Best pentax espio. Best Pentax Film Cameras For Every Pentaxian Collection

Best Pentax Film Cameras For Every Pentaxian Collection

With Pentax just having turned 100, we placed the spotlight on some of the company’s classic medium format cameras, rivaled only by a handful of competitors. Among the most popular of these are the Pentax 67 and the Pentax 645, which are also on our favorite 67 format and 645 format cameras. We decided to do a quick follow-up on those features with a rundown of other popular Pentax film cameras that should never go missing in a true blue Pentaxian’s collection. If you’re still building your own, this guide should be useful to you!

Pentax Spotmatic F

The last high-end model of the Spotmatic series, the Spotmatic F was introduced in 1973 with several improvements. According to camera-wiki.org, this model was the first to feature open-aperture metering, but required pairing with the updated Super-Multi-Coated (SMC) Takumar lenses that had an aperture-position link to the camera. Today, it remains popular as being the most user-friendly Spotmatic model for film photographers.

Buy Pentax Spotmatic F now: eBay

Pentax K1000

Among the most recommended Pentax film cameras for analog photography beginners, the low cost, ruggedness, and simplicity of the K1000 has earned it extraordinary longevity. It now also enjoys the status of being a historically significant camera, popular as a basic yet sturdy workhorse. Introduced in 1976, the K1000 is the simplest of the K-series 35mm SLR cameras, being an almost all metal camera with manual FOCUS, manual exposure control, and mechanical controls. It has a horizontal travel, a rubberized silk cloth focal-plane shutter with a top shutter speed of 1/1000 sec. It only needs a battery for the built-in full scene averaging light meter.

Buy Pentax K1000 now: eBay

Pentax MX

According to camera-wiki.org, the Pentax MX was one of the two compact 35mm SLR cameras introduced by Pentax in 1976: the other being the ME. It was designed in response to the compact SLR trend started by the Olympus OM-1. The K bayonet mount MX was an all-metal mechanical camera with a horizontal cloth focal plane shutter, top speed of 1/1000 sec, flash sync at 1/60, self-timer, and depth of field preview. Its 0.97x fixed viewfinder covers 95% of the field, with the shutter speed and aperture values visible in it. The finder screen was interchangeable, with eight finder screens to choose from, using the bayonet mount system drawn from the OM-1. The SMC Pentax-M series of compact lenses were also introduced alongside the MX and ME models.

Buy Pentax MX now: eBay

Pentax LX

Introduced in 1980, the Pentax LX was the company’s top-of-the-line manual FOCUS camera, and was their only attempt at entering the professional 35mm SLR camera market according to camera-wiki.org. Apart from the vast selection of K-mount SMC lenses, it also used a dedicated series of accessories like interchangeable viewfinders and viewfinder screens. Some notable features, as cited by Wikipedia, include manual and aperture priority exposure modes, mirror lock-up, self-timer, depth of field preview, horizontal-running titanium shutter curtains, off-the-film-plane TTL metering, and “Magic Needles” film take-up spool that simplified film loading. The camera body, aside from being smaller and lighter than rivals like Canon New F-1 or Nikon F3, also had water and dust protection. All these features made it one of the finest mechanical 35mm SLR cameras ever made.

Buy Pentax LX now: eBay

Pentax Espio Mini

The Espio series of point-and-shoot cameras have been mostly overlooked in favor of more popular premium cameras like the Contax T2 and Yashica T4. However, some of them still enjoy cult status among compact camera collectors and film point-and-shoot users. One of them is the Pentax Espio Mini (or UC-1 in the US), which has caught the attention of some compact camera shooters for its very sharp 32mm f3.5 lens, which some even say is SMC grade, as noted by camera-wiki.org. Some photographers also liken it to the Olympus mju-II, as they are about the same size and weight.

Buy Pentax Espio Mini now: eBay

Cover image by O.Taillon on Flickr. Used with Creative Commons by 2.0 permission.

Pentax Espio 170SL – A One Roll Review

I bought this Pentax Espio 170SL from my local London Camera Exchange. They always have a couple of point shoot film cameras these days, so I often check for ones that look to have something unique or interesting about them that might make them good to shoot and write about. The thing that attracted me to this Pentax Espio 170SL was its small size – that and the fact that these little Pentax point shoots generally tend to have a good reputation.

I shared a picture of it on my Instagram when I got home and soon had contact from Jim Grey telling me he too had written about it and had positive experiences. Jim also mentions the good reputation that these Pentax cameras have. In fact, Jim being Jim, he’s also done a very good job of reviewing this little camera. So good, that it nearly put me off writing about it.

I shot it regardless. I figured I might just make a 5 frames post if I got a couple of nice snaps. Unfortunately, my particular copy of the Pentax Espio 170SL demonstrated something that Jim’s didn’t. There’s also one feature of Pentax point shoot cameras of this era that Jim didn’t mention, so in the end I decided I might as well share my thoughts on the camera as a whole.

The Pentax Espio 170SL

The Pentax Espio 170SL is smaller-than-average point shoot zoom camera with a surprisingly powerful zoom lens. The 170 in the name denotes that the long end of its reach is 170mm. The wide end is 38mm. As is quite often the case, this means that it has a longer telephoto range than I’m used to having available to me. The result of this is that I find something in the novelty of shooting it at the extreme end of the zoom.

Unfortunately, it was shooting it at the long end of the zoom that caused me to find an issue with the Pentax Espio 170SL, or at least the copy I have here. Close to the long end and everything is fine, but at 170mm I get this weird flare (above) that I suspect this is caused by some sort of internal reflection in the lens – possibly to do with the shiney electronic contacts that are visible if you look into the camera with the lens extended. Though, I should add, I would be hard pushed to prove this, and find it odd that others don’t seem to suffer the same issue.

It’s a shame really, because the rest of the zoom range seems pretty good. In fact, even at the extreme end of the range it’s not that much softer. Or at least not to the degree that I could detect when shooting the Kodak Colorplus 200 I shot with it.

The auto-exposure seemed pretty reliably good, and as Jim points out, colour and contrast from the Pentax Espio 170SL lens are pretty good – especially for a zoom. Of course, such a small camera means a small lens, and a small lens with a big zoom isn’t going to be the fastest. The wide end is f/5.6, with the long end being f/12.8 – in fact, I would suspect the maximum aperture rises quite steeply at you zoom through the range making its zoom only really useful outdoors. I certainly had little luck using the zoom in even slightly subdued light before the camera wanted to use the flash.

In short, but for the internal reflections mine suffers from, and the slowness of the lens, you can expect decent results from this little Pentax Espio 170SL. We’re into shoot mine again, I’d just not push the zoom to the limit of the range, and would definitely find myself very satisfied with the results.

