If you’ve ever wanted a 35mm film camera with a transparent body, then the To Be Continued camera might just be ideal.
Created by an international team of three designers, the “To Be Continued” camera uses quality existing camera components packed into a custom, transparent outer body.
This limited edition camera was developed and built by the team of Croatian Joshua Cirjak, Canadian Shraeyas Massey and Ferj David of the United Arab Emirates.
The trio first introduced their cleverly unusual camera through Facebook photography groups and have been drumming interest for it since then, but now they’re poised for a limited-batch release of the TBC.
According To the group behind the TBC camera,
“This camera is a look into the future of memory making. The camera features a custom translucent ABS body that snugly hugs the internals, creating a compact form factor. The mechanisms of the camera are free to be seen because of the transparent shell, closing the gap between the dreamer and the tool. This camera re-imagines the disposable camera, except there is no limit to how many photos can be taken. A camera without an end. A camera To Be Continued™ (TBC)”
In short, it’s a reimagined, long-lasting remake of a compact disposal film camera.
As such, the TBC offers its users the ability to shoot 35mm film while also coming with a fully transparent body, a carabiner attachment and a gel sheet for experimental work.
It’s also powered by conventional AA batteries, making recharging it very easy.
With the TBC camera, Massey, Cirjak and David wanted to deliver the simplicity and slightly retro specs of a disposable camera but with endurance for reusing it without limits.
As Cirjak explained recently in comments to the website Kosmo Photo,
“As a photographer myself, I wanted to create something that had the feel and look of a disposable camera, but that could be reusable,”
He adds that they wanted “a camera without an end…”
To achieve this, the three developers combined a blend of existing camera parts and their own completely unique design modifications.
They started their project off by designing a completely new shell around the internal parts of existing disposable film cameras.
This however quickly led them to realize that even the existing internals of disposable cameras would need to at least partly be redesigned for much better durability.
With that in mind, they found a solid film camera that was closest to what they wanted for their custom external shell in terms of function and durability and purchased just its internals for their overall design.
Cirjak further elaborates, “Some other modifications we did were change the colour of the shutter and film spool knob (and shape), changed the colour of the wiring inside, the colour of the flash LED, and added a carabiner attachment to the side of the camera.”
Cirjak, Massey and David began their project in 2020 while studying as university students.
Originally, they planned on developing a fully 3D-printed camera entirely of their own design and build, but quickly realized how difficult this would be to scale this into production quantities.
“Initially, the goal was to create a 3D-printed camera but we soon came to realise that it would be impossible to manufacture a larger number of cameras, and also, the cameras weren’t as durable as we would have liked them to be. We spent countless hours in school designing the cam”
Instead, they used factory-made internal parts inside their own custom-built shell, modeling the camera as a whole on the best aspects of disposable devices but with robustness baked in.
The effort has partly been based on a nostalgic drive for the golden days of memories created through disposable cameras and the waiting for film to develop.
With the TBC though, the trio worked with a focus on continuing that creative photographic flow past just one use.
Cirjak summarizes the heart of the matter by adding, “I see our TBC camera as a memory-capturing tool, as opposed to a professional film camera. It’s all about capturing your memories in the most raw and unedited way.”
The key specs of their final product -of which 400 were originally made ready for shipping- are as follows:
- Film format:125 film (24x36mm), ISO 200/400
- Optical lens: 28mm/F8
- Focusing: Focus free, 1.0m
- Shutter speed: 1.120s
- Film transport: Manual wind and rewind
- Viewfinder: Field=70%
- Flash: Built-in flash, 1~3m flash range
- Power source: 1xAA-Alkaline battery
- Camera size: 120(W) x 65(H) x 40(D)mm (4.7″ x 2.5″ x 1.57″ inches)
- Camera Weight: 125g (4.4 oz)
- Main body Material: PETG & ABS
In case you’re wondering why the designers decided to specifically give the TBC camera a 28mm lens, Cirjak has a very particular explanation for that, based on his own years of professional video and photo work:
“Aside from running my brand IUTD Studios, I am also a full-time videographer and photographer. I’ve worked alongside artists such as Will Smith, Marshmello, and Martin Garrix, mainly filming at large-scale music festivals around the world. My go-to professional lens is a 16-35mm lens. I love wide angle. For a camera like TBC, where the goal is to capture memories, I think the 28mm lens allows the user to capture more of the memory, more of the moment.”
The To Be Continued camera was first launched in late October of 2023 with a limited run of 400 units. The trio of designers introduced it through their business, IUTD (I Used to Dream) Studios.
You can however still get your hands on units of the To Be Continued camera through select retailers in multiple countries that the trio of designers have listed on their website, here. It was released at roughly €69 or about $73, but this might vary slightly from retailer to retailer.
You can also follow IUTD Studios on their future camera releases and other projects through their Instagram page.
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