Top 10 BEST Film Cameras (Ultimate Guide)(Voted by YOU!)
Following my 20 cameras I will never sell YouTube video I asked you to tell me your top 10 film cameras of all time. After 20K views I counted your votes and here are the best film cameras!
Your top 5 best film cameras
(1) Hasselblad 500 Series
Your number one best camera choice was (1) Hasselblad 500 Series cameras (All models, 500cm, 501c etc). As someone that owns quite a few cameras I think it is only right to have these cameras in the top 10. Some years back I went through a period of shooting almost all Hasselblad so I have many sample photos. At one point I had 3 bodies as I didn’t have time to repair them so kept picking up another body to use until I had a chance to get the others serviced. Luckily they are fully modular so one set off lenses and accessories fits multiple bodies. See these Hasselblad portraits from my model photoshoots.
(2) Nikon F3 / F3HP / variants
A new camera to me and I’m glad I found the Nikon F3. I had no idea these cameras were so popular previously. The Nikon F3 / F3HP / variants beat the much more expensive Leica M6 cameras and come in at number two. This kind of makes sense purely from the fact that the Nikon F3 cameras were in production for over 20 years and are far more affordable than a Leica. Not only that, these are professional grade cameras build to last to you get a lot of camera for your money. See the full Nikon F3 write-up and video!
(3) Leica M6 Classic / Leica M6 TTL
Possibly as many of my audience enjoy Leicas, in third place the Leica M6 cameras. A very popular camera with YouTuber photographers in recent times (excluding myself as I tend to use my Leica M3 (see below) or Leica M4-P). As with the Hasselblad, I feel the M6 deserved a top spot as it is one of the few film cameras that can still be bought new in 2024 (following the Leica M6 re-release in 2022).
I’ve owned my Leica M6 Classic for maybe 8-9 years now and as with any Leica M camera you can take some great photos with them. Other options are the Leica MP (I bought and returned) or Leica M-A (I bought and kept)(Both available to buy new today).
(4) Olympus OM-1 / OM-1n
You probably don’t know this as I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it but my first real film camera (pre getting into photography proper) was the Olympus OM-1n. Here is proof. Me on holiday with it back in 2010 and a sample photo. If I get to use one again I’ll be sure to make a video as they are pretty cameras, compact and not overly expensive.
(A special thanks to my ex girlfriend Sarah who was my first model and who supported me in my very obsessive and relentless path to master photography and specifically portraits/ portrait lighting in my early years. I probably would be here now doing this as my full time job if it wasn’t for her).
(5) Nikon FM3a
In 5th place is another Nikon SLR film camera. The Nikon FM3a seems to be the favourite Nikon analogue camera for Leica fans. The FM3a was designed to be the best of the Nikon FM and FE camera series all rolled into one. Some see it as the last great Nikon film camera before production stopped and things moved to digital.
Top runner up cameras – Your favourites continued
(6) Leica M3
Just missing the top 5, one of my personal favourites, the fantastic Leica M3. I feel it would even higher if it was better suited to those wearing glasses. For spectacle wearers the Leica M2 is a better option as you are able to see the 50mm frame lines easier. The Leica M3 is my most used film camera followed by the Leica M4-P second, Hasselblad third.
I have two Leica M3 bodies the single stroke “SS” and double stroke “DS”. Both cameras have been modified to now focus at 0.7m not the standard 1m. A huge improvement for portraits. (See the article linked below with embedded Leica M3 YouTube videos). If you want something cheaper consider Canon rangefinder cameras likes the Canon P or Canon Model 7.
Leica+Model Workshops
(7) Pentax 67 / 67II
As a portrait photographer the Pentax 67 cameras are perhaps the obvious choice if you want to create the most wow looking shallow depth of field portraits. Pair the Pentax 67 or 67ii with the Pentax 105mm f2.5 lens and you have a winner combination for model photography. When I see photos like the ones shared below I know instantly that it is likely taken on either a Pentax 67 or Mamiya RZ67 camera. As I own the Mamiya RZ67 Pro II I never invested in the Pentax but I got to try one thanks to one of my awesome Patreons when teaching a workshop in The Netherlands last year. See the article and embedded YouTube video below. You don’t need a gym membership if you shoot with a Pentax 67! They are quite weighty!
(8) Leica M2
Another Leica camera! Again possibly helped by the fact that I am predominately a Leica blog/ Leica YouTube channel. If you’re new here I would describe myself as a blend of Leica, film and portrait/ model photography. (Follow me for future articles/ videos).
The Leica M2 is another camera I would never sell (I overlooked it on the first video). It feels as nicely made as the Leica M3 and is perfect if you love to shoot with 35mm lenses. I’m pretty sure the big bright viewfinder with single frames is unmatched for a 35mm shooting experience. I tend to be a 50mm kinda guy but I have shot some nice 35mm photos with my M2 from over the years.