Functionality

The other thing that appealed to me about the Pentax Espio 170SL was its feature set. I found myself a little annoyed at the Rollei Prego 125 I reviewed not long ago – perhaps a little irrationally now I look back (I felt a bit irrational at the time to be fair). One of the reasons it annoyed me was all the series of unnecessary features.

I do quite regularly get frustrated with superfluous features, be it on cameras, TVs, washing machines, etc. Stuff that’s included just to help sell a product irritates me. I don’t need “motion enhance” on my tele, 5 different modes for washing wool on my washing machine, or an interval timer on a point shoot film camera. Which is why the Rollei annoyed me, and the Pentax Espio 170SL annoys me less. This camera’s headline specifications are its 170mm zoom range and small size. These are features that are of actual value to some people – though I would I admit question something of the sense in trying to squeeze such a long zoom into such a small camera…

It does, of course, have a small series of buttons across the top of the camera. But the modes are much more limited to ones that the average user would actually use. The first button controls a fairly wide range of flash options. The one I gravitate to is always the flash-off mode, but it also has fill flash, red eye modes and even a blub flash mode for some fun long exposure/slow sync flash fun (like the sort I was having with the Moon flash on my Leica a few weeks ago).

The next button allows you to select between AF modes. The Pentax Espio 170SL has a few FOCUS points across the middle of the viewfinder. If you want it to only use the centre one, there’s a spot AF mode. There’s also an infinity FOCUS mode for landscapes etc.

The final button (at least on my version) sets the self timer and remote control mode. Like Jim, mine didn’t come with a remote, I’m also not a particularly frequent user of self timers – though as a kid I remember plenty of family photos being taken using them, so in my head this still counts as useful. Jim’s camera has a forth button for setting the date/time for the data back. Mine doesn’t have a data back, so I don’t have the button.

Mode memory

The feature that Jim didn’t mention in his review, and something that’s common to all – or at least most – Pentax point and shoot cameras is the mode memory. Like most point and shoot cameras, when you power the Pentax Espio 170SL down, it forgets the settings you were shooting in. But, unlike most point shoots from other brands, if it goes to sleep, it will remember them. So if you happen to be shooting in flash-off bulb mode in spot AF with a self timer with the zoom set to ~100mm for eg, if the camera powers down, when you power it back up again, all of those settings are retained. Personally, I’d prefer the settings to be retained when I power off, but this is a nice halfway that just means you can set the camera how you want it and carry it around for a shooting session without having to faff with the controls every time you turn it back on.

The final control switch on the Pentax Espio 170 is the diopter adjuster. Mine is jammed. I had the same issue with my Espio 80 back in the summer. It was a quick fix, and I’m sure it would be here if I could be bothered to attempt it.

Design and feel

Finally, I just wanted to touch on the design and feel of the Pentax Espio 170SL – not least because it’s design was what caught my eye. It is, as I’ve said, a small camera – especially for its zoom range. There is a small hump on the front of the camera which houses the long zoom lens, but apart from that, it’s a very neat little camera. It’s all plastic, of course, but it doesn’t feel excessively tacky or flimsy. Above all else though, it’s a really good feeling camera in the hand. I find something very satisfying about cameras that are small, but also feel very nice to hold, and this one feels very nice indeed! Even the viewfinder is ok – it’s not great, it’s quite small, but I found it easy to find with my eye.

Photos

All the shots in this review were taken with a single roll of Kodak Colorplus 200 film

Pentax Espio 170SL – Final thoughts

The Pentax Espio 170SL is a very neat little camera with a sensible feature set, in a small, well formed body. Unlike the Rollei I wrote about recently, I didn’t find anything to dislike – or at least nothing about it specifically annoyed me. The lens is quite slow, and perhaps for my tastes unnecessarily long, but if you’re looking for a long-zoomed very able point and shoot that produces good quality images in decent light, I’d say you can’t go far wrong with the Pentax Espio 170SL. That said, it might just be worth testing it at the long end of the zoom to see if it flares like mine before doing anything special with it. In short, I agree with Jim. If they had just made this exact camera with a fixed 35mm f/2.8 or a shorter faster zoom…

The 12 Best Budget 35mm Film Cameras In 2023

After working with film cameras for years, I’ve got first-hand knowledge about what’s good and what’s not in the camera market.

There are so many film cameras out there, it’s tough to know what you should go for! So I’ve put together this guide of some of the best budget film cameras to make your decision much easier!

Quick Info

Price – 100Format – 35mmType – SLRFocus – AutofocusExposure – Auto/Manual/Aperture PriorityLens – F MountUser Level – AmateurBest For – Beginner That Wants Good ShotsOur Rating – 9/10

The Nikon F90 is a great beginner SLR camera that has autofocus and auto mode on the camera! Being manufactured from 1992 – 2001, it was a brilliant autofocus option before the more professional Nikon F4, F5 and F6. It wasn’t initially intended for the professional market but due to its high-quality AF and affordable price, it was and still is!

The F90’s shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/8000 and the ISO ranges from 50-5000. There are different metering modes, ranging from centre weighted, matrix and spot. Exposure modes include program auto, veri-program, shutter priority, aperture priority and metered manual exposure mode.

The Nikon F90 can house some fantastic lenses, from vintage prime lenses F mount lenses to the more modern AF lenses. This means that you can get some super high-quality shots with it with very little effort.

The F90 is best for somebody that’s on a budget but may want to shoot high-quality shots. Perhaps you’re used to a DSLR and you want the same kind of experience (because of the option to use autofocus and auto modes).

Quick Info

Price – 80-120Format – 35mmType – SLRExposure – Manual/Aperture PriorityLens Mount – OMUser Level – Beginner/IntermediateBest For – Someone that wants to shoot manually on a classic systemOur Rating – 8/10

First produced in 1979, the Olympus OM10 was the more cost-effective option than the OM1 and OM2. That lower cost is obvious in some of the OM10’s plastic parts and features, but it’s still a great camera in its own right and became seriously popular due to how easy it was to use.

The OM10’s shutter speeds range from 2 seconds to 1/1000, you can shoot it fully manually or with aperture priority and the ISO can range from 25-1600.

The OM10 is a great budget film camera because it can house some fantastic lenses, for instance, the 50mm 1.8 Zuiko lens that usually comes with it! The OM10 is pretty reliable and it’s definitely a really good place to start for anyone that wants to learn to shoot manually or with aperture priority.

If you want to take good shots and learn the basics of analogue photography then I think the OM1O could be for you.

Quick Info

Price – 40-80Format – 35mmType – Point And ShootFocus – AFExposure – AutoUser Level – BeginnerBest For – Casual/Traveller/Day-To-DayOur Rating – 6/10

There are a few different versions of the Canon Sureshot, there’s the Canon Sureshot, the Sureshot Supreme and the Sureshot Max, but they’re all great point-and-shoot cameras for the casual shooter!

