As newer forms of technology rear their head, the older ones fade into past. This fact could be keenly observed in photography where analog cameras have all but been phased out by newer digital ones. 

That it isn't to say analog cameras have been going down quietly. Last year, analog cameras - and by extension instant photography - made one last push when they were among the best-selling gifts in the holiday season. However ,that momentum died soon afterward when the Fujifilm FP-100c instant film crashed and burned.

Now, the Impossible Project is taking on the seemingly impossible task of bringing analog cameras back into the mainstream with the introduction of the I-1 which combines the classic Polaroid 600 image format with modern features.

Introduced at the Bloomberg Businessweek design conference, the I-1 resembles a pyramid with the fim being located at the bottom of the device. Meanwhile, a pop-up reticle on the top allows the user to choose his or her composition. There's a distinct lack of clutter that would normally come from buttons and switches which set its apart from newer digital camera as well.

However, this is when the camera starts to do away with the old and incorporate some modern twists. First off, the camera has an embedded Bluetooth, which allows the device to connect to a dedicated smartphone app. Through this app, users can tinker with various settings such as shutter speed, aperture and flash.

Furthermore, the app allows users to remotely control the camera and even make use of effects such as double and long exposures if it suits them.

Another modern twist the I-1 features is a USB port, which users can use to the charge the camera's battery rather than replacing it when it runs out - a move which Impossible points out is a product of its environment-friendly policies. 

There is one facet of the camera which takes inspiration from neither modern nor classic cameras, and that's the flash. Instead of using a flash seen in almost any other camera, the I-1 sports a ring of LED lights surrounding the lens. It's a bit odd, but what these LEDs lack in form, they more than make up in function.

Set for a May 10 release and priced at $299, the I-1 is bound to make a splash for the niche audience it applies to. However, its bound to face some strong competition from Fujifilm's Instax Wide which is a cheaper alternative across the board. Not only are the various models priced between $66 and $100, but Instax's photos cost under $1 per frame, where as the Impossible Project's photos cost almost $3 each. The true advantage, which may be a deciding factor for some, is the sheer amount of customization and options the I-1 features when compared with its competitor.

Regardless of which they choose, the introduction of the I-1 will definitely make the future interesting for vintage photography enthusiasts both young and old.