The Beginner’s Guide to Film Cameras
Shooting on film is an art form within itself. The nostalgic, warm feeling that is evoked through a film photograph is truly special and can never be replaced by a digital image (although many have tried). As camera technology advances, we are seeing a shift in photography as creatives are more inclined to shoot with an analog camera rather than a digital one.
Don’t get us wrong — we love using digital and think the new cameras released on the market are spectacular! But, we can’t deny that analog photography is like a feeling you’ll always be chasing but can never full grasp, a true wonder and art form. Listed below are just a couple of film cameras we believe are the perfect pieces to get you started on your journey with film!
1) Canon AE-1
photo from Pinterest
photo from Jason Black
This is THE classic film camera that every photographer has either had or currently has stashed away. This is one of the most famous film SLR’s ever created and chances are a family member of yours probably has one lying around. Its sleek style and easy-to-use settings is one of the main reasons this specific camera continues to be sought out. The Canon AE-1 is set to aperture priority, which means that you set the shutter speed while the camera picks the best f-stop to set the lens to. Another great aspect about this camera is that is can be found literally anywhere. If you can’t find it at your local photo or vintage store, you can usually find someone selling a refurbished one on eBay, Etsy, Craigslist, or Depop. If you are just getting into film photography, this is the perfect camera to start with!
2) Mamiya RZ67
Photo from Photography Life
Photo from Andrew Janjigian
If you are a lover of medium format photography, you should definitely look into purchasing the Mamiya RZ67. It is a professional single-lens medium format camera that is used by numerous studio and street photographers alike. It comes with a manual focus — important if you want control over the center of your photo — and is easy to carry around. The Mamiya RZ67, as well as other medium format cameras, are definitely very different from your quintessential film SLR, which makes it that much more fun and exciting to master. If you are looking to get into or specialize in portrait photography or want to learn how to operate a medium format camera, this is the perfect place to start. Here is a helpful link to a youtube video by renowned film photographer Willem Verbeeck on how to master the Mamiya RZ67 and why it’s his favorite medium format camera to shoot with.
3) Contax T2
If you’re a big Kendall Jenner or Frank Ocean fan, you’ve probably seen them carrying around this specific camera. Kendall loves posting moody film photos onto her feed, and some may think it’s the way the photos are edited, but it’s the Contax T2 doing the work. Frank used this same model at the 2019 Met Gala where his photos were later posted on Vogue. The compact Contax T2 is one of the most fashionable and famous point and shoot film cameras in the world. It is both easy to use and cool to carry around at a party or club. If you’re the type of person who loves capturing an authentic moment (especially for Instagram) this is the best film camera to shoot with. You may have to do some digging to find a seller online or in your area, but there are usually people selling them for good prices on eBay.
4) Olympus mju-II
If you want a nice point and shoot film camera but can’t seem to find the Contax T2, the Olympus mju-II is your next best bet. This is another cult favorite compact film camera and has all of the same quirks and qualities as the Contax camera. Point and shoot film cameras are a great accessory for any photographer who either wants to capture fun film photos or shoot with something that isn’t as bulky as a medium format or film SLR.
All of the cameras listed above can either be found at your local camera shop, eBay, Etsy, or vintage/thrift store! If you want something cheaper and low maintenance, disposable film cameras are great as well. We hope this inspires you to shoot with film and if you have any photo related questions, feel free to DM us on Instagram!