Why I Fell in Love with Pocket Dispo on the Sony a7C (And How You Can Get the Look Too)
A quirky, lo-fi look worth exploring in San Francisco and beyond 📸
If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for anything vintage, dreamy, and just a little imperfect — so when I stumbled across Pocket Dispo on the Sony a7C, I was instantly hooked.
It’s a hidden gem of a feature that feels like someone slipped a disposable camera into your full-frame mirrorless body… and somehow made it magic.
I first used Pocket Dispo during a casual stroll through the Haight-Ashbury area in San Francisco — where the mix of graffiti, music stores, vintage vibes, and street life basically begged for a film-style filter. It was love at first click.
🎞️ What is Pocket Dispo?
Pocket Dispo is a built-in Creative Look you can activate on the Sony a7C, a camera known for its portability and punchy image quality. When enabled, Pocket Dispo adds:
High contrast and nostalgic tones
Softened highlights
Muted but punchy colors
Slight vignette and bloom — that dreamy glow we all secretly crave
It’s meant to mimic a cheap disposable camera… but let’s be real, it does it way better than anything Kodak FunSaver ever gave us.
📍Enable it on your Sony a7C: Menu → Creative Look → Select “Pocket” (or customize your own from there).
💡 Why I Loved It
Shooting with Pocket Dispo made me feel like I was documenting a story — not just snapping pretty pics. It was spontaneous. Raw. Authentic.
Here’s what stood out for me:
It captured city textures in a way that felt nostalgic yet modern
It gave me an excuse to shoot more intuitively — no overthinking
The style complemented eclectic neighborhoods like the Mission, Chinatown, and Castro
And yes, the vibe was cute as hell.
You can see some of the shots I took on my Instagram — they’ve quickly become some of my most saved and shared posts.
🧪 Can You Replicate the Look with a Filter?
Absolutely. I’ve played with recreating the Pocket Dispo feel using Lightroom mobile presets, VSCO, and even RNI Films. Here’s what I recommend:
→ My top filter combo:
Use VSCO: A6 or RNI Kodak Gold 200
Add grain (around 20–30)
Fade the blacks slightly
Drop clarity by -10 for that soft, bloomy texture
But nothing beats the in-camera magic.
Having this look baked in means less editing and more vibing. I’ll definitely be testing it out in more projects — especially for portraits, travel, and behind-the-scenes reels.
✨ When to Use Pocket Dispo
Pocket Dispo shines when you’re in the moment — think:
Urban walks and café hopping
Vintage markets or thrift days
Music festivals and street art sessions
That foggy SF golden hour hitting through trees in Golden Gate Park
If you’re working in fast-paced environments or low-key documenting your day, this tool helps you worry less about settings and more about the feel.
🛠 Tools + Gear Mentioned
Lightroom Presets – Shop My Look Here (link your own preset if you create one!)
Final Thoughts 🌁
Pocket Dispo is more than just a setting — it’s a mood.
In a city like San Francisco where every corner has character, it’s the perfect creative shortcut. Whether you’re a film lover or a digital-native looking to spice things up, this feature deserves a spot in your toolkit.
I’ll be testing more Creative Looks soon and might even drop a custom preset inspired by it — so stay tuned.
Got a favorite in-camera filter? DM me on Instagram or leave a comment — I’d love to try it.
Until next time,
– Peter 📷