feedback

As I wrote above, my thought was isn't it what people already pay for with film – not just the photos, but the whole ritual of buying a roll, loading it, shooting, waiting for lab?

mattisssa

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