This is a guide covering the best point and shoot film cameras.
Let’s face it, point and shoot film cameras are able to capture a sense of mood and personality that’s hard to replicate with a standard DSLR camera.
With that being said, here’s some of the best point and shoot film cameras that we believe in. Even though we are now living in a digital world, point and shoot film cameras are still popular.
Film cameras are still popular since film is something that makes photography an art form.
It also allows users to become better photographers by learning composition since they only have limited shots per roll.
Unlike film SLRs and rangefinders, plastic cameras are simple to use. We’ll cover some of the more popular to the underrated point and shoot film camera options in the market today.
Note that some of these aren’t the best in the sense of “quality” like today’s DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras and some are made of plastic, but they get the job done.
In a hurry? Here’s the quick rundown:
- ⭐ Best Overall Point and Shoot Film Camera
- 🧍 Best Point and Shoot Film Camera for New Film Photographers
- 🦄 Best Point and Shoot Film Camera for Those with a Unique Aesthetic
- 🎨 Best Point and Shoot Film Cameras With Creative Options
- 💡 Best Point and Shoot Film Cameras for Challenging Lighting Situations
- 💸 Best Budget Point and Shoot Film Camera
How to Choose the Best Point and Shoot Film Camera?
Price: Determine how much you are willing to spend on a camera.
Film format: Decide whether you want to shoot with 35mm film or another film format, such as medium format or instant film.
Aesthetic: Think about the type of aesthetic you want your photos to have. Some film cameras have a specific look, such as the dreamy, soft look of a Holga camera.
Functionality: Consider what features you want in a camera. Do you want a camera with a flash, multiple exposures, or other creative options?
Brand: Research different camera brands and their reputations to help narrow down your options.
Reviews: Read reviews from other photographers who have used the camera you are considering. This can give you a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the camera.
Handling: If possible, try out the camera in person to get a feel for its handling and controls. This can help you determine if the camera is a good fit for you.
Check out the full list of cameras below along with some further details on pros, cons, and technical details.
Table of Contents
10 Best Point and Shoot Film Cameras
1. Holga 120N
Specifications:
- Camera Type: Medium format film camera
- Film Format: Accepts 120 roll film; either 6 x 4.5 cm or 6 x 6 cm format
- Lens: 60mm f/8 plastic lens
- Aperture: f/8 – f/11
- Focusing Manual: zone focusing system with four marked distances:
- Shutter Speed: Normal: 1/100 sec.
- Optical viewfinder
- Tripod Mount: 1/4″-20
My Pros With This Camera:
- It has a sharp lens when focused
- Gets unique looking photos
- Lots of accessories to use with it
My Cons With This Camera:
- Could accidently get a double exposure
It is a camera known for vignetting and producing artsy results on your shots. It is also a great portrait camera considering that it uses a medium format lens instead of the smaller 35mm film.
This is considered a toy camera, which means that you don’t get to think a lot when using the Holga 120N.
This comes in with an aperture of f/8 or f/11 and I’ve found it’s a bit better for shooting outdoors than indoors.
2. Yashica MF-1 Snapshot 35mm
Specifications:
- Exposure type: Manual
- Film format type: 35mm
My Pros With This Camera:
- Great bang for your buck
- I feel it offers everything you need in a 35mm film camera
- Built-in flash
My Cons With This Camera:
- Image quality could be a bit better (if really picky about it)
If you want a budget-friendly option when shooting film, you might like to consider the Yashica MF-1.
Predominantly made of plastic and considered by many as a disposable camera, it comes with 31mm lens with a fixed f/11 aperture and a shutter of roughly 1/120.
It also comes in with a flash that is powered by two AA batteries.
The MF-1 gives you the Lomography vibe where you don’t need to think a lot when using the camera.
Its optics are relatively better than most of the film cameras that we will feature. However, we’d say that Lomo cameras perform better in terms of sharpness.
As for its loading mechanism, the Yashica MF-1 allows an easy film shooting experience.
It gives you that simple and straightforward approach though the crank feels a bit off.
3. Lomography LC-A
Specifications:
- Film Format Type: 35mm
- Film Color: Colored
- Exposure Control Type: Manual and automatic
- Item Dimensions: 2.75 x 1.5 x 4.25 inches
- Min Shutter Speed: 1/500 seconds
- Item Weight: 1.5lbs
My Pros With This Camera:
- It is compact and has a good build quality
- Crisp lens
- Has multi-exposure capability
My Cons With This Camera:
- I feel it can be a bit difficult to load
- Plastic
The LC-A is one of the best picks if you are looking to start shooting film cameras. It is a Russian-made camera that can introduce you to the world of film photography.
