Vintage is cool again. Old vinyl records and turntables, typewriters, bikes and film cameras are just a few of the items that are no longer manufactured in mass today but are surging in popularity. For photography, the use of vintage filters on digital images has been around a while with the likes of filters and apps like Instagram, VSCO, Huji and many others. These applications can add light leaks, grain and emulate some of our favourite film stocks.
While we can achieve a vintage look in digital it comes with perfection achieved through software manipulation and the vintage look is based on software algorithms and not through creative choice and chance.
There are thousands of film cameras to be found on eBay and second-hand market places. For photographers wanting to up their artistic game and return to film or try film for the first time, choosing a film camera may seem overwhelming.
Here are my recommendations for the best films cameras to consider for those just starting out. My recommendations are based on what is fairly affordable, easy to find and easy to start using based on your experience in digital. I have tried to steer away from cameras that are currently extremely popular with inflated price tags that reflect their popularity rather than performance. There are many more options but I have based these recommendations on economical price, availability and personal use.
Point and Shoot
Point and shoot cameras are great for those who want ease and simplicity. Load the film and the camera does all the rest of the work. They are generally small and make great family cameras and indiscrete street shooters. I will admit I am not a point and shoot user so these recommendations come from the advice of my professional film shooting colleagues and checking current pricing on eBay and other secondhand market places.
Canon Sure Shot Ace
Canon packed a lot of advanced features into this little late 1980’s inexpensive camera. It has a waist-level viewfinder as well as the standard viewfinder, a detachable remote control and a small pivot foot on the bottom to prop up the camera for perfect table selfies. Not the sharpest lens in the shed but a fun little run and gun film camera. Click here to check eBay for the best deal on a Canon Sure Shot Ace.
Image from eBay.com.au
Olympus Infinity (USA) / AF1
A great little forgotten camera that has the same lens as the overpriced and extremely popular Olympus MJU II, a 35mm f/2.8. This little camera is also waterproof but I’d be careful given it’s over 30 years old now. Check eBay for the best deal on an Olympus Infinity.
Image from EBay
Pentax Espio AF Zoom
Pentax made heaps of Espio cameras in the 1990’s. They all are suitable for starting out with film photography but I choose this one because it has a very interesting double exposure function that could create some really cool shots and has a relatively decent lens for an inexpensive camera. Look for your own Pentax Espio on eBay now.
Image from EBay
Nikon L35AF
The L35AF was Nikon’s first autofocus point and shoot in the early 1980’s. They did not skimp on the 35mm f/2.8 lens. It’s sharp, fast autofocus and an all round excellent point and shoot. Nikon L35AF on ebay.
Image from EBay
Transition from DSLR
If you already shoot with a Canon, Nikon or Pentax DSLR, some of your lenses may already work on these cameras.
Canon EOS 650
Released in the early 1980s this was Canon’s first EOS film camera and it’s pretty chunky and built like a tank. They are dirt cheap second hand and sit above EOS entry-level film cameras. Most Canon EF lenses will work perfectly but not EFS lenses made for crop sensor Canon DSLRs. Check eBay for current prices on the 650.
Canon ELAN II (USA)/EOS 55 (JAPAN)/EOS 50
I debated about whether to include the EOS 650 or the ELAN II in this article and went back and deleted one or the other a couple of times. In the end, here they both are. This is my personal favourite Canon EOS film camera. It’s a beautiful black and silver EOS camera with a nice sturdy metal lens mount. It was one of the last lines of the Canon film cameras in production. If you use a EOS digital this camera will feel right at home as it has most features of higher end EOS digitals including the back command wheel. It also remains a very affordable film camera in the prosumer Canon range. Find a Canon EOS 55 on eBay here.
The EOS 55 is one of my everyday film cameras. This one has a bottom battery grip attached.
Nikon n80 (USA) / f80
This Nikon was released in 2000 and has almost all the features of the Pro level F100 but about half the price tag. Your current Nikon FX mount glass will be right at home on this camera however DX lenses for crop sensor DSLRs may show vignetting. Here are some Nikon n80’s on eBay at the moment.
Image from eBay
Pentax sFX/sF1
This is a 1987 special and has all the features any photographer could want including backwards and forward Pentax lens compatibility.. It has been called the ugliest camera ever made but I think it’s reminiscent of a camera Capt. Kirk of Star Trek would proudly use. It’s heavy and well made and much more dependable than many of the Pentax MZ series film cameras. Check for a sFX on eBay now.
