5-Question Quiz to Reveal Your Options
Photography was invented around the 1830s. Since then, we’ve built over a billion cameras, which can make picking one seem overwhelming.
Best Film Camera Finder helps you discover film cameras suitable for your needs based on answers to these five questions:
1. Budget?
You don’t need to spend much on a good film camera, but a bigger budget can add fancier materials, better build quality, and unique features.
Budget: $200-500 2. Automation?
- Point-and-shoot cameras quickly measure light and focus — they are very convenient although could be a bit more brittle and difficult to fix.
- Manual focus cameras will take care of measuring light but will rely on you to focus the lens by hand — they are the most common type of a film camera.
- Match metering means that the camera will tell the correct exposure but will rely on you to set the shutter speed and aperture by hand.
- Manual focus and exposure was the only way to take photos until around 1950s. Some photographers still prefer this method. You can still use aids like light meter apps to set the exposure or learn how to do it without any tools.
Automation: Manual Focus 3. Functionality?
- Basic cameras have smaller lens apertures and limited shutter speeds. They can still take wonderful pictures, but taking photos in changing light conditions may be difficult or impossible.
- Intermediate cameras will be able to shoot in most light conditions.
- Advanced cameras use the best technology of the time to capture images in a way few other cameras could.
Functionality: Intermediate 4. Interchangeable lenses?
Interchangeable lenses open up options to use specialty glass (zoom, macro, fisheye), upgrade, or be deliberate with lens choices in other ways. However, lens interchangeability adds weight and complexity to the camera.
Interchangeability: No 5. Portable?
Heft: Can Be Heavy