Like vinyl records, fisherman sweaters, and fashion mullets, film is experiencing an unprecedented increase in mainstream popularity. The surge of interest in 35mm film photography—first pioneered by Kodak in the early 1900s—may be a nostalgic nod to a simpler time, a pull away from our obsession with high-speed, high-tech everything, or it might have something to do with Kendall Jenner, Zendaya, and other celebs toting their film cameras around town, too.
Either way, if you have an interest in film photography—new or long standing—then you're in the right place. Field Mag is a leading resource for film photography—check out our guides to the 10 Best Point and Shoot Cameras and the 10 Best Film Cameras of All Time for additional insight. In this article though, we're going all in on 35mm film cameras.
Where to start? There are many, many different kinds of film cameras, from those disposable cameras you (used to) find reliably at drug stores up to fully manual vintage Leica rangefinders that are rare and grail-worthy. There also are newer, reloadable disposables (like this one from Lomography) and very specific models like half frame cameras (which let you take double the amount of photos on a single roll of film). And of course, there are a number of classic brands worthy of your consideration: Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Minolta, Konica (now owned by Minolta), and so on.
To set yourself up for success, consider what you’d like from your ideal film camera: what functions does it serve? Are you looking for an easy-to-use point-and-shoot for daily use around town and at parties? Or maybe something more serious for making fine art? What about a workhorse to elevate your pro photo portfolio? Read on below for all of the above.
The Best 35mm Film Cameras Available Now
-
01
Pentax K1000 -
02
Olympus Stylus -
03
Canon AE-01 -
04
Yashica T4 -
05
Nikon FM2 -
06
Contax G2 -
07
Nikonos V -
08
Canon EOS3 -
09
Leica M6 -
10
Nikon 35Ti -
11
Hasselblad XPan