At the moment, there are countless retro apps to choose from. Many of them come with a wide range of retro filters, which can sometimes feel overwhelming. Huji Cam often appears in recommendations for the best retro camera apps. At first, I wasn’t very interested in trying it, but I decided to give it a chance and here is my Huji Cam review. Besides sharing my first impressions, I’ll also cover the basics of how to use it. At the end, I’ll share some film camera alternatives for anyone who has the interest and patience for the classic analog process.
Feature | Huji Cam |
Platform | iPhone, Android |
Filters | Retro film |
Front camera | Yes |
Import existing photos | Paid feature |
Best for | Casual nostalgic photography |
What is Huji Cam
Huji Cam is a retro app that imitates the look and feel of 90s analog photography. Its aim is to help users create vivid and vibrant photos while capturing the nostalgic spirit of 1998. Back then, camera makers tried to preserve moments in the brightest and most energetic way possible.
This marked a huge shift from the dusty, muted grunge tones of the early 90s into a new era of heavy saturation. Not washed-out, but bold, vibrant, and full of contrast. You can instantly recognize this aesthetic in iconic Britpop artwork, such as The Verve’s *The Drugs Don’t Work*, where the band sitting on the grass creates that warm, heavy, and raw analog feeling.
By 1998, this visual language had spread far beyond album covers and exploded across MTV and youth culture. Think of the bright colors and energetic videos of Blur, the dreamy yet saturated visuals of Oasis, the stylized cinematic look of Garbage, or the distorted lenses and intense contrast often seen around bands like The Smashing Pumpkins or Placebo. Even pop acts of the era embraced this vibrant, slightly imperfect analog aesthetic. Light leaks, flash photography, visible grain, and occasional fisheye distortion became part of the visual identity of the late 90s. Huji Cam does a surprisingly good job of recreating that nostalgic atmosphere.
My Experience using Huji Cam
When I first launched the app, it felt a little awkward. Huji Cam greets you with a very small viewfinder, which immediately reminded me of old disposable cameras. If you are not the type of person who reads instructions or quick tutorials, it may take a while to realize that there is also a way to make that small window larger and shoot in full-screen mode.
Although I checked some Huji Cam sample photos before trying it myself, my main goal was to recreate the rainbow light leaks that I liked the most in those examples.
The light leaks were not very frequent, so I had to experiment a bit more, especially by using the flash. At first, I tried taking photos only indoors, but later I also tested them outdoors, and I didn’t notice a huge difference between the two. It definitely took more attempts, since the light leak effects are random, and not all of them are visually appealing. In the end, it actually feels quite close to using a real disposable camera, where you also never fully know what you’ll get.
How to Use Huji Cam
Using Huji Cam is very easy. Just download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and launch it. You will see a screen divided into two parts — one green section with a small viewfinder in the upper-left corner. The other grey section contains three buttons: Lab (for finished images), Flash, and Shoot.
You can start by taking your first photos with these basic settings. If the size of the viewfinder is not enough for you, proceed to the next step.
How to make Huji Cam full screen
If you want to make the screen bigger, you need to access the Lab.A new window will appear. In the upper part, choose the hamburger menu. Another window will open where you can change a couple of different settings, including the ViewFinder touch mode. If you activate it, you can tap on the viewfinder and it will switch to full screen.
In that same menu, you can also change the date and its format, enable location saving, and create HUJI albums in Photos. Be aware that some extra settings (auto-save to photos, keep photos only in the app, preserve original photos, or access recently deleted images) are available only after a small payment fee of €0.99.
How to use Huji Cam front camera
If you have set Huji Cam to full screen, you can now see a screen with four new buttons: switch between front and back camera, random light effects on and off, timer, and photo quality (original, low).
How to import photos to Huji Cam
To import photos to Huji Cam, you need to pay a small fee. After that, you can access the Lab, where you will find a plus button at the bottom. Tap on it and select images to add. When you tap on a selected image, a window will appear where you can choose or deselect some options and click Begin Developing. The final result will appear in the gallery.
Sometimes the app may freeze, and you will need to tap on the image icon and wait for it to continue working normally — in my case, it eventually did.
Huji Cam sample photos
Here are some Huji Cam sample photos I took during a day out in the streets of Bratislava. The random light leak option was enabled most of the time. Some photos were taken in lower quality, and when taking them I didn’t hear the same loud shutter sound as with the original quality setting.
When looking at the selfie images, I have a slight feeling that the app may apply some face tuning or subtle retouching.
Film camera alternatives
If you like the Huji Cam aesthetic but want to try the real analog experience, there are a few simple film cameras worth considering. The Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash is probably the closest match to the Huji vibe, offering effortless shooting with no settings at all. The Kodak FunSaver is another classic disposable option, known for its strong flash look and noticeable film grain. For a slightly more flexible choice, the Kodak M35 or M38 are affordable film compacts that give you a bit more control while still keeping that nostalgic analog feel.
Is Huji Cam worth it?
Huji Cam is worth trying if you enjoy simple, nostalgic photography without too many settings or controls. It works best as a fun, casual app for capturing everyday moments with a retro film-like feel rather than as a serious photography tool.
If you like the unpredictability of disposable cameras and don’t mind that results can vary from shot to shot, Huji Cam can be a fun way to recreate that 90s analog aesthetic on your phone. However, if you are looking for full creative control or consistent results, you will likely find it quite limited.
Overall, it’s a simple but enjoyable app that works best when you treat it as a creative experiment rather than a precision camera replacement.
FAQ
Yes, Huji Cam is free to download and use. However, some additional features, such as importing photos from your gallery or accessing certain settings, may require a small in-app payment.
If Huji Cam is not working, it is usually due to camera permission issues, app glitches, or outdated software. Restarting the app, checking permissions, or reinstalling it often solves the problem.
Yes, but this feature is typically locked behind a small in-app purchase. Once unlocked, you can import photos from your gallery and apply the Huji Cam effect to them.
Huji Cam stores photos within its internal “Lab” before saving them to your device. If photos are deleted before being saved externally, recovery options are limited, depending on your device backup settings.
Huji Cam is developed by Manhole, Inc., a South Korean software development company. The app is inspired by retro film photography aesthetics rather than focusing on its development background.
Sources & Further Reading
- HUJI Cam — official app listing
- Manhole, Inc. — developer information
- Photos and screenshots created during testing in Bratislava
- References to 1990s disposable film photography culture
Sources: