Oggl, Simone Muresu’s review (Hipstamatic Sardinia)

The first thing I noticed as soon as I started using Oggl is that there’s something strange in framing the picture. I placed my iPhone on a tripod using the adaptor and framed my subject, and then shot 5 pics without moving the iPhone, using the following settings:

1st photo: iPhone camera
2nd photo: Hipstamatic (GSQAD + Blanko Freedom 13, no flash)
3rd photo: Hipstamatic Disposable (El Mario)
4th photo: Incredibooth (Isoblak Cabine + Filthy Dirty Rotten)
5th photo: Oggl

1. iPhone camera:

2. Hipstamatic:

3. Hipstamatic Disposable:

4. Incredibooth:

5. Oggl:

The first four are all spot on (my subject is framed in the middle as I intended it to be). The shot made with Oggl is a different story: if we draw a vertical line to divide the Hipstamatic picture in two equal parts and then shoot again with Oggl keeping the iPhone still, the line moves to the left approximately 1/6 from the centre, as if I’d moved the iPhone to the right. This little peculiarity aside, let’s have a closer look at Oggl (which we can nickname Hipstagram).

Pros

1. You can edit your pics after shooting choosing from all lenses / films range, except GS-0 film (28 lenses, 29 films, 812 combinations).
2. Basically, from a single shot you can have (with a little patience) 812 shots with 812 different combos.
3. Built-in social network (one of Hipstamatic’s greatest limitations was the absence of a dedicated social sharing aspect, like Instagram).
4. You can share directly on facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Flickr.
5. No lapse between shooting and developing: depending on the combo (for ex. Tinto, Hornbecker and Americana in combination with Blanko Freedom or Dylan), Hipstamatic needs up to a minute to develop a shot on iPhone 4s, a bit less on iPhone 5.
6. No 9 pics consecutive shooting film limit.
7. Quality and resolution are identical to Hipstamatic.
8. All films and lenses random effects are kept (so for example using Dylan film you can open and close the app several times to get all “burnt” effects; again, all it takes is a little patience).
9. For amateurs there are different auto modes (like in standard cameras), Food, Landscape, Portrait and Nightlife; you can also add your favorite combos to these, like in the original app.
10. Just like in Incredibooth, you can use the front camera of the iPhone.

Cons

1. Compared to Hipstamatic, there is neither flash (which I always use in no-led mode, Jolly Rainbo 2X and Cherry Shine in particular) nor Multi Exposure (which set Hipstamatic apart compared to any other photo app).
2. Both volume buttons and remote control cannot be used to shoot - you can only use the yellow virtual button.
3. With the new editing feature (even though only in app and not using external ones), Hipstamatic’s trademark instant camera feel is lost. The design is less appealing and vintage compared to Hipstamatic, Incrediboth and Disposable. Also, you cannot change the case, another unique Hipstamatic feature in the photo app market.
4. Sharing buttons and image scrolling controls are not too intuitive and in my opinion are not very functional.
5. Display is on the left, holding the iPhone horizontally; I would definitely prefer to have it in the middle like in Hipstamatic and most photo apps.
6. Film and lens icons are small and difficult to click on: - it would be better to make them at least 20% bigger and to separate them (for example by placing the display in the middle, lenses at the top, films at the bottom or even recycling the Hipstamatic interface).
7. It would be advisable to connect the other Hipstamatic apps to this new “Hipsta social network”, so that pics can be shared into it from all of them (Hipstamatic, Incredibooth and the underrated Disposable).

© Simone Muresu

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This post is also available in: French

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11 Comments

1. 

   Dave Day

   May 12, 2013 at 9:37 am

   Also, there is no ‘tap to focus’ in Oggl :(

   Reply
2. 

   maryjane428

   May 12, 2013 at 11:40 am

   I found the flash. I saw it during beta off and on but thought they were experimenting. If you hit the screen during camera mode you’ll see the lightening bolt in top left corner.
   I agree with many of your points. I think one of the reasons they’re doing the invitation bit is to see these options discussed within the community of Hipstamatic. Another may be very smart marketing.
   I noticed I was having a hard time framing and wondering about my results. I’m so glad you did this test. I’m hoping they’re reading this review, send it to them please! The faster they fix the camera issues the better.

