Digital photography is popular, and for good reason. But for many aspiring photographers and filmmakers, film is the superior medium. That’s because film can capture sharper details, more color, and better contrast between black and white for certain projects.
That said, you’ll need to choose the right camera for your needs to really maximize the value of the film format. Generally, the best film cameras for beginners are similar to digital cameras in terms of their ease of use.
They often have features like:
- Autofocus functionality so you can shoot film more easily
- Rangefinder functions
- Aperture priority controls and shutter priority controls so film photographers can determine what their photos look like
- Good photo build quality (the camera should be durable unless it’s a disposable camera and is very cheap)
- Compatible with many types of film stock and interchangeable lenses. Again, this gives you more options when you shoot your role of film or take photos in different lighting conditions
Overall, however, the best shoot film camera for you will have the right lens, a full manual, and might even have a retro aesthetic, depending on your preferences! Let’s break down the 11 best film cameras for beginners in detail.
Best for Film Students: Chrome Nikon Nikkormat FTN 35MM Professional SLR Film Camera
The Chrome Nikon Nikkormat FTN 35MM Professional SLR Film Camera is, overall, the best film camera for beginner film students. There are a lot of good reasons for that, including a built-in light meter that’s powered by an LR44 battery.
This professional camera is a top choice for photography students thanks to its various shutter speed settings, custom ISO aperture, and high-quality lens and other components. The Nikon F Lens has a standard mount type and can easily be set up so you can capture the perfect shot for an upcoming school project or personal experiment.
Unfortunately, the above-mentioned battery is no longer made. That means you’ll need to get an LR44 to PX525 adapter in order to recharge the battery again and again. Still, even with this downside, the camera could be the perfect tool to get your film-shooting projects done on time.
Best for Filming on the Go: KODAK EKTAR H35 Half Frame Film Camera, 35mm
Kodak’s Ektar H35 Half Frame Film Camera is available in a few different colors, is lightweight, and is a perfect choice for snapping great photos on the go. As a compact miniature camera, it’s a popular choice for travelers, roadsters, and teenagers who want to capture candid shots of themselves and their friends.
Fortunately, this film camera is very easy to use. The instructions are simple, so analog hobbyists can start using it ASAP. The flash can be turned on by adjusting a silver ring around the lens, and then all you have to do is point and shoot.
The 35mm lens is pretty well-designed, especially considering the asking price. Choose this if you are interested in film from a very beginner’s perspective, and you don’t want to sink too much money into the hobby before experimenting and seeing whether you want to develop it further.
Best for Serious Hobbyists: Canon AE-1 35mm Film Camera
Canon’s AE-1 35mm Film Camera is the opposite of the above camera; it’s the best film camera for beginners who know they want to become serious hobbyists. This renewed camera offers excellent value for money since it has been refurbished into excellent condition, and the 35mm single-lens reflex design gives you the chance to capture shots with exceptional detail.
The camera comes with a locking amount, several lenses, and a fixed high-level viewfinder that you can use to determine whether a given shot is right for your needs. The viewfinder also includes information about the aperture scale, plus a battery charge level check mark.
In many ways, this is a good camera to get away from the digital era, as there are no LCD screens or similar controls. Consider picking this up if you want to dive deeper into film photography and really see what analog tools can offer.
Best for Value: Pentax K1000 Manual Focus SLR Film Camera
Pentax’s K1000 Manual Focus SLR Film Camera is another fantastic film camera for beginners, mostly because of the pure value for money it brings to the table. It weighs less than 2 pounds and has an optical viewfinder with a large aperture. Importantly, this old-school camera – arguably one of the most popular ever to be developed – is completely mechanical.
You do have to purchase an A76 cell battery in order to run the light meter, which can be tricky. But once you solve that problem, you’ll never need another battery to run the camera capably. Even with that element, this film camera is very simple and doesn’t have much of a learning curve.
You set the film speed whenever you load film into the camera. Over time, you’ll learn to focus on the picture and how it will appear instead of your camera and devices. This is a fantastic film camera for beginning hobbyists, students, and those who want to learn more about the art of true film photography.
Best for Professional Photographers: Olympus OM 1 Vintage 35mm SLR Film Camera
The Olympus OM 1 Vintage 35mm SLR Film Camera is another good choice, although it’s a better pick for professional photographers at the beginning of their careers. This all-mechanical SLR camera has a very large viewfinder and interchangeable screens, plus uses a fixed prism.
The compact body is easy to hold and maneuver into the right place, and photographers will find the camera to be exceptionally simple to use (for example, the shutter speed dial is located right around the lens mount). The film advance lever is easy to use, and there’s a flash LED in the viewfinder.