Produced from 1979 onwards, the Sureshot was an early example of an active autofocus camera. This was and still is, a really popular choice for film shooters.

Sporting a 38mm, 2.8 lens, active autofocus, 1/8 second to 1/500 of a second shutter speeds and 25-400 ISO. The Sureshot Supreme was a leader for its time but there are certainly better options now (just with much higher price tags).

The Sureshot is a great option for anyone that’s a casual film shooter that wants a camera to travel with or to use for day-to-day life! If you want to take better shots, then definitely go for an SLR or something that might cost a little more!

Quick Info

Price – 80-130Format – 35mmType – SLRFocus – ManualExposure – Aperture Priority/ManualLens Mount – K-F MountUser Level – Beginner/IntermediateBest For – Street PhotographyOur Rating – 8.5/10

I think the Pentax ME Super is one of the best options for the price. It’s a great camera and Pentax lenses are amazing so you can get really sharp pictures without splashing the cash.

Produced from 1979 to 1984, the ME Super was really successful and far better than its predecessor, the Pentax ME. Its small size and ease of use made it an attractive option to a lot of shooters and many believe that it’s actually better than the Pentax K1000 (although I’d probably argue otherwise, purely because the ME Super can have a LOT of common problems).

Sporting shutter speeds from 4s to 1/2000, 12 – 1600 ISO, having aperture priority mode and being smaller than some point-and-shoot cameras has made this a really popular option for film shooters!

This is a great option for a lot of photographers and I think it could be best for street photographers, beginner photographers that want to take sharp pictures/learn analogue photography and anyone that fancies a budget SLR. You won’t regret trying out the Pentax ME Super as long as it’s actually working properly!

Quick Info

Price – 50-100Format – 35mmType – Point-and-shootExposure – AutoLens – 38-105mm AFUser Level – BeginnerBest For – Travel, Day-to-dayOur Rating – 6.5/10

The Olympus Superzoom series are a great affordable option for anyone that wants a solid point-and-shoot camera that’s reliable, weatherproof and will get you some lovely shots. There are quite a few Superzooms, the 70G, 76G, 80G, 100G and 105G, it might seem confusing but the main difference is focal length. 70G means it goes from 38mm to 70mm and 105G means it goes from 38mm to 105mm. So there isn’t a big difference, and they’re all great cameras!

Produced in the early 00’s, the Superzoom series would be the affordable alternative to the MJU/MJU Zooms and to be honest, I don’t see that much difference in them now.

Sporting a 38 – 105 mm zoom, F3.7 – 9.5, 7 elements in 6 groups, 50 – 3200 ISO, 0.8 – Infinity FOCUS range and 2 seconds to 1/500 shutter speed, this is a great 35mm camera for its price range!

This is a great option for the casual shooter that just wants a good camera for travel and day-to-day life, this won’t let you down!

Quick info

Price – 100Format – 35mmType – Point And ShootFocus – Focus FreeExposure – AutoLens – 21mmUser Level – BeginnerBest For – Someone That Wants Fun ShotsOur Rating – 6.5/10

The Lomography Apparat is a really fun point-and-shoot camera that has a tonne of accessories! Released at the end of 2022, the Apparat can take double exposures, you can use different coloured gels for your flash and you can even add lens features over the lens to create interesting effects!

The Apparat is certainly worth taking a look at if you’re a casual film shooter that wants to take fun and interesting pictures! Of course, you can still take normal photos but the sheer amount of options available for accessories are great!

Quick Info

Price – 130-220Format – 35mmType – SLRFocus – ManualExposure – ManualLens Mount – FDUser Level – Beginner/IntermediateBest For – Learning photography, travel, street photography, portraitsOur Rating – 8.5/10

The Canon AE-1 isn’t that cheap but it was one of the most popular film cameras of its time so there are a lot of them about. I thought I’d have to include this, it’s semi-affordable, super easy to use, reliable and a great camera to learn film photography with!

Produced from 1976 to 1984, over 5.7 million of these bad boys were sold in that time. This was a groundbreaking camera as it was the first microprocessor-equipped SLR camera. Truly a special SLR for so many reasons and it still stands up to the best of them.

Sporting shutter speeds from 2 seconds to 1/1000, ISO from 25 – 3200 and a fantastic range of lenses available, this is a great option for anyone that wants to take good shots for a moderate price!

Quick Info

Price – 70-120Format – 35mmType – RangefinderFocus – ManualExposure – Manual/Aperture PriorityLens – 40mm 2.8 ZuikoUser Level – BeginnerBest For – TravelOur Rating – 7/10

The Olympus Trip 35 is a cult classic camera that uses a solar-powered selenium cell to decide the shutter speed and/or aperture. It’s not my favourite camera by any stretch but it clearly won people over as over 10 million were sold between 1967 and 1984.

Popularised further by British photographer David Bailey, the Trip 35 became the go-to camera for holiday goers and amateur photographers alike.

Sporting a 40mm 2.8 Zuiko lens, 1/40 or 1/400 shutter speed (yes there it only has 2 shutter speeds) and ISO settings from 25 to 400, the camera is pretty limited but it’s also ideal for travellers. It’s small and compact but it has a far better lens than most point-and-shoot cameras.

Quick Info

Price – 40-80Format – 35mmType – Point-And-ShootFocus – AutofocusLens – 38-70mmUser Level – BeginnerBest For – Travel, Day-to-dayOur Rating – 7/10

I think the Pentax Espio range are unsung hereos of point-and-shoot film cameras, they’re reliable, easy to use and their lenses are alright! There are a hell of a lot of different Espios and they’re all pretty good, mostly the difference is the number and that will relate to the focal length of the lens, so 738 means it goes from 38 to 70mm.

Pentax Espio 738 cameras were produced from 1995, so they’ve got that kind of “trying to look modern but not really knowing what that means” vibe about them. But we can forgive the look because these are some of the most affordable and reliable film cameras that are still around today!

The Pentax Espio 738(S) is ideal for the casual shooter that wants to take pictures of day-to-day life and travel, it’s reliable and compact enough. I also think it’s pretty durable too which is a massive plus with something that’s 25 years old!

Quick info

Price – 60-120Format – 35mmType – SLRFocus – ManualExposure – Manual/Aperture PriorityLens Mount – SRUser Level – Beginner/IntermediateBest For – Someone that wants a budget SLROur Rating – 7.5/10

Minolta cameras are pretty overlooked and that means that you can often get bargain cameras that are really good! The X300 is no exception, a manual/aperture priority camera that can house some really sharp lenses and you can pick this up from 60-120 these days!

