Kickstarter official launch is set: 3/3/26.  Sorry for pushing out a little bit due to the alignment with KOLs' review publication schedule to build up momentum.

As app development reaches its final stages, it is time to provide a full introduction to the Rewindpix PS135’s hardware. We are incredibly proud of what we have built and the operation logic with it. 

Let's break it down into pieces

The case

While many peers use thin casings (1.5mm–2mm) wrapped in faux leather to hide the plastic, we took a different approach. I wanted the Rewindpix PS135 to be honest about what it is. It doesn't need decoration; it needs durability.

We opted for a thick 3mm PVC casing with a matte finish. This design was actually inspired by my 5 year old, who asked me to build a cast iron tank turret. The result is a camera that feels solid and grippy, reminiscent of the classic, rugged electronics of the 70s and 90s.

The strap mounts

In line with our minimal design philosophy, we refused to use strap lugs that poke out from the body. We chose a flush, integrated strap mount to preserve the sleek, block-like form of the camera. it is 5mm X 2.5mm, suits for most of the straps but not for those very thick ones. 

The winder

Early in the design phase, we had a serious debate: Should we include a film advance lever?

Logically, a digital camera doesn't need a winder. However, we are building a digital film camera. We asked ourselves, 'Can you truly have the film experience without the physical act of winding?'

Luckily, the debate was settled when Fujifilm released the Xhalf with a stylistic advance lever. That was our validation. If a giant like Fuji could see the value in that tactile experience, we knew we were on the right track.

Including the advance winder transforms the shooting experience. It brings back a tactile sensation reminiscent of the flintlock era. Personally, I feel a distinct sense of achievement when I capture a moment after that physical winding action.

It evokes a boyhood dream that feeling of a sniper adjusting a bolt, taking a breath, and committing to the shot. It turns a snapshot into a deliberate act.

To make the experience even more seamless, we integrated the power-on function directly into the winding mechanism. (no power off, the camera stand by for 3 mins before turn off automatically, found it useful for street photography where everything flowing around you by the seconds)

You don't need to hunt for a tiny power button. Simply wind the lever, and the camera wakes up instantly. We felt this was the most natural way to prepare for your next shot. Once you build that muscle memory, the action becomes second nature: you wind, you aim, you shoot. The camera is ready exactly when you are.

The viewfinder

Won't go too deep into the large viewfinder, blog #14 got the details if you are interested. 

I can say without hesitation that the Viewfinder consumed the most energy and money of this entire project.

We burned through three suppliers and tested four different molding approaches. Initially, our team, both hardware and software engineers, scoffed at the challenge: How hard can it be to produce 2 pieces of plastics?

The answer? An absolute nightmare.

We faced every defect imaginable: optical distortion, peripheral blur, uneven surfaces, and stubborn air bubbles trapped inside the thick objective lens. Achieving clarity felt less like injecting resin into a mold and more like fine-tuning 2nm silicon chips.

This process taught us a strange lesson: It feels like Homo Sapiens has sprinted so far ahead with high-tech electronics that we've left the 'low-tech' like basic optical physics—behind.

Luckily, we finally nailed it. Rewindpix viewfinder is a large, bright, distortion free and accurately align with lens focal length (35mm). With the limited search, we believe it could be one of the largest optical viewfinder in the market, which is essential for screen free digital camera, since it is the only channel used to connect users to the world while using the camera. 

The cold shoe

One of the most frequently asked questions is: Why did we choose a Cold Shoe instead of a Hot Shoe?

Reason 1: The Built-in Capability The PS135 comes with a built-in Xenon flash, optimized for close-range portraits and headshots (1–2 meters). Based on our experience with point & shoot photography, a heavy external strobe isn't a necessity for casual shooting. Furthermore, we wanted to keep the camera accessible. Adding a hot shoe with electronic contacts would not only increase the BOM (Bill of Materials) cost but also complicate the assembly process, driving up the final price for a feature most users wouldn't use.

Reason 2: The "Pro" Workaround For those who love wandering the streets at night or shooting in dark interiors, we have a solution. We identified a supplier who produces a powerful mini external flash (5m+ range) that is compatible with our cold shoe. It is affordable, compact, and effective. We will be making this accessory available as an add-on during the Kickstarter campaign and on our website.

