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The best film cameras are the best way to ride the wave of analogue popularity in 2023 and beyond. Once thought to be dead, film photography has made a huge comeback in the past few years, thanks in large part to Instagram and sites like Analogue Wonderland. This is because more and more photographers are discovering the addictive pleasures of analogue shooting, which can’t be duplicated in megapixels.
In the last ten years, there’s been a bit of a comeback for film. New film stocks have been made, and some old ones have been brought back from the dead. But right now, if you want to start taking pictures with film, you’ll need a camera. If you want to try this kind of photography, you should read our review of popular good film cameras.
Best Film Cameras
Canon AE-1 Program 35mm Camera
Features
The Canon AE-1 was made of plastic, which kept the price low for both beginners and experts, and its electronically controlled cloth focal plane shutter gave it a wide range of shutter speeds that could be used over and over again. This meant that it had to be powered by a battery, but it could work more reliably than shutters that were moved by hand.
The AE-1 used Canon’s FD breech-lock bayonet mount, which has since been replaced by its EF lens mount, but adaptors are available. A single silicon photocell with a center-weighted metre did the measuring. At a time when most camera makers preferred aperture-priority operation, the AE-1 was different because it had an automatic shutter-priority mode.
Pros
- Big easy to use view
- finderSimple controls
Cons
- Non-metal body (but hidden well)
- Very loud
Pentax ME-Super Camera
Features
The Pentax ME Super is a real crowd-pleaser because it has something for everyone. With full manual controls that let experienced photographers get creative and a great semi-automatic mode for those just starting out in photography.
You can be sure that anyone can use this camera to take stunning pictures. With Pentax’s amazing history of lenses, you can quickly grow into all kinds of photography. This might be one of the best 35mm SLRs ever made because it is so easy to use and doesn’t weigh much.
Pros
- Battery
- A wide range of Pentax Nikon and a few minoltas
Cons
- Some dials and buttons feel a bit cheap and flimsy
Leica MP 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Features
The Leica MP comes next on the list of the best film cameras. The metal body of this device makes sure that it works well even in the worst conditions. Leica MP is a type of camera equipment that you can use for a long time. I’m sure it will work well for 10 to 20 years.
The new Leica M camera meets all the needs of modern photographers with features like Live View and video recording, as well as new ways to focus. we recommend it to people who want to use the most up-to-date technologies in camera design.
Pros
- Compact 35mm
- 14 LEICA M lenses
Cons
- No light meter
- No shutter lock
Hasselblad XPAN Panoramic film camera
Features
The Hasselblad and Fuji camera brands worked together to make this 35mm camera, and it is definitely the best one they made. It’s a sturdy, well-made model that automatically winds the film and has two modes: metered and auto. You can take single photos or use the panoramic mode with XPan.
We love this feature, and we always use it when we want to take pictures of scenery or buildings. But if you take the film to a lab, tell them not to cut it so that the panoramas stay whole. Like the other best film cameras on my list, the XPan has a great metering system that lets you use automatic exposure almost all the time.
Pros
- Perfect rangefinder camera
- Panoramic format
Cons
- No shutter lock
Nikon F2 Photomic 35mm Film Camera
Features
The Nikon F2 is our favourite film camera because of how well it is made, how many features it has, how it looks, and how reliable it is. After the legendary Nikon cameras F came out, it was 20 years before Nikon made a better camera, and boy, did it make a good one. The F2 is all mechanical and has a titanium shutter.
It has interchangeable viewfinders, motor drives, and metre prisms, just like cameras from the 1970s. It even had a very useful back that could take 250 pictures and fed them onto a 10-meter film roll. The F2 is also compatible with every Nikon SLR lens, so people who buy it have a huge selection of high-quality lenses to choose from.
Pros
- Incredible build quality
- Wide range of compatible accessories
Cons
- Incompatible with some lenses
Pentax K1000 SLR Film Camera
Features
The Pentax K1000, which is on the cheaper end of the price range, is known as a good film camera for students and other people who want to start taking pictures. But the fact that it’s one of the cheaper 35mm SLRs on this list doesn’t make it any less useful. The K1000 has only three controls for shooting: focus, aperture, and shutter speed.
This is to keep things simple and easy to use. This makes it easier for people who are new to photography to pick up this camera because it doesn’t have a lot of extra features. This SLR doesn’t have any electronic parts that could go wrong. The only thing that needs a battery is the light metre, which you can use if you want to.
Pros
- Simple, traditional layout
- Renowned durability
Cons
- Minimal features
FAQs
What is the best entry level film camera?
- CANON AE-1
- NIKON FE2
- Olympus Mju II
- The Holga 135
- Olympus OM1
- Minolta XD
- Olympus XA2
- Pentax Espio 105Mi
What camera does Christopher Nolan use?
Nolan is known for shooting on 70 mm film, and IMAX 70mm cameras are often used in modern movies because of him.
What camera looks most like film?
Is there a digital camera that looks like it uses film? Some great digital cameras that look like they were shot on film are the Fujifilm X100 series, the Olympus Pen F, and the Nikon 1 J5.
How much does a good film camera cost?
The cheapest new full-frame DSLR costs about $2,000, and a used Canon 5D, which came out in 2005, costs about $500. If you shoot film, you can get the same full-frame quality for about $100, which includes a few lenses.