Film Musings: film cameras and where to easily buy them

Welcome to Module one of my film photography course, Film Musings, where we are covering all the fundamentals of shooting film. Today we will be talking about film cameras and where to purchase them.

If you are new here, I’m Sammi. I’ve been shooting film photography for over ten years, and now I am taking all the information, tips, and tricks that I’ve learned during my journey and sharing it with you. Let’s first talk about film cameras because to shoot film, you must first have an excellent camera to do it with!

Now, this is not an exhaustive list of all the film cameras in the world. There are so many different brands and cameras out there, so I decided to hone in on the few I love with my entire heart. These are the cameras that I reach for 99% of the time.

Also, I won’t be covering any instant cameras within this list as I am dedicating a separate video for those! Ok, now let’s jump into the film cameras!

quick navigation

35mm Cameras

medium format (120) Cameras

where to purchase

35mm Cameras

We will start with 35mm cameras first as I feel they are perfect for photographers new to film. In addition, 35mm cameras also tend to be more accessible regarding purchasing and how much they cost and are great because you get 36 images per film roll as opposed to the 16 you get with medium format. So, in my opinion, if you’re an absolute beginner, 35mm cameras are the way to dip your toes into the world of film photography.

Pentax A3000

This camera has been my baby for the past few years. It follows me everywhere, and about 98% of my personal images are shot with this little beauty!

I first stumbled on this camera at a yard sale. It was in a big bag with several other lenses, just sitting on a table patiently waiting for me to scoop it up and save it from a lifetime of collecting dust. Instead, I bought the camera and three other lenses to go with it all for a whopping $30!

The Pentax A3000 was released in 1984 and featured a K mount for its lenses. It weighs 18.7 ounces and takes two AA batteries (a massive bonus since AA batteries are so easy to come by). When I purchased this camera, it came with the Pentax-A lens and has stayed on the camera 100% of the time. In my opinion, the Pentax-A is so universal it’s the only lens you need with this camera. Right now, you can typically find this camera used on eBay for around $100 after shipping. 

Loading 35mm film into this camera is very easy. Once you put the film roll into the camera’s film chamber, you line the film into the sprockets, close the back, press the shutter button, and let the camera do the rest!

With this camera, you need to manually rewind the film back into its canister when you’ve finished shooting it. It can be confusing since it automatically winds the film at the beginning of the roll. 

So many times, I thought I was shooting a fully automatic film camera and got confused when it wouldn’t roll the film up at the end of the roll. Oops. However, one of the bonus aspects of manually rewinding the film is that you get an opportunity to create some fun light leaks on your film!

The Pentax A3000’s primary shooting mode is Aperture Priority AE Mode. This is fancy talk, for once you set the film’s ISO and the aperture on the lens, your camera will automatically find the correct shutter speed for proper exposure. I love this camera mode because it makes shooting fast-paced images effortless. In my case, it also makes shooting a group of rowdy children super easy.

This is a fantastic film camera for beginner and seasoned film photographers. It’s light, easy to hold, inexpensive, and creates fantastic images. 10/10 recommend!

Canon AE-1

The Canon AE-1 is my OG film camera! It’s a lot like the Pentax A3000 but completely manual. It’s a classic camera, and I feel like many film lovers either own this camera or have used it at one point.

The Canon AE-1 camera is a 35mm SLR film camera with a Canon FD lens mount. The camera only has manual focusing, and a manual lever for winding film uses 4SR44 6 volt batteries and has a shutter speed of up to 1,000.  

The Canon AE-1 feels sturdier than other film cameras I own, coming in around 1.3 pounds. The actual body of the camera is easy to hold and light enough to wear around your neck, making it a great beginner camera to have while you travel. While I own a few lenses for this camera, I prefer the 50mm 1.8 FD lens. It’s the one that I use the most and love!

The Canon AE-1 was popular when it first came out, selling over 5.7 million units. Because of its popularity, it’s a relatively inexpensive camera that is easy to find nowadays. I’ve seen listings on eBay for around $200.