The 43mm filter thread

No 3D Printed Adapters Required.

We noticed a trend in the reviews of other cameras: users love using physical lens filters, but they often have to resort to 3D printing custom adapters to make them fit.

We decided to solve this natively. The Rewindpix PS135 comes equipped with a standard 43mm filter thread.

We chose 43mm because it hits the sweet spot: it is a commonly available size for purchasing third-party filters (UV, White Mist, Black Mist, Star filters, you name it), yet it is small enough to keep the lens barrel compact without making the camera look bulky.

Coming to Kickstarter: We will also be offering our own branded UV filters and Black Mist (1/2 strength) filters for those who want that dreamy, soft-highlight look right out of the box.

The swappable shutter button

In a body built from rugged matte PVC, we wanted the most important interaction point to stand out. The shutter button is the only external component made of solid metal.

We used CNC-machined Aluminum to create a large, distinct button (1.5cm diameter) that feels confident and satisfying to press.

Make it Yours While the Rewindpix PS135 body comes in two classic tones (Gray and Beige), the shutter button is designed to be swappable. It is the easiest way to personalize your camera to match your mood or style.

Future Materials? We have received a lot of requests for more custom options. We are currently exploring premium materials like Copper (which would develop a beautiful patina over time). Let us know in the comments if that is something you would like to see!

Ok. enough for the hardware introduction. Let's take a break from it and deep dive into the operation logic of Rewindpix PS135.

The screen

A screen free digital camera can have a screen. a tiny monochrome one. 

It provides essential info at one glance.

Top left: WIFI connection indicator. Once users turn on WIFI, it will blink and become static once camera connected to the phone for app usage. 

Top Right: Battery status (life: 300 shots in one charge, 200+ shots when mixed use of flash and wifi connection)

Middle: Current filter selection. When users switch filters, the current in use filter name will show on the screen. It works for both in camera filter mode or film mode. 

Bottom left: Film mode shots count. This will show how many shots left for current "film roll", start from 36/36 and count down while shooting in film mode

Bottom right: In camera filter mode shots count. This will show how many shots took for in camera filter mode. (pre installed 4GB SD card can store around 1200 photos and support SD card up to 128GB)

The white dot: The dot is the indicator for current mode in used. It will toggle between the 2 modes when users press the mode switch button. 

The filter switch slider

Located right next to the thumb rest is the Filter Switch, a vertical, 3-position slider.

This placement aligns perfectly with our "right-hand only" design logic. You can easily toggle between three distinct film simulations using just your thumb.

Why does this matter? Because you shouldn't have to menu-dive to change your look. This physical switch allows you to build muscle memory, letting you change filters by feel without ever taking your eye off the viewfinder (or the subject).

When you change the filters, the filter name in the screen will change accordingly based on your selection and works for both modes. (for Film mode, the screen show your custom film name! as long as it is not too long a name, for example: Gold200, Lightleak, grain+, vignetting+, contrast-)

The mode switch and WIFI button

The button right: WIFI button. Long press 5 seconds to turn on/off. 

Why the long press? Although the camera designed for one hand use, we sometimes do prefer 2 hands holding for important shots or in low light environment for double steady hand security. During our test, we found out that the left thumb tends to sit too close to the wifi button and false trigger the wifi function if just a short press. Therefore, a long press operation will reduce most of the accidental presses. 

The button left: Mode switch. short press to toggle between in camera filter mode or film mode. In order for one hand quick action, it sits right below your thumb rest area and you can quickly press it to switch between modes to fit your needs. 

Summary:

Think of the PS135 as a modern tribute to the Agfa Optima 1535, a minimalist plastic box with a soul. We wanted to offer something different in a sea of vintage replicas (away from Leica, Fuji or disposable cameras alike)

We’ve taken every pain point of screen-free cameras, from viewfinder clarity to filter usage and fixed them with our own unique logic. We hope it becomes your go-to companion for daily life documentation. 

Coming Up Next: The App We are wrapping up the hardware intro series. Next, we move to software! We will share the app flow very soon. (And by "soon," I mean as soon as our poor software engineer survives the final round of UI updates and bug fixes).