Across my Instagram feed, many users are using a grainy-effect filter on their photos of beaches in Greece or moody countryside walks in Scotland, giving them a nostalgic look of a disposable camera from the Nineties.
But plenty of people are skipping the filter altogether and returning to film. They'll post phone photos from their holiday in real time, then a few weeks later, once they've had a roll of film developed, share the analogue versions too. It's all part of the film photography revival that's exploded among Gen Z before spreading to just about everyone else.
I love the ease of my phone's camera, and like many of us, I've had a camera phone in my pocket for at least 15 years, which allows me to send photos immediately to family and friends. But more recently, I've also been wanting to hark back to my childhood of using film, where I can enjoy reliving the moment I captured after the photos have been developed,
I was after something more than a disposable camera, but not quite a proper film camera – that market is now niche. After some searching, I came across Catch, which seemed to tick all my boxes – affordable, reusable and a slick-look website and Instagram account, so of course I bought one to try.
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Catch camera
Focus: Fixed
Battery: Included
Flah: Built in
Film size: 35mm
Film type: Kala or Niras and change throughout the year
Development: Catch offers as an optional extra
Why we love it
- Reusable
- Affordable
- Easy to print
- Sells film and development bundles
Take note
- Can't get physical prints
- Customer service is slow
Catch camera: Bundle purchase and delivery
Inspired by the Gen Z return to film, but not wanting to use disposable cameras, Catch has cornered a section of the internet wanting to get analogue with their photography without getting too technical, or spending too much money on a proper camera. The company understands people’s want for authenticity as AI images become the norm everywhere.
The brand is also bringing back the very Nineties and Noughties trend of having disposable cameras on wedding tables for guests to take their own fun photos, as it has wedding film bundles too.
I bought the camera as part of the starter kit bundle, which was on offer for £44 and has an RRP of £142. This includes the camera, three films and their development (which Catch also does) and a small zipped camera pouch, and the film development. Usually, the camera costs £60, the films are £16 and individual development is £20, so it is a real bargain and felt too good to be true.
The bundle comes with three of the same films (these are detailed below) which are the brand's Kala film, though I'd prefer a mix of films to get started to see which one I prefer and how they differ. Catch says they include the same three which are seasonal.
The bundle includes its 90-day film plan, which includes a further £25 charge each month for more films. These are all delivered every 90 days, which the brand says helps keep delivery costs down. These three films are different every 90 days, giving customers a range of film options. It's a service it says it created after feedback from consumers who wanted bundles of films, not wanting to return single films each time. Though this plan can be cancelled, there's no information on how to do this on the website and like many cancellations has to be done manually, though Gen Z will be happy that it's done via email, and not phone. This wasn't obvious to me at the time of ordering, nor was it included in my confirmation email or any other emails, or on the website.
Unfortunately for me I bought the camera for a holiday, but it took 2.5 weeks to arrive (and I was really feeling that 'too good to be true' price was apparently so), though the brand said they've had a big uptick in sales following the analogue trend, which accounted for delays.
Catch camera: Design
Using a standard 35mm film, the camera has a slight toy-ish feel to it, which isn't necessarily a bad thing especially for beginners – there's far less to go wrong. It's not flimsy, and is robust enough to be thrown into a bag.
There's few bells and whistles to the ‘point and shoot’ camera, as it has a fixed focus, which makes things easier to start with film photography, and the only other element is the slide for the flash on the front of the camera.
The only main difference between this and a disposable film camera is that you load and remove the film, to reuse it. The instructions are simple and easy enough to follow, showing how to open the back of the camera, insert the film, and to start shooting. Plus, when the film's finished it shows how to release the film, wind the film back and how to unload it. All key for anyone who has never used a film camera before, which I found easy to follow and do.
Catch camera: Ease of use
It doesn't get simpler than this with film. You just need to point and click, then remember to wind the film on. It's a strange notion to feel slightly embarrassed or awkward to pull out a little plastic camera, bring it to your face to look through the viewfinder, and take a snap. It's something that now feels very dated while being surrounded by people holding their phone at arm's length and taking photos, which has superseded the old fashioned way of looking through a viewfinder.
Even looking through the viewfinder took some getting used to, as wide bright phone screens have made knowing what's in-shot and really seeing the composition so easy, that using one eye to look through a tiny hole seemed much harder and I wasn't always sure I was getting the perfect shot I wanted. More practice is clearly needed.
Catch camera: The films
Catch sells its own labelled films to go with the camera too, which is a clever addition as it helps simplify the overwhelming choice of films on the market. Though Catch doesn't make them and has just relabelled films, which some online say are Kodak films.
