Diving into the world of analog photography can be an intimidating jump to make. In my last post, I wrote about my recommendation for any beginners looking to buy their first film camera. I gave my loving suggestion to pick up a Canon AE-1 Program, an amazing vintage camera from the 80’s that is still one of the most used film cameras today. While doing some research out of curiosity, I found a plethora of great articles with advice on some other fantastic cameras for beginners too. I decided to take some other opinions and share some more optionsother great 35mm cameras like the AE-1 to pick up if you’re just starting out.
1) Nikon FM Series
One of the most notable suggestions out there is to get one of the Nikon FM Series cameras – including the Nikon FM, FM2, FM2n and a few more. These Nikon cameras are pretty similar to the Canon AE-1 and from around the same time. These cameras are still in production – which make them very easy to find and won’t break the bank. They, like the Canons, also have a wide variety of lenses, which is always a big perk.
2) Olympus OM Series
The Olympus OM series, including the OM-1, OM-2, etc, are another great option comparable to the AE-1 and the Nikon FM series. They also began being produced around the same time and have some similar features, but are more lightweight and easy to carry, while still being just as durable. Like the previous two, they also have a great selection of lenses to choose from, and are not too hard to find or expensive.
3) Pentax K1000 or LX
Another good option from cameras that began production in the late 70’s is the Pentax K1000 or LX. These are also comparable to the Canon and Nikon cameras from this time, but like the Olympus, are smaller and lighter, giving them some extra convenience. This camera has a lot of great basic features similar to the others, like a self-timer and long exposure mode.
Whether or not you decide to choose an AE-1 like I did, there’s endless options for excellent cameras to choose to get you started falling in love with 35mm. All of these vintage cameras are pretty similar, with some slight variances – but every single one of them would be a great option to try and a blast to experiment with!
Links below to some more articles to continue your search.
http://istillshootfilm.org/post/122435027620/6-best-35mm-film-cameras-for-beginners
https://james-grundy.com/best-film-cameras-for-beginners/
http://blog.keh.com/best-film-cameras-for-beginners/
https://photography.media/10-best-35mm-film-cameras-for-beginners
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