There are even some professional photographers who’ll argue that vintage film cameras produce the best photos. If you’re interested in film photography, check out the 20 best film cameras we’ve found on the market for you below:
The Best Film Cameras For Retro Photography
While film photography isn’t in fashion today, that doesn’t mean it has phased out of living memory. As our list above shows, the demand for film cameras is very much alive and well, with many enthusiasts keeping their eyes peeled for the best of the best. With this list on hand, we hope you’ve found something that takes your fancy for your future photography expeditions! Nikon has also partnered with Giugiaro Design, integrating design and ergonomics into the Nikon F6. Although the 5.5 fps’ performance is ordinary for today’s DSLR standards, F6’s aluminum alloy exterior is an excellent boost. The Nikon F6 provides photography enthusiasts with the opportunity to own a stylishly designed film camera powered by technology and modern integrations. The Canon AE-1 features a reliable and sturdy chassis, making it easier to handle and move around. It also has a full-program automatic mode that allows you to easily point, focus, and shoot. The Canon AE-1 can be equipped with FD mount lenses, including the 50mm f1.2. Although it was released at a time where aperture-priority was highly favored, the Canon AE-1 offered a shutter-priority automation. For AE mode, Canon released the AE-1P as the successor. Despite its smaller size, the Olympus OM-1 is a tough contender for bigger and heavier SLRs during its reign. Aside from interchangeable focusing screens, the OM-1 features a bigger and brighter viewfinder. The Pentax K1000 doesn’t require a battery; its mechanical shutter can still work even without one. Despite its simplicity, many professional photographers still use the Pentax K1000 for their work. The K1000 exemplifies the vintage aesthetic with its leather and chrome body. The company still produces lenses in a range of focal lengths, including 71mm, 43mm, and 31mm. With interchangeable 55mm to 250mm lenses, the Mamiya C330 is a comprehensive film camera that is also built with interchangeable focusing screens. Despite its large size and bulky exterior, the Mamiya C330 is still popular today among photography students and vintage camera aficionados. If you love Nikon’s DF design, you should consider the FM2 film camera. Instead of the horizontal rubber cloth shutters, the Nikon FM2 features a vertical metal shutter. As a 100% mechanical camera, the FM2 works without a battery except for its internal light meter. With an impressive 1/4000sec shutter speed, mechanical shutter, and robust copper-aluminum-silicon alloy structure, the Nikon FM2 is a true powerhouse indeed. The M6 series is among the best of Leica’s film camera lineup, comprising two models: the M6 TTL and the M6. Both M6 cameras are integrated with frame lines for 28mm wide lenses, primarily designed for photojournalism and documentary work. The Mamiya 7 II also features a silent shutter, letting you capture photos without noticing and hearing the shutter. The camera does come with a hefty price tag, however, so consider yourself warned before you go seeking it out! Since the camera has a massive size and build, the Fuji GW690 is considered the “Texas Leica”. Aside from Mamiya’s price, the Fuji GW690 competes with its offering of huge 6×9 negatives. With a bigger size, the GW690 delivers higher-quality results and the capability to print larger photos. The QL17 is great for daily use since it’s robust with all-metal exteriors, a compact body, and is super lightweight. If you’re leaning towards street photography, the Canonet series is your best option. The downside to this camera is its inaccurate light meters. You can work around this issue by purchasing an external light meter or download a light meter app for your phone. Regardless, in terms of usability, the Leica M requires professional knowledge to master its functions. Its focus, for example, is extremely precise and quick but takes a while to learn. Aside from that, Leica lenses are expensive. You can remedy this by getting cheaper lenses from other brands. Fortunately, the Leica M-A can adapt to this change and still produce quality images from lenses of other brands. The only downside of the Minolta X-700 is its lens selection. If you don’t have Minolta’s MC or MD mount lenses, then you should skip the Minolta X-700. However, if you already have the lenses or have purchased one at a cheaper price, then this is a film camera you don’t want to miss. Hasselblad’s interchangeable back is one of its noteworthy features, letting you swap backs in moments and load new films into an empty back while shooting. Aside from that, you can swap between 6×4.5cm or 6x6cm formats as well as test the composition and lighting through the Polaroid back. With the development of Hasselblad’s 907X 50C, the 500 C/M comes with a more powerful integration. As such, the 907X 50C can fit straight into the latter with a series of clunks and clicks. If you purchase the Hasselblad 500 C/M film camera, you have a hybrid experience of analog photography and digital precision on your hands. The Cambo Ultima’s front and back plates can also be angled and shifted independently to different depths of plane and fields of focus, giving you exceptional control over the viewpoint. The Cambo Ultima is the best fit for architectural and studio photography for these specific reasons. Aside from the powerful yet inexpensive lens, the Konica Hexar AF has autofocus functions attached to its compact and elegant camera body. As such, it’s well-suited for street photography. Combined with advanced film and silent shutter, the Hexar AF is definitely a vintage masterpiece. The Hexar AF does come with bulky manual controls, which can be concealed with the built-in light meter. With a uniquely-designed Lubitel 166+, you can have a manual shutter speed control and manual aperture control as well as the absence of a light meter. In terms of performance, the Nikon FE is praised for its metering and auto-exposure system. It is highly accurate and can shoot in a majority of light settings; only the most complicated light setups will throw it off balance. It also features a bright and large viewfinder, displaying all the info you need to capture the perfect shots. It is a tough contender of Hasselblad’s XPan panoramic camera. However, Technorama is still being sold in the market nowadays. With its body-only package, you will have to buy separate lenses for the Technorama 617s III. Linhof’s film camera is primarily for experts since it has a manual exposure that requires manual focus and precise leveling for the ultra-wide 17:6 ratio images. It’s meant for high-quality and more complex technical photography, offering the flexibility of an analog film format. The company manufactured a diverse range of lenses to match any type of filming. The 105 f/2.4 standard lens, for example, is a gamechanger. With the Pentax 67, you get one of the best film cameras with a simple and straightforward design. Because of their durability and compactness, they’re still widely used by many studio and fashion photographers. They also provide an affordable introduction to oversized films.
