Diving into the world of film photography is incredibly exciting and overwhelming at the same time. And the first step to shooting film photography is choosing and buying a film camera. In this article, you’ll find a list of the best film cameras for every budget and skill level. Whether you are a novice or experienced photographer, you’ll find a camera on this list that you’ll be dying to shoot with. 

Best cheap film camera

1. Canon AE-1

Canon AE-1  •  Best film camera for beginners

Let’s kick off our list of best film cameras with the best used and affordable 35mm cameras. One of the most widely circulated cameras and most well-known is the Canon AE-1. The classic camera was first introduced in 1976. It immediately became a hit with both consumers looking to make photography a hobby and professionals needing reliable cameras.

The build is rigid and sturdy despite having plastic parts making buying the used cameras cheaper. Its electronically controlled shutter makes shutter priority shooting easy for beginner photographers. 

Best film camera for beginners

Conclusion

Pros: Electronic shutter control, uses Canon’s FD lenses

Cons: No automatic mode, requires a battery

Price: ~$190

Best 35mm film camera

2. Pentax K1000

Pentax K1000  •  Good film cameras to start with

The Pentax K1000 is about as analog as analog photography gets. The reliable camera shoots completely on manual allowing you to adjust aperture, shutter speed, and focus shot to shot. 

Many believe that the Pentax K1000 is one of the best cameras for beginner photographers because it is affordable and teaches you how to shoot completely on manual. Of course, this can be a dealbreaker for some looking for a more easy shooting camera. 

The best analog camera to start with

Conclusion

Pros: Affordable, no battery

Cons: Manual mode only

Price: ~$150

Best 35mm camera for beginners

3. Olympus OM-1

Olympus OM-1 Review  •  Good film cameras

Speaking of fully manual film cameras, let’s add the Olympus OM-1 to our list of best film cameras. As one of the most commonly used cameras of the 1970s, these cameras are so reliable that they are still commonly used today. The build is entirely mechanical making it more reliable over time. 

Uniquely, the shutter speed is controlled with a ring around the lens while the wheel on top of the body sets the ISO. The Olympus OM-1 is compact and relatively lightweight making it a great film camera to bring anywhere. 

Best cheap film camera

Conclusion

Pros: Mechanical build, compact

Cons: Manual mode only

Price: ~$190

Best 35mm film camera

4. Nikon F2 Photomic Film Camera

Best Film Cameras  •  Nikon F2 Review

The Nikon F2 was a bookend to Nikon’s production of all mechanical cameras. Like most fully mechanical cameras, the camera shoots only in manual mode. With a high shutter speed of 1/2000 and a detachable motordrive, the camera is a great buy for anyone looking to truly understand the tool of the craft.

Great film cameras with

Conclusion

Pros: High shutter speed, affordable

Cons: Manual exposure only

Price: ~$215

Top film cameras

5. Nikon FM2 SLR Manual Focus

The Iconic Nikon FE2: Was this Nikon's Best Manual Focus SLR?

Sticking with Nikon cameras, let’s look at the Nikon FM2. The camera is called a workhorse by many because of its notoriously long life. It’s simple build of a mechanical shutter, lack of a battery, and high shutter speed of 1/4000 makes it a great camera for any scenario. 

It’s reliability and ease of use has made it a popular camera among photojournalists, travelers, and professional photographers alike. 

Top film cameras by Nikon

Conclusion

Pros: 1/4000 top shutter speed, durability

Cons: Expensive for its tier

Price: ~$270

Best slr film camera

6. Nikon F6 AF 35mm SLR Film Camera

The Nikon F6  •  Modern film cameras

The Nikon F6 is the sixth generation in the Nikon F series. In many ways, the F6 is a bridge between classic 35mm SLR cameras and newer DSLR cameras. The design and interface will be familiar to many digital shooters. It allows photographers to utilize aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual modes. 

Not to mention 11-point AF system as well as three built-in exposure meters. The Nikon F6 combines the complex functionality of a digital camera with the quality and characteristics of film photography.

All of this, of course, comes at a price. 

Best slr film camera by Nikon

Conclusion

Pros: New models available, digital-like functionality, 11 point AF

Cons: Expensive price tag

Price: ~$2,600

Good film cameras

7. Canon A2/A2E

Canon EOS A2e (EOS A2 & EOS 5)  •  Great film cameras

Made for the photographer who values a user-friendly design, the Canon A2 and A2E are versatile and built with quality. It’s most appealing function is an eye-controlled autofocus.