It provides users with a unique blend of artsy images thanks to its legendary Minitar 1 32mm f/2.8 lens and an easy-to-use mechanics.
It is known for images saturated in color and sharp results that make this Lomo camera stand out from all the other film cameras out there.
Many professional photographers also love the Lomo LC-A. You can play around with its automatic exposure or its long exposures giving you the results that you need whether in daylight or at night.
It also has a multi-exposure switch that allows you to take one photo over the other on the same frame allowing magnificent results.
4. Argus FF250
Specifications:
- Film Format Type: 35mm
- Exposure Control Type: Automatic
My Pros With This Camera:
- Simple to use
- Auto red eye reduction
My Cons With This Camera:
- Not the best
The Argus FF250 is a simple-to-use camera that fits the needs of most beginners who are simply looking to explore film photography.
The Argus FF250 offers optics that produce sharp images. On top of that, it makes it easy to load and unload the film. It also comes in with a large viewfinder that makes it easy to compose your photos.
You can also choose the film speed setting to minimize wasted shots when you use the Argus FF250 either indoors or outdoors.
Though it gives you a no-nonsense approach in shooting film photography, it is the type of point and shoot film camera that will be ignored by pros.
5. Halina Ansco Pix Flash 35mm
Specifications:
- Film Format Type: 35mm
- Exposure Control Type: Manual
- Flash: On and off switch
My Pros With This Camera:
- Great bang for buck
- Compact
- Simple and easy to use
My Cons With This Camera:
- The film roll reset to 1 sometimes
If you are looking for a good point and shoot film camera that you can play around with, then you should pick the Halina Ansco Pix Flash 35mm Film Camera.
It is also a perfect introductory camera for kids. As a film camera, it is something that can be used as a tool to teach kids film photography.
This lightweight camera allows users to shoot and not worry about the results of their photos. It even has a flash that can provide you with better exposure in case you are looking to shoot indoors.
You can also turn the flash off if you are already outdoors.
This lightweight camera makes it easy to carry around. However, you will have to manually wind the film once you are done shooting.
This makes it a good choice for beginners since you get to have that manual feel of getting the film back into its canister once you are done.
6. Pentax IQ Zoom EZY-R 35mm
Specifications:
- Film Format Type: 35mm
- Exposure Control Type: Automatic
- Item Weight: 0.05lbs
- Flash: Built-in
My Pros With This Camera:
- Great bang for buck
- Takes good images
My Cons With This Camera:
- “You get what you pay for”
Most point and shoot cameras in the market today only have lenses that have fixed focal lengths. It means that you will be the one who will have to go near or farther the subject to be able to get the best composition on your shot.
The Pentax IQ Zoom EZY-R camera is a different beast because of its 38-70mm zoom lens. It fits naturally on your hands making it easy to use.
Plus, it’s a fully automatic camera that can allow you to shoot portraits to landscapes without any issues.
Many consider the Pentax IQ Zoom EZY-R camera as an underrated point and shoot film camera considering the versatility that it offers.
But just like any other disposable film camera, it has some faults such as lacking the ability to focus not to mention the film advance is a bit hard to use.
7. Canon Sure Shot 35mm
Specifications:
- Film Format Type: 35mm
- Film Color: Colored
- Item Weight: 1lb
My Pros With This Camera:
- Viewfinder is nice and clear
- Grip feels great
My Cons With This Camera:
- Size feels a bit awkward
The Canon Sure Shot 35mm film camera is another great pick if you want to get the best results on your plastic film camera.
It has a 38mm F/2.8 lens perfect for indoors and outdoors. It is a great option for those who love vintage shots especially for people who tend to shoot a lot of cityscapes.
The optics can also provide you with sharp results. To operate, this camera needs AA batteries.
Though it isn’t going to win any award for best film camera since it only produces mediocre results, you have to give it to Canon for producing a beginner-friendly camera.
8. Olympus Stylus 120 35mm
Specifications:
- Film Format Type: 35mm
- Film Color: Colored
- Exposure Control Type: Automatic
- Item Dimensions: 1.6 x 4.6 x 2.4 inches
- Item Weight: 0.5lbs
- Pop up flash
My Pros With This Camera:
- Splash proof design
- Automatic features
- Red eye reduction
My Cons With This Camera:
- Focus can be a bit difficult
Olympus Stylus 120 35mm camera is a good choice for those who are looking to have a rugged and splash-proof film camera on their hands.
