A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Your First Film Camera

When choosing your first film camera, it’s important to understand what kind of shooting experience you’re looking for. Beginners often gravitate towards 35mm cameras because of their accessibility and the wide range of affordable film available. Popular models like the Canon AE-1 or Nikon FM2 offer a good balance between manual controls and automatic features, giving you room to grow your skills.

If you’re interested in exploring deeper into film photography, medium format cameras like the Mamiya 645 or Pentax 67 offer larger negatives that produce higher quality images with greater detail and dynamic range. However, these cameras are bulkier and often more expensive.

Lastly, don’t overlook instant film cameras. They’re a fun and easy way to get started in film, with models like the Polaroid Originals OneStep or Fujifilm Instax Mini being both affordable and easy to use.

Key takeaway: Start with a 35mm film camera if you're new to film photography. As you grow more confident, you can explore medium format or even large format cameras for higher-quality results.