   Reply
3. 

   Erik

   May 12, 2013 at 2:11 pm

   I agree completely. I love Oggl butI think I like shooting pictures more with Hipstamatic. So I’m really waiting for an update of Hipstamatic with a publish to Oggl button.

   Reply
4. 

   Cat morris

   May 12, 2013 at 2:49 pm

   When I first installed Oggl and had Hipsta open at the same time my phone crashed and I couldn’t get it to reboot for about 2 hours. Those were the only two apps I had running. It also wouldn’t take my Hipsta password and asked me to update it. I was then able to get into Oggl but now I no longer have access to my Hipsta account. Hipsta no longer recognizes my login so I’m worried I’m going to lose all my Hip-stuff! Lastly I was shooting in lower light and the Oggl camera would not focus. Thanks Simone for doing this review!! :-)

   Reply
5. 

   David

   May 12, 2013 at 4:20 pm

   I have emailed Hipstamatic and they said there will be an update hopefully this week that will allow sharing to OGGL from Hipstamatic and you will also be able to use any purchased lenses and films with in OGGL.

   Reply
6. 

   Erik

   May 12, 2013 at 10:55 pm

   Yes! Just like David I tweeted Hipstamatic and they confirmed shareing to Oggl is coming

   Reply
   • 

     Maryjane Sarvis

     May 13, 2013 at 1:30 pm

     I am still having some random crashing but I’d like to clarify that I’m seeing the folks at Hipstamatic working all hours to try to solve issues and to reassure others they have their’s on the list.
     They’ve been incredibly nice and very available. I’ve read some pretty nasty and damning comments combined with long want lists. I’m amazed at how negative and brutal people can be over $10.00 a year. Sadly I’m not surprised.
     Give them a chance! This has to be a very complicated release!

     My viewfinder issues seem to have rectified.
     I’m curious if anyone else has noticed they’re gone?
     Thank you!

     Reply
7. 

   Cara Gallardo Weil

   May 13, 2013 at 4:20 pm

   Good informative review Simone! Personally I’ve been so thrilled with this app despite the teething problems. I love being able to edit lens and film after shooting, and trying out different combos – I’ve discovered some I would never have used, so its all positive. The hipsta team are great and contrary to those who have nothing but negative words to say, I do think they are doing their best to rectify issues. Designing an app is no mean feat – the time, energy, manpower and design knowledge that goes in to something like this is huge and I’m sure they did a lot of testing internally before even releasing the beta version for external testing. I say, be patient. Hipstamatic has come a long way since the early days. I have no problem with paying $10 a year to be a part of Oggl. I think its great!

   Reply
8. 

   Ramirez

   May 14, 2013 at 1:50 am

   No offense, Cara, but you’re the most non-objective beta tester I’ve ever read in a comments board. You should at least acknowledge that you work with/for the company you’re pumping if you’re going to accuse others of being unduly harsh (when we’re not.) Loyal customers only want a quality product and not a lecture about the difficulties of launching a new app. Everything is difficult. Our critiques are what keeps quality high, so you should invite them when something isn’t working, or we’re being charged for something that’s not worth a penny, let alone 10 dollars. The amount is not the issue, it’s the principal.

   Reply
9. 

   Ben

   May 15, 2013 at 11:02 am

   Unfortunate things happen when you post from Oggl to IG.

   After you share a photo from Oggl to to an Instagram account you will no longer be able to use tags in the usual way on any new photos you post to IG (even if you are not sharing from Oggl).

   Your photo will not be in the stream associated with the tag.
   Neither can you follow new users.

   This is bad.

   I hope this gets fixed as it is very disappointing and poor example of software quality control!

   Not woth spending money on at the moment (in my opinion)!

   Reply
10. 

    omar santamaria

    May 15, 2013 at 11:27 pm

    I agree with Ben, i had this annoying problem of non working tags, and the impossibility of following. Dear Cara im not crying for 10 dollars but my IG account it is not working properly, neither my Hipstamatic account. I know the team its working hard, but untill right now i have not seen any public response by OGGl or IG. Besides that i think OGGL could be a great app . my best regards

    Reply