It would seem that digital photography has long defeated analog film. Today, corporations are working on automating the process of shooting and post-processing so that users get outstanding results without thinking about the settings. But film photography does not give up. Some photo giants are still trying to release their legendary models. In addition, the market for secondary devices is full of different cameras. If you want to discover the world of film photography, then our rating will help you not to get lost in all its diversity. We talk about the best film cameras that can be found on sale in 2022.
Editor’s Choice
LEICA M-A
If you are looking for a mechanically perfect film camera and for the sake of an idea you are ready not to skimp on the device, then you definitely need this “Leica”. The company released it already in recent history as a kind of crowning creation. There was also a formal occasion – the 60th anniversary of the proprietary M mount – this is the type of lens mount. Please note that this camera is devoid of any automation. Therefore, you will have to use a light meter or carry a plate of the ratio of shutter speed and aperture with you. The film is 135 format. It is curious that despite trying to make a camera from the 50s, the company could not resist and introduced lens recognition and support for modern flashes.
Features
Aluminum alloy body, plastic, faux leather, shutter speed 1 to 1/1000 sec, continuous shooting, M lens mount, 578 g
Top 9 rating according to KP
1. Fujifilm Instax Mini 11
If we talk about the most modern film cameras for 2022, then one cannot fail to mention instant cameras. One of the top devices is the 11th generation of similar gadgets from Fuji. This is not a tool, but rather an entertaining toy. She herself calculates the exposure of the frame and, based on this, selects the shutter speed, all that remains is to press the button. There is a flash that also fires automatically. Adapted for friendly selfies. There are many nice matte shades on sale. Runs on two AA or AA batteries. The shooting quality is rather mediocre: the frames are unclear, before you find the ideal distance to the object, spend more than one pack of special paper.
Features
Plastic body, selfie mode, auto exposure, fixed lens, 293g
2. OLYMPUS OM-1
In this film camera, one of the first to implement the function of an air damper mirror – a kind of matrix stabilization of those years, which leveled the shutter shake during the descent. The mass use of the model occurred at the end of the 70s. There are versions with the prefixes MD and MDn – they improved the ergonomics and made it possible to wind up the motor drive for burst shooting. It is praised for its wide and bright viewfinder field. Some fans of technology note the incomparable sound of cocking and shutter release. Built-in exposure meter. The whole camera is quite compact and fits naturally into a trouser pocket.
Features
Plastic body, shutter speed 1 to 1/1000 sec, OM lens mount, 510 g
3. Zenit-412
One of the last cameras from the glorious Krasnogorsk plant named after. Zverev. Few people know that not so long ago the first mirrorless digital camera was released by the Zenith team. True, the price is extremely high, and the characteristics completely lose to modern counterparts. But back to this film camera. It was released at the beginning of the “zero”. There are two versions with prefixes DX and LS. They are for DX-coded film. This is a kind of bridge between full digital automation and analog photography. If it’s quite simple, then such a film (it is sold in many places) helps to correctly expose frames. The camera itself most often comes with a good regular 50mm Zenitar – a tool for a real photo artist.
Features
Aluminum alloy and plastic body, shutter speed 1/30 to 1/500 sec, frame counter, lens mount M42, 530 g.
4. Canon AE-1
On sale you can also find a model with the addition Program – this is an even more advanced camera with a modified automatic frame exposure system. At one time – the turn of the 70-80s. – she made a revolution. After all, it was the first film camera in which the Japanese integrated a processor. The innovation just allowed the appearance of auto-metering exposure. It is called the most popular film camera in history. It is thanks to this function, with which competitors are late for a couple of years. The model will be an excellent tool in the hands of creative people who are not ready to dive headlong into different frame exposure schemes. Automation works like in modern cameras, only you end up choosing the final values with your hands and pressing the shutter release. If you find a motor attachment for sale and spend another 5-8 thousand rubles, you will get the opportunity to shoot in series.
Features
Plastic body with copper splashes, shutter speed from 2 to 1/1000 sec, FD lens mount, 590 g.
5. Nikon F90
And again, first we make a note that this camera can be found with the prefixes S, N, X. All this is the same camera, but with some technical improvements. Her era was in the 90s. In the controls on the case, the features familiar to all “Nikonists” are already guessed. Many photojournalists around the world shot with this camera. 3D-matrix exposure metering appeared in it – a beautiful name is nothing more than a marketing ploy of that time. However, the automatic exposure metering here is really good. Not much has changed in this aspect of modern DSLRs since that time. This camera is as close as possible to the next generation of digital cameras. Therefore, it is easy to understand by photographers who were brought up on modern Nikons.
