VWFNDR has unveiled its latest innovation, VWFNDR + MBL, an Android camera app crafted to function as a traditional camera rather than a computational filter. The company emphasizes that this app is designed for mobile photographers who seek a more intentional and deliberate approach to their craft.
From Concept to Reality
This marks a significant moment for VWFNDR, a name previously recognized in the photography community, particularly on PetaPixel. The company, founded in Tokyo in 2023 by designers Álvaro Nuevo.Tokyo and Mireia Gordi i Vila, initially gained attention with its striking panoramic digital camera concept, Keirin. Although Keirin did not come to fruition, VWFNDR has remained steadfast in its commitment to enhancing photography hardware and user experience.
With MBL, VWFNDR takes its first tangible step into the market, aiming to make photography not only accessible but also beautiful and authentic. The app is built around the principles of “real photographic capture,” incorporating Bayer RAW imaging and Content Credentials. “A camera you always carry should work like a camera. Not as a computational filter, not as an AI image generator, but as a tool for intentional photography,” the company articulates. This philosophy underpins the development of MBL, which serves as a software foundation that embodies the photographic principles VWFNDR intends to integrate into future hardware.
Features and Functionality
The MBL app represents the initial phase of VWFNDR’s broader vision to introduce a compact camera accessible to all. “Great cameras need great software,” the company asserts, indicating that real-world feedback from photographers will inform the design of future hardware.
As for the app’s capabilities, it captures unprocessed Bayer RAW DNG data alongside JPEGs, deliberately avoiding the computational photography features that dominate many native camera applications. Users can expect manual controls for ISO, shutter speed, focus, and exposure compensation, along with a customizable and reorderable user interface tailored to individual shooting styles.
MBL also includes six built-in aspect ratios: 1:1, 7:6, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, and 2:1. Notably, the app refrains from employing image stacking, tone mapping, or any computational “tricks,” instead promising to deliver images that reflect what the sensor captures in a natural and realistic manner.
Commitment to Authenticity
Each photograph taken with MBL is embedded with Content Credentials, ensuring the provenance of the image and any edits made by the photographer. VWFNDR proudly states that it is the fourth company to achieve C2PA Level 2 conformance and the second, after Google, to support Content Credentials for DNG files.
While a comprehensive list of compatible Android devices has yet to be released, VWFNDR has showcased sample images captured on various models, including the Google Pixel 7A, Google Pixel 9A, Xiaomi 12T Pro, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Nothing 3A, Nothing 2, and the Leitzphone 3. “Real photography must remain in people’s hands,” VWFNDR emphasizes, reinforcing its dedication to empowering photographers.
Currently, VWFNDR + MBL is available for free on the Google Play Store, with the company promising further updates regarding its compact camera project later this year.
Image credits: VWFNDR