This is an excellent camera for film beginners as it is inexpensive, easy to find, and easy to take with you on your travels!

Canon 1V

If you are already a photographer and shoot with a Canon DSLR, the Canon 1V might be the perfect camera to help you get started with film because you can use all Canon family EF lenses on this camera! Moreover, you don’t have to pay extra for special lenses, which is a huge pro in my book. My favorite way to use this camera was at weddings when I needed to take a lot of images quickly, such as family portraits or ceremonies. 

The Canon 1V is a 35mm SLR film camera. The Canon 1V has a 45-point AF area and three focusing modes (one-shot AF, AI servo AF, and manual). The 1V is a full-frame camera with a picture size of 24mm x 36mm and has an ISO film speed range of up to 6400. The Canon 1V takes one 2VR5 lithium battery and can be paired with a BP-E1 battery grip (that takes 4 AA batteries) for vertical shooting. Currently, you can find this camera for around $600 on eBay.

The camera is a bit on the heavier side, weighing in around 2lbs for just the body only. That doesn’t seem like a lot of weight, but holding a camera for an extended time takes a toll on your arm and wrist. 

This camera takes images fast, and the loading and unloading are quick, making the camera perfect for weddings, especially during crucial times like the ceremony. All you must do is pop in the roll of film, shut the back, and let the camera do its own thing! And the autofocusing is quick for an SLR camera too. 

My only real complaint about this camera is that you should use an external light meter while shooting. I’ve found that the internal light meter within this camera isn’t always reliable, and I have been burned with underexposed images a few times. 

Overall, this camera is an excellent addition to anyone’s camera family! If you’re in the market for a sturdy and relatively fast 35mm SLR, definitely give this camera a go!

Medium Format Cameras

Pentax 645N

Now let’s talk about my one true love, the Pentax 645N. Most avid film photographers have probably used or at least heard of the Pentax 645N camera because it is a much better financial option than the Contax 645.

The Pentax 645N is a medium format SLR camera with autofocus, creating 6×4.5 format images. The camera most commonly uses a 75mm F2.8 lens and is compatible with other Pentax 645 lenses and backs. In addition, this camera uses a shutter-speed knob ranging from 4 seconds to 1/1000th of a second and has an LCD viewfinder that showcases the shutter speed, aperture, and focus indicator.

It also has a self-timer function, as well as a multiple shot or multiple exposure switch. The Pentax 645N uses 120 roll film (16 exposures) or 220 roll film (32 exposures), and the film is loaded onto an interchangeable film holder. It requires 6 AA batteries that will allow you to shoot around 130 rolls of 120 film or 100 of 220 film.

Currently, you can find the camera body with the 75mm lens for around $600-700 used. It also has a tremendous internal light meter. I rarely use an external light meter when using this camera as the internal meter does fantastic. 

Having an excellent internal light meter is a time-saver, especially if you are shooting a wedding where you need to move and shoot constantly! And lastly, it utilizes battery life wisely. I’ve gone through a whole wedding and still had plenty of battery life left afterward!

The only downside to this camera is the loading and unloading of film. It’s a bit of a learning curve and can get tricky the first couple of times you try to load and unload film. The film holder will always have an empty film spool into which you’ll weave your film so the camera can unload it from its current spool onto the new one. 

If you’re using this camera during important events like a wedding, I highly recommend having a different back that is always loaded with film for moments when you can’t take the time to unload and reload your film.

Also, this camera is weirdly shaped and heavy, which makes it weird to hold or have around your neck. But, personally, the odd shape and heaviness is a small price to pay for the gorgeous images this camera produces.

Overall, if you are ready to jump into medium format film, this camera is an excellent addition to any photographer’s bag!

Yashica Mat 124G

I got this little beauty a few years ago as a Valentine’s Day gift from my husband, and it’s one of my favorites!

