Paper Shoot vs. iPhone – A Photography Comparison

In the era of smartphone photography, why would you still need a Paper
Shoot?

This is a question we hear a lot: “Why not just use my iPhone to take
pictures?” Today, let’s dig into a detailed comparison between using a Paper
Shoot camera and using a smartphone, to help you see why they can
actually complement each other and how Paper Shoot offers a different,
refreshing shooting experience.

First off, they’re not direct competitors!

Let’s clear the air: the Paper Shoot camera was never meant to replace your
iPhone. We all love our smartphones and know how powerful their cameras
are. The goal of Paper Shoot is to provide an alternative experience – a
digital-meets-analog way of shooting that lets you step away from screens
and still capture memories. Think of it this way: when you want to take a break
from the constant notifications and perfectionism of smartphone photography,
Paper Shoot is there as a lifestyle camera that makes photography simple,
mindful, and fun.

Using an iPhone to take photos:

- Instant gratification (with a catch): You can see your photo the second
you take it. While that’s convenient, it often leads to taking dozens of
photos of the same thing and obsessing over tiny differences to pick
“the perfect shot.” It’s easy to fall into a perfectionist trap and lose the
moment.
- Distractions abound: Your phone is connected to everything – calls,
texts, social media. While snapping a photo, a notification can pop up
and pull you out of the zone. Ever been about to take a shot and a
message drops down from the top of your screen? Yep, that happens,
and it’s not great for staying in the moment.
- Duplicate overload: We tend to overshoot with phones. Check your
camera roll – you might have 10 almost-identical shots trying to get one
right. It’s convenient to shoot a lot, but later you’re sorting through
heaps of redundant photos.
- Battery drain: Using your phone for lots of photography chews through
battery life. On a day of heavy shooting (like on vacation or at an
event), you might find your phone low on juice by late afternoon, which
isn’t ideal if you also need it for navigation or calls.
Using the Paper Shoot camera:
- Delayed gratification (the good kind): With no screen on the camera,
you can’t see your photos immediately. Surprisingly, this is freeing! You
take a photo and move on, staying engaged with what’s happening
around you. Later, when you transfer the photos, you get to relive those
moments with fresh eyes. It brings back that film-era excitement of
waiting to see your pictures.
- No pop-ups, no distractions: Paper Shoot has no Wi-Fi, no
notifications, no interruptions. When you have it in hand, it’s just you
and the scene you’re capturing. Many users say this helps them
achieve a state of flow and mindfulness while shooting – it’s just more
relaxing and immersive.
- One shot at a time: Since you’re not reviewing after every snap, you
naturally take fewer photos, but they tend to be more considered. Each
shot feels more intentional. You won’t end up with 20 throwaways of
the same subject; typically, you’ll have one or two that hopefully
captured what you wanted. And if not – hey, that’s part of the charm
and learning process.
- Separate from your phone: Paper Shoot runs on its own battery (AAA
rechargeable batteries). So while you’re out snapping away with Paper
Shoot, your phone can stay safely in your pocket, fully charged for
when you really need it. It’s a little digital detox from the always-
connected feeling.

Mindset & Photography Approach
Beyond just the tech specs, using Paper Shoot versus a phone can lead to a
different mindset in photography:

With iPhone, we often:
o Take many photos of the same thing, worrying about minor
differences.
o Immediately check each photo, sometimes missing what’s
happening in real life because we’re staring at the screen.
o Feel an urge to edit or apply filters and share right away on
social media, which can turn a simple moment into a content
creation session.
o Use the phone camera for everything, from notes to docs to
creative shooting – it’s utility-driven.

With Paper Shoot, we tend to:
o Embrace imperfections. You get what you get, and sometimes
the little surprises (a light leak effect, a slightly tilted angle) make
the photo even better.
o Stay present. Since there’s no immediate preview, you quickly
return your attention to the scene around you after clicking the
shutter. Many Paper Shoot users say they remember their
experiences more vividly because they weren’t constantly
checking photos as they went.
o Shoot more for yourself and the memory, rather than for instant
likes or feedback. There’s a private joy in capturing a moment
just for the sake of it, knowing you’ll look at it later.
o Trust the process. The camera’s automatic settings handle the
technical side, so you focus on composition and the feeling of
the shot. Over time, this can improve your photographic eye
even when you go back to more complex cameras.

