So You Want to Buy a Film Camera
by Amanda on June 13, 2009
If you hadn’t heard yet, I’m a bit of a film photography obsessive. I get a lot of emails and flickrmail from people asking me about my cameras, how I use them, which ones to buy, so I thought I would put up a little feature here on why I personally love film cameras and how you can too.
So you’ve decided you want to get into film photography for whatever reason. Maybe you took a photography class back in high school or at university and want to get back into it, maybe you’ve only ever used a digital camera and you’re intrigued by this weird thing called film (what do you mean I don’t plug it into the computer?) or maybe you just love the look of what film can produce.
To me film tells a story, it creates something that could be, may have been or quite possibly wasn’t there, it weaves magic that I still don’t think digital can do. Don’t get me wrong, I love digital (especially the time aspects) and I have used it to shoot my 52 weeks project mostly…which I should just mention, ends this weekend!! However, film can spin that web, can create the magic of story telling, which to me, is what good photography is all about.
So what do you buy? 35mm? Medium format? Polaroid? Toy camera? So much choice!
I would recommend starting out with a 35mm if you just want a straight up film camera that is going to do the job. 35mm cameras are the kind that normal every day film goes into. All old school automatic cameras that our mums and dads used to use were 35mm point and shoots. I own quite a few different 35mm cameras.
35mm:
Pentax K1000
I don’t own one myself but lots of people in the blogging world and in my list of flickr contacts do use the Pentax K1000. You can pick one up on ebay for around $100. Perhaps I should buy myself one for my birthday in the coming weeks seeing as they were made in 1976 and so was I.
K1000 image by Buttons Magee
K1000 image by Jenifer Altman
Nikon FM
My workhorse 35mm camera is the Nikon FM3A. It sits in the Nikon FM family which are some of the greatest manual cameras ever made. They are strong, sturdy and built to last. The Nikon FM2 is a very popular camera and produces some gorgeous results. The special thing about the FM3A was that it was the last manual camera that Nikon built, it is fully manual but nowhere near as old as the others and it has an auto setting for when I’m feeling less than artistic. She is my baby.
FM3A images by me.
The FM3A is a lot pricier than the FM or FM2 cameras, but I hear the FM2 is just as good.
Canon AE1
My grandfather owns a Canon AE1 and I really need to get my hands on it to have a play. It’s one of those cameras that I’ve always wanted to own and in fact, I was tossing up between it and the Nikon FM3A before I got her. The Nikon won out on newness which meant I wouldn’t be inheriting someone else’s problems. My aunt has shot some really fabulous Black and White portraits with the Canon AE1. I really should go and steal it from her. I know Pia Jane Bijkerk uses one of these babies!
Image by Lyndsay Jobe
Yashica Electro and FX
The Yashica Electro 35 G series cameras are also popular. Abby from Abby Try Again shoots with one if that’s anything to go by. I don’t know much about them other than over the years lots of people have told me to buy one. I never really had the chance, until I stumbled across a used camera store in Seattle a few years back. They didn’t have any Electros but I did find a Yashica FX3 which I’d also had my eye on. I have a roll in it that I’m almost done with at the moment, as it’s been a while since I used this camera. Can’t wait to see the results!
Yashica Electro images by Abby Tries Again.
Olympus OM2
The Olympus OM2 has a cult following, as do many of the cameras listed here. This is one camera I have always been intrigued by, along with the Olympus Pen cameras. The king, Tommy Oshima has one, so you know they must be good!
OM2 image by Tommy Oshima.
Just remember that a lot of these cameras are fully manual. You can pick up auto point and shoot cameras that were made later but they don’t offer as much oomph in my opinion. Any of these cameras would be a good choice to start your way in film photography. None should be too pricey, apart from maybe the Nikon FM3A, all costing you between $100-$200. Try ebay for a bargain or the safer KEH or B&H photo. I have bought from both online stores and have been very pleased with the results. If I ever get around to buying myself a Hasselblad, I will most likely purchase from KEH.