(9) Linhof Technika cameras
After over a decade of shooting film and buying some of the best cameras I could find I feel I’m reasonably knowledgeable on a lot of the popular film cameras. One brand I know less about is Linhof. I know they are good and more expensive but I’ve never really looked at them before. After just visiting their website I can completely understand why they made it into the top 10. These are high spec quality cameras (similar to Leica) that can be bought new in 2024. After a quick look the camera that jumps out at me the most is perhaps the Master Techika 3000. It looks to have the portability of my Intrepid 4×5 camera but the solid box design of my 1947 Pacemaker Speed Graphic.
Update: I now own a Linhof! Watch the video below!
(10) Leica MP, Leica iiif, Nikon F, Nikon F2, Nikon FM, Contax II, Olympus OM-2
In 10th place it was a draw between many popular cameras. Two Leica rangefinder cameras, three older Nikon SLR cameras including the Nikon FM that I own, a Contax II which is what my Kiev 4a camera is based on and another Olympus OM. If you want an affordable rangefinder camera look no further than the Kiev 4 cameras. Get earlier dated ones (pre 1980)(serial number first two digits shows the year) it’s basically the same camera as the Contax II for a fraction of the price. (Very early Kiev cameras actually have Zeiss Contax parts in .. basically a rebadged Contax. The Nikon FM was my first well used film camera that traveled all over with me while I was on business trips. Here is a Nikon FM sample photo from when I was first starting out –
My Top 20 film cameras (If you missed it)
If you missed it here are my favourite 20 film cameras. I didn’t mention this previously but I appreciate the following characteristics when choosing a camera –
- Ideally smaller (unless offer something unique and worth the extra size)
- Cameras without electronics if possible (so easier to fix/ service in the future)
- Interchangeable lens cameras (so I can fit the best lens for the job)
- Great value or a good investment
- Easy to accurately focus (very important for me)
- Access to excellent lenses for the best possible image quality
- Known brands for good reliability
- Great build quality and cameras that just inspire you to use them
10 cameras to try before you die
As I attract a Leica (mostly)(perhaps Nikon second) audience, I think it’s important to cover some of the “best of the best” film cameras not yet mentioned. There are some big names we’ve not even talked about yet so let’s do 10 cameras you should definitely consider before you die! (If your budget allows)
10 cameras you should definitely consider
All of these cameras are great in their own rights so I’ll list 10 but in no specific order. (This list excludes cameras already mentioned above).
1) Mamiya 7
For modern day YouTuber photographer/ influencer types I would say the second most popular film camera after the Leica M6 is the Mamiya 7. Perhaps made more popular in recent years due to some big YouTubers using them, the Mamiya 7 is seen by many as a medium format Leica. Both cameras are high quality rangefinder cameras but the big benefit over a Leica M cameras is the Mamiya 7 is medium format. The huge 6×7 film negatives give you around 6x more detail than a standard tiny 35mm film negative. I owned the Mamiya 7 and most of the lenses but it wasn’t the camera for me. I tried everything to love it including the Mamiya 7 35mm film adapter but eventually I sold it. (I did keep the 6×6 Mamiya 6 as I prefer the square format and more compact size).
2) Fuji GF670
If you saw my rave review of the Fuji GF670 on YouTube, this is a lot of camera in a very compact package. On paper this camera is very special too. When folded the Fuji GF670 is not the much bigger then. a Leica M6 with small lens attached. The GF670 like the Mamiya 7 is a medium format rangefinder camera but with the benefit of offering you both 6×6 and 6×7 film formats. This is a fixed lens camera but I preferred the GF670 output to the Mamiya 7. As with the Mamiya 7, I eventually sold the Fuji GF670 as I found I couldn’t focus as close as I wanted to for portraits. I’m so spoilt by interchangeable lens cameras where I can select different lenses for different jobs I often struggle with a fixed lens setup.
3) Rolleiflex SL66
Together with the aforementioned Fuji GF670, the Rolleiflex SL66 is another camera I gave a massive rave review on. The Rolleiflex SL66 and SL66E are 6×6 medium format film cameras. Compared to a Hasselblad 500 series the Rollei SL66 cameras tick so many more boxes. You can close focus lenses without extension tubes, you can reverse mount any lens to give you a macro lens AND the big one, you can tilt any lens! This gives you large format camera creative tilt movements but in a smaller faster to use medium format body. Brilliant! The only downside is the camera is so clever you have to work it a certain way or you can jam it. Follow the manual and you’ll be fine. Try to use it like a Hasselblad and it will jam. My little pea brain often forgot so it resulted in jamming up the camera. Eventually I sold my SL66E as I already had the Hasselblad for 6×6 portraits. I can’t replicate some of my Rolleiflex SL66E portraits with a fixed plain Hasselblad setup but a Hasselblad is smaller and more simple to operate.