The A2 and A2E is the film grandfather to the Canon 5D series.

With specs such as a top shutter speed of 1/8000, decent built-in flash, and 16 adjustable custom features, the Canon is a solid film camera with digital-like functionality. A must-have for any avid photographer.

Top film camerasby Canon

Conclusion

Pros: Top shutter speed of 1/8000, built-in flash, affordable

Cons: Build susceptible to breaking, requires battery

Price: ~$200

Best 35mm camera

8. Minolta X-700 35mm SLR

How to Use Minolta X-700 Film Camera

Of course, not everyone who picks up a film camera wants to fuss around with manual mode and learn the ins and outs of the exposure triangle. Some photographers, especially beginners, just want to get out and shoot. For these shooters, I’d recommend the Minolta X-700. 

The X-700 has automatic modes for both aperture and shutter speed allowing the camera to adjust based on the environment. When you do make the transition to manual mode, the camera can do that as well. 

Great film cameras by Minolta

Conclusion

Pros: Aperture priority, shutter speed priority, and manual mode

Cons: Limited lens selection (MD or MC mount lenses)

Price: ~$175

The best analog camera

9. Canon Canonet QL17 GIII

Canonet QL17 Review  •  One Hour, One Roll

One of the most retro film cameras on this list is undoubtedly the Canon Canonet QL17. Originally released in 1965, the QL17 is as compact as it is retro. The camera is able to operate at shutter speed priority and boasts an EE (Electric Eye) feature and viewfinder.

The QL in QL17 stands for “Quick Loading” referring to the camera’s ability to quickly load film in the back of the camera. 

The best analog camera by Canon

Conclusion

Pros: Compact, shutter-priority mode, retro design

Cons: More expensive than competing cameras

Price: ~$260

Best point and shoot film camera

10. Contax G1/G2

Contax G1 First Impressions  •  Best Film Cameras

Made to compete with the next couple Leicas on our list, the Contax G1/G2 is a Japanese-made, electronic, high end range finder. The fully titanium-clad camera arguably has some of the best lenses to choose from.

The Zeiss lenses designed for the G1/G2 hold their ground against the best of Leica lenses. The Contax G2 is a revision of the G1 that improves upon the viewfinder and autofocus of the first edition. So why buy the G1 when the G2 is essentially a better version of the same camera?

The G1 is friendlier on the wallet.

The best analog camera by contax

Conclusion

Pros: Compact, shutter-priority mode, retro design

Cons: More expensive than competing cameras

G1 Price: ~$100

G2 Price: ~$600

Best film camera brands

11. Leica M-A

Leica M-A Review  •  Best film cameras

It would be outrageous to create a list of the best film cameras without mentioning one Leica, so we’ll cap off our list with two. Price aside, photographers cannot deny the brilliance of the Leica M-A. The sleek, yet functional design is minimalist in the best way possible. 

With a focus on the fundamentals, the Leica M-A is manual in aperture, shutter speed, and focus. Despite it’s seductive design and build, it’s eye-popping price has made it a controversial piece of equipment. Some say it is grossly overpriced capitalizing on the nostalgic consumer, while others claim you get what you pay for. 

Best film cameras by Leica

Conclusion

Pros: Iconic design, compact, durability

Cons: Eye-popping price tag

Price: ~$5,000

Best film camera brands

12. Leica M6 TTL

Leica M6 TTL  •  Best film cameras avaialble

Last, but not least, is the Leica M6 TTL. The rarity of the Leica M6 TTL is due to the fact that only 3,130 of them were produced. TTL stands for “Through the lens” light metering which makes for incredibly accurate shooting and beautiful film photographs. 

The Leica M6 is arguably the most sought out camera by professional photographers who shoot film. They are undoubtedly one of the most durable cameras on this list which is also a reason it’s retained so much of its value over time. While not as outrageously expensive as the M-A, the M6 still boasts a hefty price tag that many argue is worth every penny. 

Best modern film cameras

Conclusion

Pros: Durability, compact design, TTL light metering

Cons: Expensive, difficult to find

Price: ~$1,800

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Different types of cameras

Now that we've reviewed the best analog cameras, you may still want to explore more options. In this next post, we'll differentiate the many different types of cameras out there — DLSR, mirrorless, medium format, 360 cameras, etc. We'll explain the pros and cons of each so that you can finally lock in a camera that fits your needs, your vision and your budget.

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  • Kyle DeGuzman graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Television, Film, & New Media. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado spending his time writing, filmmaking, and traveling.

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