The Yashica Mat-124G captures square images that are around 6cm (2.36 inches), and a typical role of 120 film will give you 12 square images.

The lens on the front of the camera is 80mm f/3.5 and gives beautiful and crisp images. When I put pictures from the Yashica Mat-124G side-by-side with photos from my Pentax 645n, I can’t tell them apart regarding image quality. Currently, you can find this camera pre-owned for around $300 on shops like eBay and Etsy.

The Mat-124G does have a light meter. A little yellow arrow moves from left to right at the camera’s top. It does a decent job, but I always suggest using an external light meter when in doubt.

There is a small metal hook on either side of the camera, so using a neck strap is easy and something I recommend, especially if you plan on using the flip-top viewfinder! When holding the camera, on the left side, you have a dial for focusing your image; on the right side, you have a lever for advancing your film and the image counter and ISO dial.

For loading film into the Yashica Mat-124G, this camera works very similarly to most medium format cameras. You can use both 120 or 220 film with this camera, and loading it into the camera is quite simple. First, twist the dial on the bottom of the camera to pop open the back. Next, load the film at the bottom of the camera by pulling the knob to the left, inserting your film, then let go of the knob.

Then, thread your film into the empty spool at the top of the open back. Crank the film winder until the arrow on your roll of film lines up with the green arrow near the bottom of the camera (if you’re shooting 220 film, you’ll match the arrow on your roll of film to the red arrow on the camera).

One of the most excellent parts of the Yashica Mat-124G is that you can see the image you are about to take from the top. Instead of a typical viewfinder, you can use the flip-top, waist-level viewfinder to see your picture.

As cool as this is, one of the learning curves of using a waist-level viewfinder is how you are positioning your photos. Every movement you make and what you see in front of you will be reversed in the viewfinder, making it a tad bit challenging when taking and framing pictures.

Overall, this is such a terrific camera to add to your collection. It gives such a unique shooting experience at a reasonable price point. Plus, it doesn’t look too shabby when sitting on a shelf in-between shoots.

Where to Purchase

Now, let’s jump into a few of the best places to buy a film camera. Because most analog cameras are discontinued, you have to purchase them secondhand. Because you need to buy these cameras secondhand, it’s essential to make sure you purchase them from a trusted source, so you don’t risk purchasing a broken camera and wasting your money.

KEH:

KEH is a professional camera gear reseller. They purchase cameras, refurbish them, and sell them for around 40% less than their retail price. So if you want to be 100% sure it will work, it’s a great way to buy a film camera. Often they sell the camera body and lens separately from each other, so be aware that you’ll need to buy both!

There are a few downsides that I’ve found; they don’t always have a good inventory of film cameras in their shop, and I wouldn’t recommend selling to this company when it comes to using used cameras. You won’t get a good deal financially and would be better off selling secondhand on eBay or Etsy.

eBay & Etsy:

eBay and Etsy are great places to purchase and buy secondhand cameras. All you have to do is head to their website and search for whatever camera you are considering. When browsing, pay attention to the seller’s reviews and the details of the camera listing. I have purchased many film cameras from both websites and haven’t ever run into an issue before; it’s one of my preferred way of buying!

Also, selling is an excellent option on both eBay and Etsy because you get to decide the buying price and can directly communicate with potential purchasers. 

Yard/Garage/Estate Sales: 

And last but not least is your local garage sale. I’ve found that this route of purchasing is cheaper but riskier. You get the bonus of physically looking at a camera in person and checking it out, but you also have to take the owner’s word on whether it works. Unfortunately, there have been a few cameras that I’ve bought from a yard sale that ended up not working when I brought them back home.

But buying a camera from a yard sale is fantastic because it’s always a good bang for your buck. For example, my Pentax A3000, one of my favorite cameras, was found at a local yard sale. 

And there you have it, my friends, now you have the rundown on all my best film cameras. Once again, I am so happy that you are interested in film, and I hope you are excited to continue learning with me. Thank you for sticking with me, and I’ll see you in the next lesson! 

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