Produced between 1984 and 1990 as a less expensive version of the X500, this was the affordable SLR that could still put up a fight with the big boys.

Sporting a 4 to 1/1000-second shutter speed, 12 – 3200 ISO and a 10-second self-timer, this was a nice option for a lot of amateur photographers that still wanted to take great pictures.

This is a great option if you’re just getting into film photography and you want to learn how to shoot manually. You’ll be able to learn all the basics and you’ll still be getting good shots along the way!

Quick Info

Price – 40-90Format – 35mmType – Point-and-shootFocus – AutofocusExposure – AutoLens – 35mm, F 3.5User Level – BeginnerBest For – Travel/Day-to-dayOur Rating – 7.5/10

The Olympus AF-10 is a bit of a favourite of mine, it’s cheap, it’s got a good lens, it’s super reliable and it’s pretty weatherproof! If any casual shooter asked me which point-and-shoot they should get, I’d recommend this one!

Starting production in 1990 and for some reason known as the Picasso Mini Super in Japan, the AF-10 shares a lot of similarities with the Olympus MJU I (which is far more expensive).

Sporting a 35mm, 3.5 lens, 1/45 – 1/400 shutter speed, 50-1600 ISO and auto motor drive and rewind, this is such a good ‘go-to’ affordable point-and-shoot camera.

If you’re the type of photographer that wants to shoot day-to-day or while travelling then this is definitely your camera! You just get so much bang for your buck!

Ilford Sprite II

The Ilford Sprite II is a modern film camera that’s similar to a disposable camera in terms of quality. I thought I’d include it because a lot of people are really casual shooters that just want something that doesn’t cost much.

This camera really has no settings and the only thing you can change is the film you use and whether you use the flash or not. It’s incredibly basic but that may be what you want!

Related Articles

I’ve been shooting film photography for over 7 years and I love sharing my knowledge and experience to help you all get better!

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I’ve shot Colorplus for a very long time and through the years I’ve learned all the pros and cons of this great film stock. Kodak Colorplus is a consumer-grade film stock that has a vintage feel.

Over my years of shooting film, I’ve shot a bunch of Ultramax 400, so I know all the pros and cons of this budget film stock. Kodak Ultramax 400 is a budget colour film stock that has saturated.

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I’ve been shooting film photography and working with film cameras for 5 years and wanted to help others with my exeperience.

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The 15 Best Point and Shoot Film Cameras (NEW Reviews)

Today, we are completely surrounded by the latest digital technology in the form of mirrorless cameras, DSLRs, compact digital cameras, and camera phones.

Film cameras are hard to come by these days, but our roundup review below lists the well-known camera brands currently available online.

• Easy to use (beginner-friendly)
• Lightweight
• Flash built-in
• Film-saving mode. 36 film gives 72 half-frame photos
• Beginner suitable
• Lightweight (fits in )
• 35mm film camera
• 22mm lens (nice wide view)
• Reusable camera
• 31 mm standard lens
• Manual film winding
• 135 Film (24x36mm) ISO 200 / 400

Best Point and Shoot Film Camera Reviews

KODAK EKTAR H35

• Easy to use (beginner-friendly)
• Lightweight
• Flash built-in
• Film-saving mode – 36 film gives 72 half-frame photos

RETO Ultra

• Beginner suitable
• Lightweight (fits in )
• 35mm film camera
• 22mm lens (nice wide view)

Kodak M35

• Reusable camera
• 31 mm standard lens
• Manual film winding
• 135 Film (24x36mm) ISO 200 / 400

Highlights of the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Instant Film Camera

• 2 component, 2 elements f/12.7 60 mm lens (approximates to a 35 mm view)
• Auto Exposure
• Double exposure mode
• Electronic shutter release – 1.8 to 1/400 second shutter speed
• Bulb mode allows creative light trails with up to 10 seconds long exposure
• Kids mode allows the photographing of faster-moving objects like kids or pets

Features

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 offers a range of advanced features like double exposure mode and longer exposures.

There’s also a macro mode for photographing close-up details like flower petals, insects, or whatever else tickles your fancy.

The focussing motor changes between 3 different stages – macro mode (30 cm to 60 cm), normal mode (60 cm to 3 meters), and landscape mode (3 meters to infinity).

Design

The fun, bubble-like design of the Instax Mini 90 looks both retro and modern at the same time – how is that even possible?!

It was launched in the Summer of 2017 so while it’s not vintage now, it will be someday!

It’s stylish and easy to hold. It is reasonably light at just over 10 ounces.

Performance

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 feels just like a regular film ps camera.

We like that it is responsive very quickly after powering the camera on.

The fact that the battery is rechargeable is a novelty considering that the majority of the point-and-shoot film cameras we’ve looked at use standard non-rechargeable batteries.

The image quality of the prints is very good.

It’s also a durable build and can withstand normal wear and tear in its stride.

It has a plastic feel but it’s still built in a solid way.

In the right lighting conditions, and in the right hands, the photographs from the Instax Mini 90 have a nice retro feel to capture a certain look and mood.

Manufacturer Information

Fujifilm is a world-class leader when it comes to designing and building camera equipment.

They were founded in 1934 and they are hugely popular with photographers who have a tendency towards preferring vintage design, look and feel.

Within the modern mirrorless camera market, Fujifilm is one of the leading companies paving the way with its range of cameras.

Verdict

Overall, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic is a fun, retro-looking film camera with a modern twist.

The image quality is very decent although you’ll have to bear in mind that it’s not going to give you the same image quality if you are photographing indoors in lower light.

That’s the nature of the beast when it comes to film cameras of this type.

We Like

• Good quality photographs when shooting outdoors in good light.
• Overall, good fun to use.
• Very nicely designed
• Battery included and it’s rechargeable!

We Don’t Like

• The lens is a bit slow, it’s mostly an outdoor camera unless you are using flash.
• No ability to charge the camera in-body.

Highlights of the Pentax Espio 140V 35mm Date Camera

• f/5.8 – f/11.8 38mm – 140mm zoom lens
• 5 point autofocus system
• Viewfinder zooms with the change of lens focal length

Features

The Pentax Espio140V point-and-shoot film camera boasts a 38 mm to 140 mm zoom lens and a 5-point autofocusing system.

It is powered by a 3 volt CR123A lithium battery.

Design

Nicely designed, the Pentax Espio 140V camera has a low-profile compact body.

It is user-friendly and has a multi-function flash with fill and auto-zoom.

This version of the camera automatically inputs the date onto the film with each exposure.

Performance

Operating, the Pentax Espio 140V feels nice to use and the viewfinder is very good for a camera of this class.

As you would expect, the viewfinder view zooms as you adjust the focal length of the lens.