You can also say that it is probably the best point and shoot camera out there given the fact that it has a zoom lens plus it can produce good results in different situations.
It comes in with an 11-point multi-wide autofocus system that works well in locating subjects. Plus, it tends to recognize if the subject is not centered.
However, the focus is still a bit difficult to use even with all its AF features. When shooting indoors, you can pop its flash to get additional exposure.
Also, it comes with color balancing and red-eye reduction making sure that you get good results.
9. Canon Sure Shot Tele 80
Specifications:
- Film Format Type: 35mm
- Film Color: Black-and-white
- Exposure Control Type: Automatic
- Item Dimensions: 2.2 x 5 x 2.7 inches
- Item Weight: 0.53lbs
My Pros With This Camera:
- Great image quality
- Easy to operate
- Easy to use viewfinder
My Cons With This Camera:
- There are only two options with the zoom
Canon Sure Shot Tele 80 35mm point and shoot camera is a good choice for a lot of users thanks to its dual focal length lens.
You get to enjoy either a 38mm or an 80mm focal length allowing you to shoot both close-up portraits and landscapes. This comes with a large viewfinder allowing users to compose the images easily.
The flash also comes in handy whenever you are shooting photos indoors.
It is also equipped with a red-eye reduction feature plus a dial that allows you to choose from different automatic selection modes.
You can even enjoy its 10-second timer in case you want to include yourself in the picture.
Beginners are usually the ones to buy this point and shoot film camera.
However, you might want to utilize the camera’s flash as often as you can since you might find images underexposed if you opt to not use the flash indoors or even in cloudy scenarios.
10. Olympus 35mm Trip
Specifications:
- Film Format Type: 35mm
- Film Color: Colored
- Exposure Control Type: Automatic
- Item Dimensions: 1.7 x 4.4 x 2.5 inches
- Item Weight: 0.9lbs
- Red eye reduction
My Pros With This Camera:
- Get a nice wide perspective
- Durable
- All-glass optics
My Cons With This Camera:
- Two shutter speeds
The Olympus 35mm Trip Autofocus 50 D Camera is a great choice for people who love to shoot landscapes and cityscapes.
It comes with a 28mm lens that gives you a wider perspective than what you usually get from other plastic film cameras.
Looking at its construction, the Olympus 35mm Trip Autofocus 50 QD Camera is a stand-out and looks decently durable for a point and shoot film camera.
It also comes in as a compact camera that fits in your hands perfectly. It could even be a great tool for children to learn film photography.
Its all-glass optics produces some of the best results for its users. It is a favorite choice for those who love to take artsy shots but don’t have the money to buy Russian Lomo cameras.
It is also one of those point and shoot cameras that can give you minimal wasted shots.
However, if you are planning to get the best results, be sure to go for an ISO 400 film. Anything less might not give you the best results.
FAQ
Are Film Cameras Making a Comeback?
Why use a point and shoot film camera? And is it making a comeback? Lots of people are tired of heavily edited digital photos. Many are looking to find the best point and shoot film camera that can bring back the old days where you can’t afford to make a mistake. On top of that, film’s grain is also something that digital format never replicated.
What is the Best Film Camera for Beginners?
If you are looking for the best point and shoot film camera for beginners, might as well go for the Lomo LC-A. It is robust, easy to use, plus you get the artsy result that stays true to the “just shoot, don’t think” mantra of Lomography. The real Lomo LC-A comes from Russia though most of the products that you see today are made in China. Its strong points include shutter times. It has a fast lens with an F2.8 aperture, comes in as a great option for those who love to shoot both outdoor and indoors. Why should beginners have it? You get to shoot more on this camera and not worry about having a bad result.
Final Remarks
Hope you enjoyed this guide on the best point and shoot film cameras!
Taking photos may seem a bit complicated when you use a film camera.
Digital cameras may have all the pixels that they can pack, but film will give you a different aesthetic. Nowadays, even filters are trying to replicate film.
A good way to reintroduce film photography in your system is to buy any of these film cameras that we’ve mentioned.
Though it takes more time and even costs more to develop, print, and scan your work, it is something worth it in the end.
Just be sure to compare these cameras we’ve mentioned to see which one works best for you.
Also, check out a full list of the best point and shoot cameras.
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Nate Torres is a portrait photographer based in Southern California. Outside of photography, Nate specializes in SEO, content marketing, and entrepreneurship. He is also the founder of Imaginated.com, a platform for creator education.
