Top Five Beginner Film Cameras
Hassle-free, easy-to-learn options to get you started
Getting Started With Film
It’s no secret that film has made a comeback, and with good reason. The warmth, the moodiness, and the magic of film is something that even today’s advanced technology can’t truthfully replicate. And with our culture being so used to instant gratification, there is something to be said about trusting the process and patiently awaiting the results…
With so many camera and film options available out there, we thought it would be helpful to chime in with our top five picks for your first film camera! We’re all about inclusivity and breaking down the gatekeeping, so without further ado, here are our top picks for your first film beaut and why.
#5. Pentax IQ Zoom EZY-R
Kicking off our list, we have a Pentax point-and-shoot! We gravitated towards the super fun and compact IQ Zoom, not only because of its lightweight sleekness, but because of its incredible ease of use.
This camera is so easy to use, in fact, that we equipped a dozen summer camp attendees, ages 7 to 12, with this particular model, and we were thoroughly impressed with the photographs they made. This camera is older than everyone in that summer camp group, and none of the campers had ever taken a photo with anything besides a smartphone!
This camera is ready to go with fully automatic film loading, advancement, and rewind, various flash settings, a zoom lens, auto focus, and a self timer. This is one of those cameras anyone can pick up and make memories with.
#4 Canon Sure Shot Telemax
Next in line is another point-and-shoot powerhouse, this time from the arguably more recognizable brand: Canon. At first glance, the Telemax looks professional. It’s all-black and skillfully engineered, but don’t be intimidated.
This camera is designed to be easy for anyone to pick up and use successfully.
Unlike the Pentax mentioned earlier, the Telemax does not have a zoom function and instead allows you to toggle between a 38mm f/3.8 and a 60mm f/6 lens easily and quickly. The first lens setting is ideal for portraits, and the second is perfect for landscapes. Easy enough, right?
The Telemax also includes a 3-point Smart Autofocus system so you can easily decide what’s in perfect focus and what isn’t, and it also includes a built-in flash that adapts to situations and fires when necessary.
You can’t go wrong with this one!
#3. Olympus Trip
Olympus is a giant in the film world, and although our number 3 pick was actually manufactured in 1969, making it our most vintage camera offering, it still holds up to this day. Once you have a Trip in your hands, you’ll understand how and why it's aged like fine wine. For one, it has weight to it. Its metallic body is sturdy and robust in comparison to the point-and-shoots from the ‘90s most of us are familiar with.
Secondly, the camera is actually powered by solar cells positioned in a ring around the lens! No need to worry about discontinued battery types or cleaning out corrosion from the battery compartment. Just set your camera in direct sunlight for a bit, and you’re ready to go! No conventional battery!
Lastly, as if this model wasn’t unique enough already, it also offers a shutter priority mode, which is most unusual for a point-and-shoot. Shutter priority refers to a setting on cameras that allows the user to choose a specific shutter speed while the camera automatically adjusts the aperture to ensure correct exposure. This means that you’ll have the freedom to slow down or speed up shutter speeds to either freeze action or capture motion blur, and your camera will still ensure your photograph is properly exposed! Just another way for you to get creative with this film camera, even if you’re new to film photography.
#2. Minolta X-700
Number two on our list of recommendations is actually an SLR from the Japanese manufacturer Minolta. SLR stands for “Single Lens Reflex” camera and basically means a manual camera with interchangeable lenses that accurately captures what you see through the viewfinder onto film.
No need to be frightened, however! Although this camera has plenty of bells and whistles for a seasoned photographer, it is designed to be intuitive and easy to learn for beginners.
Most importantly, it has a Program mode. All you have to do is set the aperture on the lens to the green “22” and shutter speed dial to the green “P,” and you’ve essentially transformed this manual camera into a point-and-shoot! Program mode is an auto mode where the camera decides on the best aperture and shutter speed for a given scene, so all you have to do is compose your image, focus, and fire!
Never mind that this camera has sentimental value to me because it’s what my mom used in the ‘80s. This camera is a great pick for anyone wanting to learn the ins and outs of photography, one baby step at a time.
#1. Canon AE-1 Program
Number 1 on our list is, that’s right, you guessed it, a Canon!
The original Canon AE-1 is perhaps the most well known and highly regarded film camera in existence, but we believe the later-released Program is even better for a beginner!
The original AE-1 has only two shooting modes: full manual and shutter priority (remember this is when a photographer manually designates a shutter speed for a given exposure, and the camera automatically chooses an appropriate aperture).
The AE-1 Program is the updated version and includes these two same shooting modes, with the additional Program mode, essentially a full auto mode. This makes it the perfect camera to get comfortable with, and as you learn more about photography basics, you can gradually remove the training wheels before going fully manual!
Also, this camera uses an FD mount for its lenses, which means there are a wide variety of compatible lenses and accessories you can find online inexpensively. There are more readily available add-ons for this camera than perhaps any other. It’s a great model to collect for and experiment with!
We hope this helps, and as always, happy shooting!
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