Manual Focus
If you are confident with using a camera and want a real vintage challenge, these are the cameras for you. They all use manual focus lenses and often have busted lightmeters as well as hard to find mercury battery replacements. Don’t let that deter you. With a little Sunny 16 knowledge, a handheld light meter or a light meter app on your phone, these cameras are a blast to shoot - with or without a battery.
Canon FTb QL
This 1971 FD mount Canon has everything you could want in a camera. In my opinion, it’s the perfect Canon manual focus camera. Easy to load, super shutter, bright viewfinder and a needle meter. Choose this camera over the overpriced and under specced Pentax k1000 anyday. Canon fTB prices on eBay.
My Canon FTb QL sporting a red soft release.
Pentax/Honeywell (USA) Spotmatic SP/500/1000
The Spotmatics are as basic as you can get with a camera. They are a sturdy metal box with a m42 screw mount. Almost indestructible and thousands of superb lenses available. I have about 4 or 5 Spotmatics all of them have broken light meters but that doesn’t stop me using them. Grab a Spotmatic now on eBay.
This old Spotmatic has been on many adventures. It has lost all the leatherette, been severely scratched up and has a broken light meter. Even with all its issues, I get great photos from it.
Nikon EM
Nothing really beats a Nikon manual focus camera with Nikon glass. They were the unparalleled leaders in professional SLR gear and their old manual focus cameras have stood the test of time. They also are the best at lens compatibility with their F mount not really changing much since 1959. That said, they are on the pricier end of my list of cameras here. Nikon EM prices today on eBay.
Image from eBay
Olympus OM10
The Olympus OM cameras are an example of masterful design. They were the first of the SLRs to come in a more compact size adding internal lightmeters and extremely compact lenses. But beware, many others have cottoned on to the OM cameras and their price has been skyrocketing. The 1971 OM10 was a consumer version and they sold them by the truckloads meaning they remain one of the best priced and featured OMs available and worth picking up. Look up OM10 on eBay.
My Olympus OM10, one of the more fun manual focus cameras to shoot with.
Rangefinder
Yashica Electro 35 GSN
The Electro 35 GSN came out in 1971. It’s solid, looks great and has an awesomely sharp Yashinon 45mm f/1.7. This was Peter Parker’s camera in the 2012 Spiderman movie. If it was good enough for Peter, I reckon it’s good enough for me. eBay deals for an Electro GSN 35.
This is one of my Yashica Electro 35 GSN cameras with a red filter on len lens.Very handsome indeed!
Canon Canonet QL19 GLiii
If you can find one of these at a decent price, pick it up. The QL 19 GLiii was exactly the same as the top end rangefinder from Canon, the QL 17 GLiii, but had a slower f/1.9 lens. That’s not really slow in anybody’s book and is an awesomely fast lens on a rangefinder. Try finding a bargain on eBay for a Canonet.
Image from eBay
Zorki 4
I couldn’t list rangefinders without throwing in a 50+ year old Soviet made model. The Zorki 4 was a Russian copy of the Leica II manufactured between 1956-1973, it even uses Leica M39 mount lenses. While not nearly as smooth as a Leica, this vintage beauty looks great and has a character all its own. One thing that’s important to remember with this camera, always cock the shutter before changing shutter speeds. Otherwise, the changing shutter speeds may damage the silk shutter curtain. Look into Zorki 4 cameras for sale on eBay.
Image from eBay
Ricoh 500G
This was Ricoh’s 1972 pocket rocket rangefinder. There’s nothing special in it’s specs to say it’s better than its contemporaries but I appreciate the ability to shoot in aperture priority or manual mode which many rangefinders of the time did not have this option. It fits in the pocket and has a nice accurate meter. It’s an undiscovered gem in my opinion and I suspect that before long it’s price will start to skyrocket once others discover it’s sheer simplicity and function. See if you can find a 500g on eBay.
The Ricoh 500G hanging at the beach with his mates.
You can’t go wrong with any of these cameras as a first film camera. Choose one that seems right for you. Remember that these cameras are all vintage and may experience electronic failures, stuck mirrors, light leaks or any number of mechanical issues. Don’t be dismayed, this is part of the fun and excitement of shooting with old equipment. Some issues may be repaired, some you may decide to live with while others may require you to source another camera. Continue learning, shooting and enjoy your film adventures.