Shoot from the hip, with Nofinder

Nofinder is a toy camera like app, from developer Toshihiko Tambo. Inspired by Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama, Nofinder is Toshihiko's take on Daido Moriyama's "no finder" [shoot from the hip] snapshot style of photography, that the photographer developed as he wandered the streets of Tokyo in the late 1960s and early '70s.

Nofinder has 10 film/filter effects and 4 different lenses, and is currently available for FREE [normal price £0.69/$0.99/€0.79], with an optional £0.69/$0.99/€0.79 in app purchase upgrade that adds the ability to control the shutter volume, display the photo after the shot has been taken, and save the unfiltered image.

Nofinder includes the following features:

• No Flash and No Auto-Focus
• 4:3, 1:1, 3:2, 16:9 frames
• 2 resolution modes, half and full
• Shutter position, top or bottom
• Film effects; Normal; B&W; Hard B&W; Vivid; Toy; Old; Instant; Cross; Day Dream; Skip Bleach
• Lenses: Normal - no processed anything; Toy1- Vignetting; Toy2 - Vignetting, plus blur; Toy3 - Vignetting, plus larger area of blur.

Whilst these film/lens/camera effects are nothing special, Nofinder does have quite a nice high contrast B&W effect [as Toshihiko Tambo sample photo below shows], that may appeal to many iPhone street photographers, as it doesn't look like a camera app.

Whilst I would find it hard to recommend this app at its regular selling price [plus in app purchase option], for free, it is worth checking out, as it may be an ideal addition to any new or existing street iPhoneographer.

You can find out more about photographer Daido Moriyama, here, here and here.

App Store Link: Nofinder; Sale Price: FREE

Comments

[Steve]

It's free, but you should note that toy2 and toy 3 are in-app purchases. As is the ability to review your photo in the app.

Secondly, it's curious that many settings that most people would change rarely are right on the main bar. It's an odd app.

Also, what good is a camera without a viewfinder?

[Glyn Evans]

@Steve. That's odd, as the copy I have has all the lenses available.

Also like you, I wondered what was the point of an app with no viewfinder, and was the reason I had not posted on this app before now. Having played with the app, I can now see how it could aid capturing photos on the tube etc (albeit, a bit hits and miss) without being noticed, as it is not obvious that you are taking photos.

Whilst I would not have paid for this app, it's one that I'm going to play with.

[Geoff]

It's free sure but leaves a watermark tho.

[Glyn Evans]

Well spotted Geoff, not sure how I missed this. Sadly, this makes the app pretty worthless!!!

[Mdog]

Tried this out today at the park. Very hit or miss, obviously, but the rare gems are worth it; plus, it's very fun!! I think the lack of viewfinder forces you to think about the composition is whole new way: it's almost totally blind, but you still have to be thoughtful.

[Toshihiko]

Hello Geoff.
If you enable "Sample", you can select film and lens for Add-on with "Watermark".
Please disable "Sample" on setting.
Regards.

[Rajkumar]

Wonderful find Glyn!!

I was using this from morning and i have to say wonderful! its actually pretty good for B&W shooters, and the Hard B&W film produces excellent results. the lack of viewfinder also provides a unique challenge and aid in quick capture rather than twiddling with the fingers to find focus and exposure. the unpredictability of the end results is an added fun!

it shoots full res 5mp shots and no watermark whatsoever in captured images for me. I dont need any additional lenses o film, plus the shutter sound can be turned off by hitting the mute sideswitch!

Overall an excellent camera app for the hardcore B&W shooters! and its definetly getting a place in my homescreen!

Kudos to the Dev.

[Drew]

It's an interesting app, and a great find for free. I can't decide if I would pay a dollar when I would really only be using the hard black setting, but then, I haven't found an app I like that can give me the hard black as good as this one.

Just playing around, I got this:
http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/07/16/dbdc56e1bb0f46cebdf15f927fd57e9c_7.jpg

I actually sort of like the lack of viewfinder(totally bizarre feature), and I haven't had the crazy feeling of "what you click is what you get" since I abandoned Hipstamatic, but even though it takes a lot more snaps to get something good, the good is really quite nice.

Totally mixed feelings on this one.

[lasthippie]

I find this app to be one of the great finds you can have. Lately I 've been using the Simply B&W app to some extent until I saw Nofinder here. What piqued my curiosity is the mention of photography legend Daido Moriyama. I tried shooting with it. And to to my amazement I had these wonderful accidents.

I truly understand why this app has no viewfinder. Daido Moriyama shoots from the hip and forgo focusing. So indeed if you have your thumb on the red button you just shoot away. You open you "presents" later. It's like having a film camera where you had to wait for the pleasant surprises.

I strongly recommend this app.

Two shots I did with this app are posted in my site http://coffeebreaks.posterous.com/

They are entitled hipstreet and hipstreet #2

[Dave Chapman]

I have been a proud owner and user of NoFinder for a while and considered it to be my secret weapon for B&W iPhoneography! Without a viewfinder you find that you no longer impose the 'rules' of composition or your compositional habits, which saves time and frees up the process. This leads to some unique and dynamic shots you simply wouldn't have taken otherwise. You say hit and miss, for me it also reminds me of film photography, in that between shooting and processing you have the anticipation! I also love the B&W filters for strong contrast.

[lasthippie]

Let me just add, I've tried the app on an iPod Touch 4g, and guess what? It's even more awesome! Why? Because the Touch 4G camera is naturally grainy, On the iPhone 4, the image would be crisper and clearer and therefore on some occasions your photos would look like they've been posterized. In fact, I added some grain in Monophix on my shots before I experimented with my iPod Touch 4g.

This give me a reason to shoot on my iPod Touch which I relegated to purely videography when I got my iPhone.

Give it a try!

[Oniontears]

I like it alot so far. Some settings make it pretty slow though. I will stick to the B/W option which is the best. Also the preview image slows it down. Otherwise, it is really a great app. You don't need to pay, but I did anyway.

[Oniontears]

My example:

http://instagr.am/p/H6Xde/

[Mongolfing]

I guess "shoot from the hip" style indicates there is no need for viewfinder I find the high contrast black and white is impressive. Very nice.

[eeskaatt]

I used this on my iPod Touch4 whenever I shoot street photography.

The absence of the viewfinder gives me confidence that I won't be caught by those who are behind me. :D

correct me if I'm wrong, the Full resolution is free?(the one with very tiny checkerboard pattern?)
and there is no need to buy for the in-app because I can set the shutter volume using only the volume rocker of the iPod.

This is now one of my standby apps whenever I go out.
my big 3: iPod camera, Nofinder, Hipstamatic, quickpix