The Best Cheap Film Cameras for Beginners in 2023
Film is not making a comeback, it has come back. Photography students I teach are always so excited to start their journey in shooting, developing, and enlarging film, until they start.
The problem that I see most often is that their equipment gets in the way of the joy of shooting. Seemingly functional cameras aren’t; light leaks, inaccurate meters, sticking shutters, the potential failure points are almost endless.
So, I thought I might share a few cameras that I typically recommend to students, cameras that aren’t as likely to get in the way of the joy of shooting. If you don’t see your favorite camera below, it’s not personal. I probably love your favorite camera and I love that you love your favorite camera. I have a bunch of cameras not on this list that I deeply love, but can be a little finicky.
It would also be really easy to list off a bunch of super high-end cameras and talk about how awesome they are. However, if you are just getting started, a solid-performing camera that doesn’t cost you a kidney is really important.
So, I would like to offer my humble perspective as a long-time film-camera hoarder and resident broken camera troubleshooter for our students. Here are a few cameras that I have found to be both reliable and easy(ish) on the bank account. Read More…