Interested in street photography with the best film camera? You’ve landed at the right spot.

Film cameras, which have been the main photographic medium for decades, are great for beginner photographers looking for an easy-to-use and intuitive camera.

These cameras capture great stills without the need to edit them using different apps or a computer.

And, when it comes to street photography, that is, recording day-to-day scenes of life in public places, the film cameras do a great job as they bring a special atmosphere to your stills.

In this post, you’ll discover the five best film cameras that are great for street photography.

 

5 Best Film Cameras for Street Photography


Here are the five best film cameras for street cameras available in the market today:

Fujifilm Instax Mini 90

Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Instant Film Camera (Brown)
  • Automatically detects the brightness of the surrounding and adjusts the amount of...
  • Double exposure mode 2 images are produced on 1 film sheet by pressing the shutter...
  • Bulb mode the shutter remains open while the shutter button is depressed (10 seconds...

With the ability to automatically detect the brightness of the surroundings and adjust the amount of flash and shutter speed accordingly to optimize photo quality, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 is a superb choice. The camera has multiple modes – a Double exposure mode that produces two images on 1 film sheet by pressing the shutter twice, a Bulb mode to make the shutter remain open while the shutter button is depressed so that a light trail can be photographed, a Macro mode for short distance photography (as close as 30 – 60 centimeter), and a Kids mode with a fast shutter speed useful for photographing kids, pets and other fast moving subjects.

Canon AE-1

Vintage Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera with 50mm 1:1.8 Lens (Renewed)
  • 35mm SLR (Single-Lens-Reflex) camera with electronically controlled AE (Automatic...
  • Canon FD series interchangeable lenses with full aperture metering and AE coupling....
  • Standard lenses for the Canon AE are Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4...

The Canon AE-1 35mm SLR film camera comes with electronically controlled AE (Automatic Exposure) and focal plane shutter. It features interchangeable lenses with full aperture metering and AE coupling. The standard lenses compatible with the Canon AE-1 include Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C, and Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C. In addition, Canon Breech-Lock mount, Canon FD, FL, and R lenses can also be used.

With the viewfinder, you get fixed eye-level pentaprism and a field of view that offers 93.5% vertical and 96% horizontal coverage of the actual scene. It also includes information such as the aperture scale and a battery charge level check mark.

film camera

Contax G2

G2 Camera Body
  • Electronic 35mm film (24x36mm) rangefinder camera.
  • Electronic autofocus.
  • Motorized advance and rewind.

With Carl Zeiss 28mm & 45mm lenses, the Contax G2 camera is a beautiful, well-designed, and convenient camera featuring range-finder type autofocus, auto film advance, and rewind. It also has a continuous shooting mode that lets you take multiple photos at low or high speed. The two lenses – 28mm or 45mm Carl Zeiss G lenses – offer sharp, pictures with wonderful color and exposure.

What I really like about the Contax G2 is its light meter that offers just the right exposure right. Overall, a great option for anyone looking for an awesome film camera for street photography.

KODAK EKTAR H35

KODAK EKTAR H35 Half Frame Film Camera, 35mm, Reusable, Focus-Free, Lightweight, Easy-to-Use (Black) (Film & AAA Battery are not Included)
  • 📷​ Film-saving: You can have twice as many images per roll. For example, a film...
  • 📷​ Lightweight and Easy-to-use: The pocket-size camera is light and tiny, and...
  • 📷​ Built-in Flash: Turning on the flash by adjusting the silver ring around the...

The KODAK EKTAR H35 is very easy camera, you’ll see that it is capable of producing some fantastic results! However, since it has been a fan favorite for quite some time now (when it comes to film cameras), it comes at a premium price point.

All in all, KODAK EKTAR H35 is a complete package for film photography, if you want to do just the basic stuff. You don’t need to worry about focus, its automatic and overall this camera is suitable for all analog hobbyists.

Yashica MF-2

YASHICA MF-2 Super 35mm Film Camera with 38mm f/3.8 Lens by Kokoti (Black)
  • CAMERA TYPE: YASHICA MF-1 Snapshot Art is a simple 35mm film camera with a shutter...
  • FOCUSING RANGE: It offers a focusing range from 1m to infinity
  • LENS: YASHICA MF-1s lens offers a focal length of 31mm with f/11 aperture

If you want a point-and-shoot 35mm film camera with a 38mm f/3.8 lens, then the Yashica MF-2 is the right choice for you. This camera has a metering cell that warns you if your shot is underexposed, which is pretty great. Also, there’s an incidental low light warning through LED in the viewfinder. What’s more, the DX-coding system in the camera recognizes the ISO of the loaded film.

The Yashica MF-2 features a sliding-type flash unit with flash ready lamp. You need to have 2-4 meters effective flash distance for a great shot. In addition, there’s also a mechanical 10-second timer. Overall, a good choice when it comes to film cameras for street photography.

If you want to check out digital street cameras read: 12 Best Cameras for Street Photography

 

Which Film Camera Do You Plan to Buy?


In this era of digital cameras, if you’re looking for a good film camera to relive your memories, then the above-mentioned options are the best you’ll get today. The best option, according to me, is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 90. The fact that it delivers images instantly makes it highly desirable.

Other than that, the Canon AE-1 is a great option too. So, choose the model that best suits your preferences and budget.

Find more vintage cameras in the following article: 12 Best Vintage Cameras for Beginners

 

 

Thanks for reading!

I hope this guide helped you learn about some of the best film cameras available today that are great for street photography 🙂 

 

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