It has a diopter adjustment too which is handy if you are a glasses wearer.

The lens is reasonably sharp although it is slower (it lets less light in) when compared to other similar ps camera models.

Manufacturer Information

Pentax, a Japanese brand, was a big player in the compact PS film camera market and manufactured a lot of popular models that became big sellers.

Pentax cameras were noted for their reliability, range of features, and robustness.

Verdict

Overall, the Pentax Espio 140V is a decent all-rounder. Its lightweight body makes it easy to carry around in your

The 5-point autofocus system helps get accurate focusing on your subject the majority of the time

Canon EOS Rebel GII 35mm Film SLR Camera Kit w/ EF 35-80mm Lens

Highlights of the Canon EOS Rebel GII 35mm Film SLR Camera

• 35mm-80mm zoom lens (f/4 – f/5.6)
• 11 different exposure mode
• Includes fully automatic mode
• Flash (built-in) included with red-eye reduction
• 3 point autofocus system

Features

This camera is the highly anticipated update to Canon’s popular Rebel G SLR.

It’s a great camera for beginner students of photography who want to learn how to shoot with film.

The camera lens supplied is interchangeable which allows flexibility when it comes to lens choice later on.

Starting out, a 35 mm to 80 mm range is ideal for most normal photography.

Design

This camera looks and feels like a miniature SLR instead of one of the leading point-and-shoot film cameras.

It’s a step up from a traditional point-and-shoot because of the interchangeable lens and range of exposure modes.

Note that the ability to change lenses in cameras of this level is normally unheard of.

The silver design is slick and the built-in flash neatly blends in with the camera shape when not in use.

Performance

The autofocus is a nice feature that is operated when you half-press the shutter.

One thing we noticed is that the motor tends to be a little noisy when advancing the roll of film for the next exposure.

It’s something we can live with though.

The auto-exposure modes do an excellent job of selecting the right settings for exposing each frame.

Manufacturer Information

Canon is a well-regarded manufacturer when it comes to cameras.

Put simply, Canon is a leader within the camera market and they know what they’re doing.

This camera is the successor to the highly popular Canon Rebel G SLR camera.

Verdict

Overall, the Canon EOS Rebel GII 35mm Film SLR Camera is a decent point-and-shoot film camera model that I’d classify as an advanced PS camera (point-and-shoot).

The in-built light metering is very good and allows for accurate exposures.

It is intuitive and easy to use.

Considering all of the included functionality, this is a very good vintage film camera for the price.

We Like

• Nice automatic features with 11 exposure modes.
• Easy to understand and use.
• Accurate light meter built-in.
• Lightweight considering the included lens.

We Don’t Like

• Batteries not included (CR123A/DL123A 3 volts lithium batteries).
• A little slow to advance the film for the next exposure.
• The motor tends to be a bit noisy.

Highlights of the Canon Sure Shot Tele 80 35mm Camera

• 2.1x optical zoom lens
• f/3.7 to f/7.3 38mm to 80mm lens
• Built-in flash
• Self-delay timer

Features

This automatic 35mm camera is nice and comfortable to use thanks to the larger-than-usual viewfinder.

Even glasses wearers find it a joy to operate without it becoming uncomfortable.

The mode dial allows for easy selection between the various automatic modes of operation.

Design

We like the compact look and feel of this point-and-shoot film camera. The black finish has a nice luxurious and comfortable feel to it.

Overall, a nice and easy simple layout design makes this camera comfortable to grip and very easy to use.

Performance

In operation, the camera works well and the battery lasts for a decent length of time.

Pressing the zoom button will extend the lens so that it now operates as an 80mm lens, a nice flattering focal length for portraits.

However, you’ll need to be in very good light for this zoom mode because the aperture ramps down from f/3.7 to f/7.3 which is a notable drop of about 2 stops of light.

Manufacturer Information

Canon is one of the longest-established and most reputable camera manufacturers.

It’s no wonder that they have a massive and loyal customer base that they have built up over the long number of decades that they’ve been operating for.

Once a photographer is ready to move away from beginner cameras, assuming they wish to be loyal to the brand, Canon has so many powerful cameras to offer to intermediate and more advanced users.

Verdict

The Canon Sure Shot Tele 80 35mm Camera is a very decent camera for beginners who would like to dabble in the world of film photography.

The easy-to-use features combined with a comfortable hold make this camera a good choice.

Pentax IQ Zoom 130M Date 35mm Camera

Highlights of the Pentax IQ Zoom 130M Date 35mm Camera

• 3.4x optical zoom lens with a decent 38mm to 130mm focal length
• Viewfinder zooms relative to the lens focal length
• Fail-safe film loading capabilities
• Multi-pattern exposure metering
• Decent LCD panel that shows the current camera settings

Features

Weighing in at only 8.3 ounces, the Pentax IQ Zoom 130M Date 35mm Camera has a nice range of features.

The built-in lens has a generous range of focal lengths between 38mm at the wide end and 130mm at the long end.

This allows you to optically zoom in nice and close to objects or people that are a bit further away.

The macro zoom feature is handy too if you want to get close-ups of flowers or other small details.

At the flick of a switch, you can change to panorama mode to capture a beautifully wide landscape or group shot.

This makes the camera a handy companion if you intend to take it on vacation and want to capture locations in all of their scenic glory.

Design

Compact and well-designed, the Pentax 130M packs a lot of features into its small body.

The LCD panel on top gives a readout of the current settings (e.g. flash settings, exposure modes, and exposure counter).

The camera feels natural when held in the hands.

Performance

Powering up the Pentax 130M in your hands is a nice feeling because the camera feels responsive and is promptly ready for action.

Looking through the viewfinder gives a realistic perspective of the image you will capture because the image size shown will be relative to how much you are zoomed in by.

The viewfinder is also adjustable depending on your eyesight level.

The autofocus system works flawlessly in the background to produce pin-sharp images all of the time, as long as you’re shooting in good light.

We tend to say this a lot with film cameras, they’re not really in their comfort zone when shooting indoors or even in the shade once the sun has set.

Manufacturer Information

Pentax, a Japanese brand, was a big player in the compact PS film camera market and manufactured a lot of popular models that became big sellers.

Pentax cameras were noted for their reliability, range of features, and robustness.

Verdict

Overall, we like the Pentax IQ Zoom 130M Date 35mm Camera and it packs a lot of punch into its unassuming and compact body.

Usability is good and it just feels nice to use.

There’s a nice backlight compensation feature that can adjust the image so that the flash doesn’t always need to be used.

This can help avoid the unnecessary red-eye effect that the flash often causes with point-and-shoot film cameras of this size.

Why Pentax Is Pushing Film Camera So hard?

