The digital film that's always just around the corner, now promised in 2027

Image: I'm Back

[This story was originally published on March 12 2026, it has been updated with additional detail after the Kickstarter project launched]

I'm Back, the crowd-funded startup that has spent years trying to deliver on the promise of a digital module for film cameras has taken a step closer to doing so, via a new Kickstarter project.

The Kickstarter is now open and has received over $450,000 worth of funding from nearly 1000 backers. The project says it is targeting the delivery of units to backers by December 2027.

I'm Back Roll Kickstarter

The company says working prototypes exist but that the electronics are not finalized. Development of elements such as printed circuit board assembly, film shaped battery and steps including APS-C sensor integration will be funded from the money raised via Kickstarter.

AI-generated image of how the Bluetooth trigger may look Image: I'm Back

Further details include that there will be modules with between 64 and 256GB of storage. A version designed for Leica M cameras, including a rear door is also offered. No details are given about battery life, other than that it'll be limited. The bluetooth trigger that activates the digital sensor prior to using the camera's shutter to take an exposure has not yet been developed and the mockup shown is noted as being AI-generated.

The company says it it working on an optional external pack that boosts battery life and adds mic input and HDMI out.

The long-held dream of digital modules for film cameras

The concept of a digital module the shape of a roll of 135 film has existed almost as long as digital photography, with DPReview's founder Phil Askey following the story and failure of the Silicon Film project between 1999 to 2001.

Kickstarter-funded project I'm Back has been promising something similar in recent years, and has developed a series of interesting attempts.

Previous attempt: I'm Back Film

These have included a version that required you to remove the rear plate of your film camera and add a large box with a compact camera sensor that took photos of a translucent screen set into the film plane. And, more recently, an insert built around a Four Thirds sensor that slotted into the film bay, but required a large external box for batteries, storage and control.

Like Silicon Film's final attempt, the last-gen I'm Back Film connected to an external box that was home to batteries, processing and controls. Image: I'm Back

Although this attempt came close to the solution that Silicon Film had settled on, before its collapse, we've seen some fairly critical reviews from people who've tried to use it.

Why it's so difficult

And yet, true to the company name, I'm Back has returned, teasing another attempt at the elusive dream of simple film-to-digital conversion, a quarter of a century on.

Details of the I'm Back Roll are relatively sparse, beyond that it'll be built around an APS-C sensor and won't require any external parts. The implication appears to be that, like film, you won't be able to change settings such as ISO, or preview your image until after you've finished shooting and opened the camera up.

The company subsequently confirmed that it will be using the familiar IMX571 sensor from Sony Semiconductor, a 26MP BSI CMOS sensor that appears in a number of popular cameras.

Follow the original Silicon Film story

The company's talk of a "more human way of photographing" immediately makes us wonder why a vastly complex mechanical or electro-mechanical film camera, designed around pretty sophisticated chemistry, should be considered more "human" than a digital device, but it'll be interesting to see what they come up with, this time.

As always, our decision to report on a Kickstarter project should not be seen as an endorsement of the project. I'm Back has a history of successfully completing its projects, but opting to support a project does not guarantee that it will result in a delivered product.