Practical Comparison: Specs & Results
It’s also worth comparing some practical outcomes and specs of Paper Shoot
vs iPhone:
- Image Quality: Modern iPhones have high megapixel cameras and
fancy computational photography – meaning they’ll often produce
sharper images in a variety of conditions, especially low light. Paper
Shoot has a fixed lens and fixed settings; its sensor is roughly 18MP. In
daylight, Paper Shoot can produce beautiful, crisp shots that are easily
comparable for typical viewing sizes (prints, web, social media). Where
you’ll see differences is in low light (iPhone will brighten things more)
and dynamic range (iPhone HDR will balance bright/dark better
automatically). That said, the character of Paper Shoot photos – with
those built-in filters – is something the phone doesn’t replicate out-of-
the-box. For everyday snaps and memories, both are plenty capable,
but if you zoom in 100% or shoot in very challenging lighting, the
phone’s technical advantages show.
- Ease of Use: Paper Shoot is as simple as it gets – one button to shoot,
one switch to change filter mode. iPhone, on the other hand, offers a
lot of shooting options (portrait mode, night mode, manual adjustments
with third-party apps, etc.). Depending on your perspective, the phone
is either more versatile or more fiddly. With Paper Shoot, there’s beauty
in simplicity – anyone can use it, from young kids to grandparents,
without diving into menus. The iPhone will let you fine-tune more, but
that can also mean you’re spending more time thinking about settings
than just snapping the picture.
- Battery Life: As mentioned, shooting extensively on an iPhone drains
its battery significantly (and using features like flash or live photos or
video drains it faster). Paper Shoot runs on AAA batteries that can be
swapped out – one set of good rechargeables can yield around 800
shots. For an event like a day trip or wedding, a couple sets of
rechargeable AAAs will outlast most phone batteries. Plus, you’re
preserving your phone’s battery for other uses. So in terms of stamina
for photography, Paper Shoot has the edge for volume of shots
(especially important if you travel off-grid or won’t be able to charge
your phone easily).
- Storage & Sharing: iPhone wins hands-down for instant sharing – a
few taps and your photo is on Instagram or being sent to friends.
Photos are stored in internal memory or iCloud, which is seamless but
can fill up, and extra cloud storage costs money. Paper Shoot stores
images on an SD card (up to 32GB officially; that holds thousands of
photos). Transferring them to share is an extra step (using a card
reader or USB cable as described earlier). This means Paper Shoot is
less about instant sharing and more about later reflection. It’s a bit like
the difference between live-tweeting an event vs. enjoying it and
maybe posting about it afterwards. Neither is “right” or “wrong” – just
different approaches.

Cost Considerations
Another angle: & value. Smartphones are expensive – flagship phones
can cost $800–$1200. Granted, that phone isn’t just a camera, it’s also many
other things, so we justify the cost because it’s multi-purpose. A Paper Shoot
camera costs around $120–$150. It’s a dedicated camera, yes, but if you’re
thinking of buying a casual camera or a retro instant camera, Paper Shoot sits
in a similar price range, with the benefit of no ongoing film cost. For context,
using a classic film or instant camera means buying film packs or disposable
cams – those costs add up quickly (and create waste). Paper Shoot uses
digital storage (SD cards) and rechargeable batteries, so after the initial
purchase, it’s very economical to use. Over a year or two, if you take a lot of
photos, Paper Shoot can save money compared to buying a bunch of
disposable cameras or film packs for an instant camera. It’s an eco-friendly
camera choice too, which many people love – less waste, more reuse.

When to Use Which (They Complement Each Other!)
Instead of thinking Paper Shoot vs iPhone as an either/or, many users enjoy
both for what they’re good at. Here are some scenarios:
- Traveling: Bring both! Use your iPhone for quick snaps to send home,
navigation, and any low-light or fast-moving shots (since it handles
those well). Use Paper Shoot to create an unplugged experience for
yourself – roam a new city focusing on sights without the phone
distraction, and capture artsy, film-like travel photos. When you get
back, you’ll have a set of unique memories from the Paper Shoot that
complement the standard shots on your phone. The Paper Shoot’s
photos will likely have more soul and story, while the phone covers
practicality and instant needs.
- At a party or event: Handing a Paper Shoot around gets people
excited in a different way than phones do. It’s novel, it’s simple –
guests start snapping candids. Meanwhile, keep your phone for quick
posed group shots to share in the group chat that night. Later, enjoy
the Paper Shoot candids – they often capture the fun and atmosphere
in a way staged phone pics don’t. And because people aren’t taking
selfies or worrying about filters, you get genuine moments.
- Everyday life: Some days, try going phone-free with photography.
Take Paper Shoot on a walk with your dog or a coffee run. You’ll notice
that you’re more present (since you can’t do anything with the camera
except take photos). On other days when you need one device, the
phone is there as usual. Many Paper Shoot users describe it not as a
replacement, but as a refreshing change of pace that rekindles their
love for photography. It’s like listening to vinyl records vs. streaming

music – each has its place.
Bottom line: An iPhone is a powerful do-it-all device that’s always in your
pocket, whereas Paper Shoot is a purpose-built little camera that brings back
the joy and simplicity of point-and-shoot photography with a retro twist. They
each bring something different to the table.
Always remember: the best camera is the one that helps you capture what
you find beautiful or important. For many, that means sometimes it’s the
iPhone… and sometimes it’s a Paper Shoot. Choosing Paper Shoot is
choosing a more focused, mindful way of taking photos. If you’re feeling
overwhelmed by screens or find that the constant pressure to edit/share is
sucking the fun out of photography, give Paper Shoot a try. It might just be the
perfect partner to help you rediscover the joy of photography again!