We Don’t Like

• The occurrence of the red-eye effect from the flash is a little higher than usual because the flash is located a little too close to the lens.

Highlights of the Olympus 35mm Trip Autofocus 50 QD Camera

• 28mm f/5.6 wide-angle lens
• In-built flash
• Autofocus system
• Red-eye reduction

Features

The Olympus 35mm Trip Autofocus 50 QD Camera (QD standing for Quartz Date) is a neat little point-and-shoot film camera with many automatic features.

It has auto film advancing, automatic FOCUS, and a carefully arranged button layout for intuitive ease of use.

Design

The design of the Olympus 35mm Trip Autofocus 50 QD Camera is typical of its era.

Functional, light, and contains a generously sized viewfinder and built-in flash.

Embodied within the metallic finish, the Olympus lens is known for its clarity and it does a nice job reproducing color accuracy.

Performance

This Olympus Trip AF 50 camera makes taking photos on film a joy.

It takes a 3-volt lithium battery (DL123A/CR123A) and then it’s ready to go.

It feels comfortable to use, especially the viewfinder and the buttons feel nice to touch.

Pressing the shutter button down halfway triggers the autofocus to kick in and FOCUS on the center part of the screen.

The user manual advises replacing the batteries when it starts to take about 15 seconds for the flash indicator to light up indicating ready mode.

Manufacturer Information

Olympus is a Japanese camera manufacturer that has been around for over 100 years.

They initially built microscopes and thermometers but their knowledge of optics gradually led them into the camera market.

For many decades, they produced some outstanding cameras.

Verdict

The Olympus Trip AF50 camera is a well-respected camera and a good fit for a beginner/enthusiast-level photographer looking to get into film photography.

The images produced from its inbuilt 28mm f/5.6 lens are of decent quality.

Highlights of the Olympus Stylus Zoom 140 DLX 35mm Camera

• f/4 to f/11 38mm-140mm zoom lens
• Splash resistant
• Different flash modes
• Quick panorama mode
• Electronic shutter

Features

The Olympus Stylus Zoom 140 DLX 35mm Point-and-Shoot Film Camera is fully automatic with FOCUS, exposure, and film transportation.

It is well-built and splash resistant.

It boasts being the world’s most compact 140mm zoom camera.

Design

Overall, we like the design of the Olympus Stylus Zoom 140 and that it is splash resistant, durable (with the lens retracted), and comfortable to hold.

We’re not a big fan of the telescopic nature of the zoom lens and the way it extends externally instead of internally.

Although, that’s only a minor point and not something we wouldn’t get too upset about.

The camera is not as durable once the lens is fully extended.

Performance

The camera features an LCD that shows battery level remaining, flash mode, night mode, red-eye reduction, self-timer, exposure more, and the number of exposures.

Operating for the first time is as straightforward as loading a battery into the side compartment, opening the back cover, inserting the recommended ISO 400 film, closing the back cover, sliding the lens cover back, and then you are ready to shoot.

When the film reaches the end, the Olympus Stylus Zoom 140 DLX will automatically rewind it to a point ready for development.

That part is noisy but it’s not a deal-breaker.

The battery is long-lasting, you should get through approximately 15 rolls of 24-exposure film and that’s allowing for the flash to be used on half of the shots.

As with any camera of this nature, you’ll get more mileage from the batteries if you do fewer zoom operations.

According to the user manual, the Olympus Stylus Zoom 140 camera can be used in rain or snow.

Manufacturer Information

Olympus is a brand name that photographers have trusted for a number of generations. The company is known for pursuing the highest level of picture quality and performance.

They have recently exited the camera market but leave behind a massive legacy that any camera manufacturer would be proud of.

Verdict

The Olympus Stylus Zoom 140 DLX is a well-rounded point-and-shoot film camera.

We think it’s a great camera for the price. The pictures are very decent, once they are exposed to decent light conditions.

Be careful when shooting in night mode, you’ll either need a tripod or an incredibly still hand because the shutter speed needs to go down very low to capture as much light as possible.

We Like

• Splash-resistant, tough body
• Long battery life.
• Comfortable, accurate viewfinder.

Highlights of the Konica Z-UP 150 VP Date 35mm Camera

• f/5 to f/13.5 38mm – 150mm zoom lens
• Multi-shooting modes
• In-built flash.
• Color and Black White film compatible.

Features

The zoom lens that reaches 150mm is a noteworthy feature of this camera.

Autofocus mode kicks into FOCUS lock when you half-press the shutter. Includes a self-timer.

Shutter speed ranges from 1/320s to 1.5s.

Design

The Konica Z-UP 150 VP date kit camera sports a distinct champagne gold and black color scheme.

Built with metal at the front and plastic on the back and sides.

Performance

If shooting in conditions where you require the flash a lot, you’ll notice a lag of about 8 seconds as the underpowered flash needs to be recycled.

There’s a notable flare (or light leak) in the corners once you are zoomed out past 100 mm.

Other than that, the camera takes nice sharp pictures in good light and at shorter focal lengths (38mm to 90mm).

Manufacturer Information

Konica was a Japanese manufacturer of film cameras, film, camera accessories, and photographic processing equipment.

Their origin story dates back to 1873 which even predates Kodak in the photographic world.

They pioneered auto-exposure in SLR cameras in the 1960s.

Verdict

The zoom range of this camera is very good because for a camera body this size, you’d find it hard to get a zoom range as good.

While the long focal length is a nice feature to have, when fully extended, you couldn’t exactly call the camera “compact”.

That’s only a minor point though.

With the fastest shutter speed being 1/320s, this camera would not be the best choice if you are hoping to capture outdoor sports.

We Don’t Like

• Slow lens rating especially at the long end where it ramps down to f/13.5
• Notable lens flare when beyond 100 mm.
• The flash is underwhelming and takes about 8 seconds to recharge.

Highlights of the Rollei Prego 70mm Zoom 35mm Camera

• Fully automatic camera operation.
• f/4.5-f/8.5 35mm – 70mm optical zoom lens.
• Rugged and compact design.
• Built-in flash with different modes.

Features

The Rollei Prego Zoom point-and-shoot camera was launched in 1993 and features a Schneider zoom lens.

The LCD panel indicates the exposure number, focal length as well as what mode the camera is in.

The camera features a “snap” mode for quick action photography.

Design

The design of the Rollei Prego is fairly perfunctory. It looks good for a camera that is pretty much pushing 3 decades old.

The lens section remains exposed instead of being tucked away behind a sliding cover.

Performance

The lens in this camera is reasonably sharp and produces stunning photographs in good lighting conditions.

The shorter focal length range on the lens most likely contributes to this increased image quality when compared to other models that have a longer zoom range.

Manufacturer Information

Rollei, a German manufacturer of cameras and other optical instruments, was founded in 1920.

