A Guide: Purchasing a Film Camera
Styles of cameras, where to buy, things to look for & extra tips
Introduction
A starters guide for anyone wanting to buy a film camera with confidence. I started my own film journey many years ago by trial and error, and hope to share what I’ve learnt along the way with you. (My camera strap self-portraits still need some finessing.. eep!)
Use #pihanfilm on instagram to share your film journey
Types of film cameras
There are many different cameras you can create with:
DISPOSABLE
A little more grainy, blurry, higher contrast giving an extra nostalgic look. One time use with 27-36 frames per camera.
POINT & SHOOT
Some of my favourite photos have been taken with an inexpensive point and shoot found on eBay. It has a zoom function and a few different shooting options including a self-timer and flash. It’s light, compact and easy to travel with. It’s perfect for the times you want to focus on what’s in front of you without the distraction of too many settings. This generally has one lens fixed to the body of the camera and uses 35mm film. Canon, Pentax, Olympus & Contax are good ones to start with.
SLR
On this camera you’ll find more settings to choose from - iso, aperture, shutter speed, exposure. You are able to use different lenses — a 50mm and zoom lens like 70-200 are the ones I use most. The film used for this is 35mm and depending on the roll you purchase you get 27 or 36 frames per roll. Start with Canon (A1 & AE1), Pentax, Nikon (F3 & F4) or Contax G1/G2.
MEDIUM FORMAT
These cameras produce images with a lot more depth and could be mistaken for a digital image. Cameras are bigger in size and a lot heavier unless you invest in a more compact version like Mamiya 7. This uses 120mm film, depending on the camera it will produce 10-16 images per roll.
Disposable
Medium Format
Point & Shoot
Point & Shoot
Point & Shoot
SLR
Point & Shoot
Medium Format
Medium Format
Disposable
Disposable
Where to buy
EBAY
I look for sellers from Japan — everything I’ve bought from highly rated Japanese sellers on eBay has come in the most pristine condition, even if it says nearly mint or very good. Things to look for:
Mint/Nearly Mint - meaning they are in very good condition, maybe a small superficial scratch
Check their reviews, look for 4.5-5 stars
Return policy of at least a month, so in case anything is wrong, you can return it
Read their descriptions carefully
OTHER PLACES TO LOOK:
Ask your grandparents or parents — they may have a film camera
Check vintage stores or flea markets, LA and London are some of the places I have bought from. You will need to test it when you get home. There is more risk involved with this unless they have a return policy.
What to look for before purchasing your camera
No fungus, mould or dust in the lens - it will look like a spider web in your lens
No scratches on lens/s
Clean, dust-free camera, kept in a cool dry location
Check battery cavities are empty and clean
Bonus if it has been tried and tested
Test your camera
The best way to find out if your camera is working is to test it by shooting a roll of film. Purchase batteries, put in a roll of film, set the ISO of your film on the camera (200 for Kodak Gold 200 etc). Get your film developed and scanned at your lab. It costs about $50 in total for the batteries, film & development — a small price to pay to get peace of mind. I do this with every camera I purchase as soon as it arrives — this way you can notify your eBay seller within the return period if there are any issues.
EXTRA TIP:
If you’ve never used film before, take notes of the settings you use for each photo and compare them to the results after development/scanning.
Keep in mind
These cameras are usually from the 1970s and 80s and can break at any time, sometimes without reason. Check if it needs new batteries before getting serviced.
And remember…
You don’t need the latest equipment to create beautiful photographs.
Experiment and have fun!
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PHOTOGRAPHY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
We go more in depth on how to use film cameras, what to ask at the film lab and more in the Mentorship Program. Join the waitlist. Limited spaces.