These include Niras and Kala and both include 24 shots. Of course Catch's website has some gorgeous photos, with bold colours of holidays, weddings, parties and festivals (cleverly harnessing life's best moments.
Niras is described as having “warm, golden tones with a touch of nostalgia. Like Kodak Gold, but made for moments you’ll actually remember”. While Kala is “Bold, punchy colour with a hit of attitude”. Versatile across day and night settings, fine grain for finer moments. Both are ISO 200 film, which are designed for daylight and are supposed to give high quality images, with a little graininess that is so in vogue at the moment.
Catch camera: The photos
I tested two Niras and one Kala film and after receiving the digital prints, found it hard to remember which was which as the folders weren't labelled, but after asking for them to be labelled, Catch quickly did this.
Disappointingly, the first film (Kala) had eight almost totally dark photos — and most others have come out quite dark, despite them being taken in the daytime, but that is the world of film, always a slight risk and is all part of the fun. Despite a third not being usable, it's not put me off, as the other films are much better (though I'm not aware of doing anything differently).
There was also a strange mark which looked like a water mark at the start of the film which could have been from the developing process.
A few taken at Hammersmith riverside came out ok, but the best photos I took were on a work fishing trip in Cornwall (using the Niras film) which was an overcast day, but perhaps this made the colours of the boat and fisherman's bright waterproofs really pop. Some others at the beach also came out well, capturing the real drama of the sky which I loved.
There were a couple of photos ruined by the embarrassing encroachment of a finger tip, or even the camera cord, which feels very much the film equivalent of seeing your parents taking photos on an ipad with their arms out stretched in front of them.
Catch camera: The developing
For some, it will feel a shame that Catch only offers digital developing. This makes them convenient if I want to post them on social media, to send to friends and family or to include in a photobook, but doesn't allow for the full tactile analogue experience, unless you print elsewhere.
Developing took just a few days, inline with what the brand says, which is up to 72 hours. Interestingly, if the entire film is blank, Catch won't charge you for developing it which is a nice addition to keep customers happy. To send the films back, I was sent an Evri QR code, making it very easy to return the films safely, as there's always that worry they might get lost in the post.
Catch camera: Film costs
Film costs £16 each (often £14 on offer) and can be bought individually or in packs of two with one of each for £30, or £25 on offer. These types of films usually come in either 24 or 26 exposures, and Catch's are just 24, making the film more expensive than others widely available online and in shops.
When you purchase you can also either decide if you want to pay for the development too, which adds on another £20. It’s more expensive than highstreet development, which is usually about £15 for digital prints only, and can often be cheaper online too. Though when Catch has a deal, it comes down from £36 to £30, and if you bulk buy, of course it's even cheaper. So if you know you'll be using a lot, this is worth it. But for those who will be using the camera ad-hoc, and won't want to wait to develop say three or four films at once, then it's cheaper to develop elsewhere.
Of course, you can use any 35mm film in the camera too, it doesn't need to be the ones Catch sells.
Buy now £59.99, Catchcameras.co.uk
Is the Catch camera worth it?
Catch really plays into people wanting screen-free time and activities. It looks and feels like an Instagram brand with a sleek website, its simple purchases, heavily discounted deals and a closed loop offering with a camera, films and developing all in one place is a clever creation, that's speaking to Gen Z (and others) who want something else other than their phones.
Catch is aimed at beginners to hook them into film, as there isn't another camera company offering something so affordable and simple, while also selling film and developing too.
Despite my first film having limited success (though not doing anything different to the other films) and some teething issues quickly resolved via a quick email, I've loved returning to film. It's fun and exciting waiting to see how my snaps turned out, and is a much-welcomed analogue activity, though of course, the photos are digital (if using Catch's own service only).
It's incredibly easy and makes a once waning past time much easier, but the camera is very basic without a focus, and the films are quite expensive for just 24 shots, so I'll be buying film elsewhere, But I will be keeping this fun little camera on me from now on, and while also likely buying an upgrade to learn how to take better snaps. Catch lured me in, and reminded me how rewarding it is to get analogue snap happy again.
How I tested
I tested the camera over more than a month, using three films that had 24 exposures, testing two different types, the brand's own Kala and Niras films. I carried the camera on me all the time, and used it in a range of places and different times of day, across central London and in my neighbourhood at night time, as well as in Cornwall while visiting beautiful spring gardens, to trips on boats as well as walking around central London. During testing, I considered the following criteria.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Writer and editor Emma Henderson has previously been the editor of IndyBest. She has a wealth of knowledge about brands and knows exactly what to look for when it comes to assessing products and services. When it comes to photography, she’s reviewed the best photo books for IndyBest.
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