I hope you have enjoyed my little film camera feature.
p.s. Sorry about the length of this post, I couldn’t figure out how to use the exerpts on this new theme!
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16 Responses to “So You Want to Buy a Film Camera”
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Thanks for this great post – it’s made me want to run straight to ebay to see what I can find! So glad the K1000 got a mention, it was the first SLR I ever used and I still love it to bits, but it’s been neglected for ages so I think it’s time I put a roll of film in it and took it out to play :)
This was wonderful. I really, really hope you will post a “So, you want to buy some film” edition. I need help with finding the right one.
Thank you for commenting on my blog :)
Very excited about this post, my Dad has given me his old Olympus film camera (not sure which one it is exactly) and I can’t wait to start taking some photos with it!
Aveen, you definitely have to have a play again! I love everything I see from that camera.
David, thanks so much. I am going to do more posts with different types of cameras, but yes, I will have to do film too. I’ve been testing quite a few different films this year, so that could work!
Rhianne, I hope you have a play and post some on your blog. :)
Thanks for commenting, guys.
I realise I missed this post, so so interesting. Argh … I have a manual Mamyia, and I must confess, “all manual” bothers me a little. Even so I’m a square lover, I end up using my Fuji 645 a lot more since it is semi-manual, and catches the light in most most amazing and atmospherical way. Both are a bit more expensive though … I’m also fascinated by Olympus Pen cameras and Yashicas, but (of course !!!), I dream of a Blad … ;o)
Thanks for this post, I’ve been wondering what film cameras you’re using/would recommend. I’ve actually found a Pentax K1000 on ebay for very cheap, including two lenses! Here’s to me winning the bid war, haha.
Thanks for this post! It helped me alot! I have two questions. One, would you recommend the polaroid sx-7 land camera? And also, what kind of film do you recommend if I what a dreamy vintage kind of feel to my photographs?
another to check out:
Praktica Super TL1000
I use one of these. Fully manual, top german quality, m42 lens mount (cheap lenses!), 1/1000 top shutter speed, nice big split viewfinder. These cameras go really cheap and are great value.
you can check out my photos with the Praktica at my blog – http://nosocksorsockettes.blogspot.com
do you have the 50mm 1.4 on your FM2? i’m looking at one now – seems like a winning combo.
Amanda, thanks so much for posting this! I have been interested in getting into film photography for awhile and have recently acquired a Olympus OM10. A few people had suggested the Pentax K1000, which I have even seen as low as $40, but a friend went ahead and gave me her Olympus. Hopefully I’ll fall in love with film and want to experiment with other cameras!
Such a great post! Im looking for a new camera and this post was really helpful by including photos! Thank you!
Hi Amanda, I love shooting Tri-X with my trusty Nikon F100. I miss the Nikon F3 I had for years. I was browsing eBay for the heck of it, and see that the Nikon FM3A camera is selling for $600 to $900 if it’s in excellent shape. People must really love that camera! Nice blog, btw!
great post & great site! i’m toying with the idea of film cameras as i really like the look they produce and this post (along with several of your others) is really giving me some food for thought!
This is SO HELPFUL. Your blog is perfect!
I am on the threshold of buying my first 35mm SLR. This guide is priceless and so, so incredibly helpful! Thank you, beautiful. I will let you know how it goes — you are an inspiration to me.
this was a great read and wonderful recommendations for cameras. i also very much old school hard bodied cameras and delightfully own a pentax. i have a preference for nikons + pentax for no good reason except i grew up with them. need to explore the others. i completely agree that film tells a different kind of story. the magic cannot really be directed and the anticipation of waiting for development is still so charming to me.
I have just broken my Pentax 835 which makes fab photos ! everyone around are into digital and laugh at me…Can you advise what I should buy to replace have looked on ebay at thousands of cameras.
Regards,
Anne