Features
Plastic body, shutter speed 30 to 1/8000 sec, lens mount F, 755 g
6. Minolta X-700
Those who are just starting out in photography may even hear about such a brand for the first time. Today, products with this name remained only in the medical field. In fact, Minolta’s photography division has merged with Sony and is tearing up the modern mirrorless market. As for this model, it has all the functions available to film cameras to this day, except for autofocus. In the 80s it was considered one of the best and was assembled at factories until the beginning of the “zero”. It has an aperture priority mode – this is when the camera prompts the shutter speed based on the closing of the petals in the lens. It has the ability to shoot a series of up to 3,5 frames per second if you buy a pen.
Features
Plastic body, shutter speed 2 to 1/1000 sec, MD lens mount, 505 g
7. Change-8M
More than 21 million copies of this device have been produced and sold in the world, which allows us to confidently call it one of the best film cameras even in 2022. Due to their mass character, today they are sold on the secondary market at a very attractive price. Its success is jokingly explained by the simple decision of Soviet engineers to put icons of “cloud”, “sun”, etc. on the body. But in every joke there is some truth. This mechanism was really convenient for all the uninitiated in the relationship of technical aspects. He has a non-replaceable T-43 lens. It belongs to the class of so-called triplets, the simplest and most efficient optics. It is almost impossible for them to shoot in low light conditions due to the minimum aperture of f4.
Features
Bakelite body, shutter speed from 1/15 to 1/250, fixed lens, 280 g.
8. PENTAX K1000
A very reliable camera for its low price – you can write about this participant in the rating of the best film cameras in the 80-90s, and in 2022. When other photo giants tried to cram more electronics into their models and deprived the user of the opportunity to shoot without batteries, this the corporation followed the beaten path of full mechanics and did not lose. Today, the model has become a standard among other analogues. For a long time it was considered an ideal training tool for beginners in photography. Most often, it went on sale with a standard fifty-kopeck lens with a bright aperture of f2. It is interesting that on sale you can find lenses for this camera not only from Asians, but also ours from the Krasnogorsk plant.
Features
Body made of metal or plastic depending on the year of manufacture, shutter speed from 1 to 1/1000 sec, lens mount K, 600 g.
9. NIKON F6
If you are looking for a film camera that is as close as possible to modern digital SLR counterparts, then you should pay attention to this model. This is the latest development of the Japanese corporation, which has not lost its relevance today. NIKON F6 is a professional tool designed for 150 shutter releases, so you can safely buy it on hand and not be afraid that the device will soon die. The housing is protected from dust and moisture. Works with modern flashes, there is an autofocus motor. The film rewinds itself, but there is also a manual mode. Can shoot in quiet mode, in which the shutter is released almost silently. Powered by finger batteries or a special battery.
Features
Magnesium alloy body, continuous shooting, shutter speed 30 to 1/8000 sec, F lens mount and Nikkor, 975
How to choose a film camera
We talked about the best film cameras available for sale in 2022. Tips for choosing a camera will give our readers photographer Valery Zvonarev.
Which SLR film camera to choose
Corporations that were and continue to be engaged in the production of photographic equipment, by the 90s, had reached the peak of the technical perfection of film cameras. All models of different brands of those years have approximately the same functionality. I do not recommend that novice amateur photographers purchase cameras from the 1930s-1960s. They are too far from modern and require a lot of concentration on the shooting process from the photographer.
Everything that was released after 1970 is closer to us. These cameras really help photographers improve their composition skills. Plus, they have the beginnings of automation, which eliminates technically difficult moments.
When choosing a SLR film camera, consider what lens you will be using it with. The focal length of 50 mm remained the main tool of photographers of those years. Find out which mount – type of lens mount – the camera you want to buy. Look at the price of the corresponding lenses and their prevalence.
Should You Consider Medium Format Cameras?
If you do not go into the technical jungle, then these cameras had a different type of film. It is difficult to find on sale and it costs more than the usual 135th. Most of the shots on these were made not with hands, but from a tripod. Medium format cameras were intended, as they would say today, for high-quality shooting with elaboration of the smallest details. As the first camera for a modern amateur photographer, this one is definitely not suitable.
Who is suitable for film soap dishes
Anyone who wants to print a photo and get a retro picture, but not bother with the settings. Soap dishes on the secondary market are very cheap. The film is freely sold. It is enough to charge the coil inside, insert the batteries and you can shoot. Ideal for parties and those who want to print commemorative frames.
How to choose your first film camera
Buy an inexpensive Soviet Zenith. There are many cheap lenses for them on the secondary market, there are scanned instruction manuals on the Internet. With such a camera, you can easily understand whether you like film photography. For many, this will be the first and last analog instrument. Someone will not understand and will throw it into a distant box – at least not so sorry for the money thrown away. Others will have enough of its capabilities with a vengeance and they may well stop at such a tool.
How to learn to shoot on film
Ideally, download photos of manuals and brochures that were issued by photographers in the USSR. Everything is clearly explained there. You can even read reviews of those years: maybe you will find a model that you want to purchase. Soviet photobooks, along with watching training videos and further practicing skills in the field, will help you learn how to shoot on film.