The brand has a long history of ownership and restructuring changes.

The Prego cameras were sold by Rollei but manufactured in Asia by other companies including Ricoh.

Verdict

We are not in love with the placement of the wide and tele zoom buttons because they can be easily pressed instead of the shutter button.

Speaking of which, the shutter button action feels very light and can be too easily pressed resulting in accidental exposures.

Overall, it’s not a bad camera when you consider the price. It takes decent photographs in nice light.

Highlights of the Nikon Lite Touch 35mm Camera

• 28 mm lens
• Panorama mode included
• Large viewfinder
• Compact design
• Fully automatic

Features

Small, compact, and light, this Nikon Lite Touch point-and-shoot film camera is worth considering (see best Nikon cameras) if you are a new photographer and interested in exploring film photography.

It has a nice wide 28 mm lens, a decently sized viewfinder, built-in flash, and fully automatic FOCUS and exposure.

Design

The Nikon Lite Touch 35mm Camera is black in color and has a smooth design overall.

I like the protective bevel that protrudes to protect the lens.

Overall, the Nikon Lite Touch camera is reasonably durable and has a tough build to protect it from normal wear and tear.

Performance

The lens is reasonably sharp and the photographs it produces have decent contrast and reasonable color.

The autofocus system works well.

Manufacturer Information

Nikon is a Japanese manufacturer of optical equipment founded over 100 years ago.

They have been a strong brand within the camera space for many decades.

In recent years, they have been struggling financially and have been facing many operational challenges because of this.

Their customer base has been loyal for many years and this is not surprising as they have an excellent range of cameras.

Verdict

The Nikon Lite Touch point-and-shoot film camera is a decent offering.

It’s a basic camera and well-suited for people who do not regard themselves as fully-fledged photographers.

We Like

• Nice compact size makes it easy to fit in a
• Easy to use controls.
• Good price.

Highlights of the Konica Minolta 110 Date Zoom 35mm Film Camera

• f/5.4 – f/10.5 38mm – 110mm lens
• Built-in flash that helps reduce red-eye
• 1,000 step autofocus system

Features

The Konica Minolta 110 Zoom camera has a focal length range from 38mm at the wide end and 110mm at the long end.

It has Date/Time imprinting and fully automatic FOCUS and exposure.

It has an ISO range of 25 to 3200 which covers a wide range of print films.

Design

The Konica Minolta 110 Date Zoom point-and-shoot film camera is designed with grip and comfort in mind.

It has a metallic finish and looks stylish for a camera of its time.

Performance

Looking through the viewfinder of the Konica Minolta 110 is a comfortable experience thanks to the extended viewfinder.

It automatically adjusts to the current zoom level of the lens.

Holding the camera feels natural and the buttons are placed more or less where you would expect them to be placed.

Manufacturer Information

Konica was a Japanese manufacturer of film cameras, film, camera accessories, and photographic processing equipment.

Their origin story dates back to 1873 which even predates Kodak in the photographic world.

They pioneered auto-exposure in SLR cameras in the 1960s.

Verdict

Overall, the Konica Minolta 110 Date Zoom camera is a decent competitor among its peers.

We like that the zoom motor is quiet and that the camera itself is both easy and comfortable to use.

Leica Minilux Zoom 35mm Camera

Highlights of the Leica Minilux Zoom 35mm Camera

• f/3.5 – f/6.5 35-70mm Leica Vario-Elmar zoom lens.
• Fully automatic or manual operation.
• Hot shoe for optional external flash.
• Built-in flash.

Features

The Leica Minilux Zoom has a UV filter built-in.

Flash modes are standard enough with automatic, red-eye reduction, and slow sync.

The zoom lens, while not terribly fast, is the fastest zoom lens in the compact Leica range.

Design

The Leica Minilux Zoom ps film camera has a nice retro design look.

The body is constructed from high-grade titanium.

The viewfinder is not ideal, it’s simply too small to be considered useful.

Performance

The lack of a sliding cover to protect the lens will mean you’ll end up resorting to using the lens cap.

Pentax To Release New Film Cameras!

Invariably, this could lead to taking exposures with the lens cap attached and you’ll be none the wiser until your photographs are developed.

The zoom speed feels slow.

The light metering mode is center-weighted average so you might have to end up using the exposure compensation mode depending on what lighting conditions you are faced with.

Once you have your shot lined up and press the shutter, there is a notable delay until the flash fires and the shutter opens to make the exposure.

Manufacturer Information

Leica is a well-known German manufacturer of optical equipment such as binoculars, microscopes, and of course, cameras and lenses.

The company was founded in 1914 and is a well-respected camera brand that has produced many commercially successful camera models.

Verdict

Leica’s Minilux Zoom is an average-performing camera.

It tends to underexpose by approximately 1 stop so one workaround for this is to program the camera to store 1 EV into the camera’s memory.

We Like

• Good quality optics.
• Choice of using manual exposure for more artistic control.
• Hotshoe to use an upgraded flash.

We Don’t Like

• Pricey.
• The viewfinder is too small.
• Feels heavy and the ergonomics are not great.
• Awkward placement of shutter button.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions |Point and Shoot Film Cameras

What’s a point-and-shoot film camera?

A point-and-shoot film camera (often shortened to PS), sometimes referred to as a compact camera, is a stills camera that has been designed with simplicity of use in mind.

Users don’t need to worry about FOCUS and exposure settings, they literally just point and shoot, hence the name.

These compact cameras were hugely popular for many decades.

However, they’ve largely been replaced by smartphone cameras since about 2009.

People who do not consider themselves technical, or photographers, often prefer to record snapshot memories of parties, vacations, and big events by using these simple one-click cameras.

Since the decline of the point-and-shoot camera market, some manufacturers decided to introduce more advanced features to their digital range of point-and-shoot cameras such as optical zoom, larger sensors, and program aperture modes.

The images produced by the digital sensors in these cameras are so pristine that some photographers like to add “film-like” filters to try and emulate that vintage film look.

Why? I guess there’s something organic about the way that an image is captured on film.

Some photographers simply don’t like how digital looks – they find it too clean. They prefer old-school film cameras and the images they produce.

However, film cameras are a little bit harder to come by these days.

They are actually still available but only if you know where and how to look.

There are good bargains out there and these cameras could be worth collecting as they might be worth a small fortune in the future.

Many of the vintage point-and-shoot film cameras available in the market are secondhand.

Some may have suffered from aging, damaged dials, buttons, and the dreaded light leak.

Can you use different lenses on a film point-and-shoot camera?

No. The lens on a point-and-shoot camera is usually fixed and non-interchangeable.

The typical focal length of a lens on a compact camera is 35mm.