While it’s a little pricey, the camera, its quality, and its durability all more than make it worth the asking price. Just keep in mind that, like many other quality film cameras, you’ll need rare LR44 batteries to run it at all.
Best for Casual Shooting: RETO Ultra Wide and Slim 35mm Reusable Daylight Film Camera
Reto’s Ultra Wide and Slim 35mm Reusable Daylight Film Camera is cheap, fun, and perfect for beginners to film shooting. While it’s available in several colors, each model weighs just 65 grams, or a little more than a tenth of a pound, and is perfectly suitable for beginners thanks to its ease of use.
This versatile film camera has a 22 mm ultra-wide lens, so you can capture very wide views. It’s meant to be used with 35mm negatives and slides in color or black and white, and it is all compact enough that you can fit it into your pocket.
Pick this if you want to snap some film photos for fun or if you are simply interested in experimenting with film as a casual fan. It won’t produce the best film photos on the block, but it will still let you dip your toes into film photography.
Best for Nostalgia Fans: Holga 135BC 35mm Bent Corners Film Camera
For many, part of the appeal of film photography is the nostalgia factor. The Holga 135BC 35mm Bent Corners Film Camera is meant for those folks. It’s a very affordable film camera with a 35mm lens.
Unlike many other film cameras of its type, this has an internal mask that cuts image corners to create a soft vignette effect. Regardless, you can shoot during the day or night, thanks to the camera’s construction and various bulb shutter speed settings (making this a great film camera for night photography).
Don’t forget the aesthetic overall, as well. Just holding the camera will make you feel like you have jumped back in time to an older year of photography. Check this out if you’re interested in a nostalgic toy camera rather than something more suited for a modern film professional.
Best for Camera Builders: Minolta X-700 35mm SLR Camera
Minolta’s X-700 35mm SLR Camera is not a full camera all by itself. It’s actually just the body of this model, so you have to purchase the lenses, which are sold separately at a variety of markets.
Thus, this is a good choice for film fans who want to build their own cameras from scratch, combining different components to ensure the resulting device performs exactly as they need. The camera body comes with programmed auto flash functionality, date and time in printing, and programmed automatic or manual exposure settings.
On top of that, this could be a good choice if you are putting together a film camera of your own because it’s relatively affordable. Just remember that the camera body has been discontinued by the manufacturer, so prices may increase in the future.
Best for Vacation Photos: Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Film Camera
Best for Vacation Photos:
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Film Camera is an excellent film camera for beginners who want to take fun vacation photos. It comes with a lot of instant film, a carrying case, and various other accessories, so you have everything you need right from the get-go.
Even better, the camera comes with a selfie mirror integrated into the lens, so you can easily snap photos of yourself and your friends while you are out and about. The built-in flash and auto exposure modes round out the camera’s features.
While it’s not a hyper-advanced or detailed camera, it’s still a novel tool to let you capture moments on your next vacation on film instead of digital memory!
Best for Fun Selfies and Candid Shots: Yashica MF-1 Snapshot Reusable 35mm Film Camera
Yashica’s MF-1 Snapshot Reusable 35mm Film Camera is the ideal device if you want to take candid shots or selfie shots of yourself on film. You can get it in several different colors, and it comes with several quality built-in features, like an internal flash setting and a focusing range from 1 m to infinity.
Even better, it’s a pretty affordable camera that weighs just about half a pound. Thus, you can pick it up if you have become interested in film for the first time and don’t know whether you want to spend more money on a more complex camera later on.
Consider this to be an experimental, fun camera. It might not be the best choice for beginner film students, but you can certainly pick it up and have some fun as a hobbyist.
Best for Camera Tinkerers: Nikon FE2 Film SLR Camera
You might like Nikon’s FE2 Film SLR Camera if you are a tinkerer with cameras and components. That’s because this is the body of the titular camera, so it lacks the lenses needed to form a complete device.
It’s a little heavy, clocking in at 1.3 pounds, but it could be well worth purchasing if you already have the right lenses or are looking to build a film camera of your very own. However, it’s a little pricey, and there are only a few of these left in stock because it has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
You can pick this up as a fan of film cameras or as a novelty device. Either way, it’ll certainly be interesting to hold in your hands, especially when you lay eyes on its unique, old-school aesthetic.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are many different film cameras for different needs. The Olympus OM 1 Vintage 35mm SLR Film Camera is a standout pick if you want to really dive into film photography. Meanwhile, the Chrome Nikon Nikkormat FTN 35MM Professional SLR Film Camera might be a superior choice if you are cutting your teeth on film for the first time and want to practice.
Consider your options carefully, then head out and start snapping photos!
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