There are a small number of exceptions though with the Canon EOS Rebel GII being one example.

However, the majority of lenses in film point-and-shoot cameras are built into the body of the camera and most typically have a mid-range quality lens.

Why is the 35mm lens so popular?

The 35mm lens gives a field of view that is very close to what the human eye sees.

It’s not an ultra-wide view and it’s not too zoomed in either.

The 35mm focal length is a very popular lens choice for movies when the director of photography wants to provide the viewer with a vantage point that is as realistic as possible.

This focal length is super versatile and is a popular choice for portraits, landscapes, macro, product photography, street photography, and even underwater photography.

35mm lenses are very popular among wedding photographers because of their high versatility and ability to document a wedding day from the morning preps up to and including the dancing in the evening time.

How does a point-and-shoot camera compare with a DSLR or an SLR?

An SLR stands for single-lens reflex camera.

It uses a mirror and prism so that the photographer can look directly through the lens to see the exact frame that will be captured.

A DSLR is a digital camera version of SLR.

A point-and-shoot camera has a viewfinder that is typically off to the side because the smaller design of the compact camera does not have enough room to contain a prism.

The image quality from a DSLR will almost always be better than a compact point-and-shoot camera.

A compact point-and-shoot film camera tend to have a built-in flash that is positioned very close to the lens.

This sometimes gives a red-eye effect in the subject’s eyes and can be a bit of a nuisance.

Many PS cameras have red-eye modes that send a pre-flash to try and prevent the red-eye effect from showing up in the developed photographs afterward.

There will typically be a more shallow depth of field in a DSLR or SLR camera than in a compact camera.

Point-and-shoot compact cameras tend to use a fixed lens with a deep depth of field so that much more of the image is sharp and in FOCUS.

A DSLR offers more control over exposure and FOCUS settings.

A point-and-shoot camera will be lighter, more portable, and easier to operate.

Finally, a DSLR will be more expensive than a point-and-shoot camera.

Does film look better than digital?

In the earlier years of digital photography, it was easier to tell the difference between a digital photo and a film photograph, and many photographers preferred film.

Now with the huge improvements in digital sensor technology, the image quality produced by DSLRs is incredibly impressive.

A digital image is sliced into millions of squares arranged via thousands of rows and columns.

For digital, light and color are arranged in a grid-like structure. With film, it’s different.

The light and color are naturally blended within the image in a more organic way.

The film format does have a maximum “resolution” but it’s not arranged in a grid-like (digital) layout.

These days, the differences are so subtle that only the trained eye can really tell the difference.

A film print that has been digitally scanned is going to look similar to a digital photo on screen because the organic structure of the film photograph has essentially become digitized.

With the huge improvements in image quality, ease of workflow, relatively cheap storage costs, the vast majority of photographers today prefer digital.

Many of these photographers actually have no knowledge or experience of working with film.

Are phone cameras better than point-and-shoot?

This depends on the particular model of phone and point-and-shoot camera being compared.

In most instances, modern phone cameras will provide a better overall experience because of their ease of use, convenience, low-light performance, and versatility.

However, a decent point-and-shoot will have a larger sensor than some smartphones.

If you like the look of vintage photography but don’t want to go all-out and purchase a retro point-and-shoot film camera, there’s always the option of using vintage filters with your smartphone’s camera.

Yes, I did almost cringe writing this, but it’s true!

There are apps like VSCO, Snapseed among others that let you use filters that try their best to emulate the vintage, retro film look.

Some filters are better than others and you can adjust the level of grain, lens flare (light leak), specs, particles, etc.

Note, I’m not necessarily recommending this route, it’s just an option for you to consider.

Some might say that adding filters to digital photos to create a retro film look is simply cheating.

I won’t judge but do think photographers (especially beginners) should grab the opportunity to play around with film cameras and gain an appreciation for film and all of its various nuances.

Hopefully, film will never die out completely.

There’s just something about it that has an appeal to so many people.

It’s particularly favored by people who prefer a time when life was simpler and there were fewer buttons to press.

Are film cameras making a comeback?

Yes, it seems as if film cameras are showing signs of making a comeback within certain s of the photography community.

There are a few reasons for this and the most notable is most likely to be nostalgia.

Film photographs have a certain look that some digital photographers have spent years trying to emulate.

There’s just something about film.

If a beginner is starting out, they can pick up a film camera for cheaper than a digital camera.

However, the processing cost of getting the film developed afterward will soon add up.

Film tends to have a higher dynamic range than digital, particularly with the older digital sensors.

So this means that film-based photographs will show more detail in the highlights (whites) and shadows (blacks) part of the image.

Film also has a tendency to be slightly more forgiving if the FOCUS is very slightly off or if the exposure hasn’t quite hit the spot.

With digital, if highlights are blown, that’s it, there is no recovery.

We believe film cameras are making a comeback because certain photographers love the organic nature of taking a photograph and waiting for it to be developed.

Many labs now provide digital scans of analog photographs so that the photo can still be stored and manipulated on a computer.

Is it worth getting a point-and-shoot camera?

In most casual situations, you’ll be better off using your smartphone’s camera if it takes decent stills.

However, there may be certain situations where a cheap point-and-shoot camera with 20 Megapixels and 10 times optical zoom might be a better option.

For example, if you were going on vacation and didn’t want to carry around a heavier mirrorless camera and wanted something a little better than your smartphone, then a point-and-shoot might be the answer.

Any camera, no matter how good it is, is dependent on decent light levels to take a well-exposed image.

A compact point-and-shoot camera that will take better images than most phones is likely to cost in the region beyond 400.

At that price point, you’re already reaching the price level of lower-end DSLR cameras.

However, if you are looking to get a point-and-shoot film camera, that’s a different question altogether.

Most likely, you’ll want one for nostalgic or collectability reasons. Go for it!

Final Thoughts

Researching for this list of the best point-and-shoot film cameras was great fun and an enjoyable bit of nostalgia.

Some notable brands gleaned the list, namely Canon, Pentax, Olympus, Minolta, Konica, Leica, and Nikon.

Unfortunately, not all of these camera brands are still around today but they all certainly made their mark when point-and-shoot film cameras were all the rage.

The important point to understand is that film cameras are older technology.

If you are going to make a purchase, we highly recommend that you do so from a reputable retailer because there is a chance that you might receive a second-hand edition that simply might not work as intended.

Our FAQs above hopefully covered the main questions that readers will have about older film cameras.

Meanwhile, best of luck with your vintage camera purchase and enjoy reliving the glory days of film!

Tony Kelly is a photographer, videographer, and art director based in LA. He loves collecting vintage lenses and camera bodies. Also, he’s a passionate coffee lover and enjoys spending time relaxing with his two chihuahua dogs.