4) Plaubel Makina 67
Another popular medium format camera for portraits is the Plaubel Makina 67. As the name suggests this is a 6×7 format folding rangefinder camera similar to the folding Fuji GF670. The Makina 67 is perhaps the better choice for portraits as it offers you a faster lens to give a greater shallow depth of field. I’ve never owned this cameras but I looked at them many times. Thankfully during a workshop in Spain one of my Patreons let me try his Makina 67 and I made a YouTube video. Beautiful camera but it feels a little too fragile for me. There are better camera for 6×7 portraits. I would consider the already mentioned Pentax 67 or Mamiya RZ67. The drawback is both of these cameras are much bigger and heavier so if you need a lighter smaller travel setup the Plaubel Makina 67 does tick that box.
5) Contax 645 + 80mm f2
The Contax 645 camera was hugely popular with wedding photographers shooting film some years ago, especially those in the California area where they made the most of the nice light and overexposed Fuji Pro 400H . The Contax 645 paired with Zeiss Planar 80mm f2 lens gives you a dream combo for portraits or wedding portraits. It’s a special look that you can often recognise (similar to Pentax 67 photos being recognisable). Yes digital cameras are good but you can’t ‘fake it’ when it comes to certain aesthetically pleasing looks captured with film cameras. The Contax 645 was one of my early purchases in my film journey. This was way before I even knew what a Leica camera was and before most of my other medium format cameras. It developed an electrical fault one day so that scared me. These cameras are too expensive to become bricks overnight. I was able to get the camera repaired and I sold it soon after. The prices then went up 100% so I wished I’d hung onto it for longer! I did find an alternative camera some years later and I cover that in this article.
6) Hasselblad Xpan
A camera that needs no introduction, the Hasselblad Xpan! If you don’t know this is a special 35mm film camera it can captures either single 35mm frames (like a Leica or Nikon SLR) or 2 frames side by side. These panoramic images can be truly beautiful and it makes you see the world differently (and shoot in that panoramic format). Thankfully I owned the Xpan prior to teaching a model photography workshop in New York back in 2014 so I took the camera with me. Pano shots really suited the scenes I was seeing in NYC but perhaps less so for my usual portraits. Due to the high value of this camera I eventually sold the Xpan as I wasn’t doing enough panoramic shots. This is one unique and very special camera if you enjoy this film format.
7) Hasselblad SWC/M
Hasselblad again. When I look for good cameras I need ease of use plus great image quality. If you want perhaps the best performing Hasselblad lens I’ve ever used look no further than the Hasselblad SWC/M Super Wide. This is a fixed lens 6×6 film camera similar to a normal Hasselblad 500 series but smaller and with zone focusing only. People often rave about the image quality from a Mamiya 7 camera but to me the SWC/M Super Wide is the clear winner. Being a wide lens camera this is better suited to landscapes than portraits so eventually I sold mine, again partly due to the high price tag. If you want the highest performing wide angle setup look no further!
8) Contax T2
We’ve covered a lot of medium format cameras so far so here is something more pocket-able. Made more famous in recent years thanks to celebrities the Contax T2 is a high quality point and shoot camera. The T2 is a fixed lens camera that you can just set to auto and it delivers great photos. Point and shoot film cameras like this are much more popular with the new wave of younger film photographers. They want that artsy analog output but just want to press a button rather than consider F stop, ISO etc. I’m from the generation of film shooters before where I like the full manual control and more technical approach to creating photos. The Contax T2 was very kindly gifted to me by a Patreon. Eventually I asked if I could sell it and buy a different camera as I full automated cameras scare me. One electrical fault and all that money is gone overnight.
9) Rolleiflex 2.8
Next is a camera I’ve not owned but I know they are very popular and perhaps the holy grail of TLR cameras. If you want to get the most wow portraits from a TLR camera then consider a fast lens like a f2.8. I own a smaller Rolleicord TLR camera that has a f3.5 maximum aperture lens. The Rolleiflex f2.8 cameras come in various models with perhaps the 2.8E or 2.8F being the most sort after. I did look at them many times in the past but managed to resist the temptation to click buy. TLR camera are a lot of fun to shoot and give you a different viewing perspective. My personal favourite TLR camera is the Kowa Kalloflex. Check out that review!
10) Hasselblad H Series Cameras
Finally number 10. This is a camera system that has perhaps created some of my highest quality film portraits. The Hasselblad H system can offer you both digital and film depending on the camera model. Here I am specifically looking at using a 645 Hasselblad H film back on a H1, H2, H3 through to H6. (Be careful as some camera models don’t accept film backs). I started out with the Hasselblad H3 (H3D-31) but during a photoshoot in Poland it got sea water damage. I replaced it with a Hasselblad H2 camera which accepts the same Hasselblad 6×4.5 format film back.
The beauty of this system is (1) the 6×4.5 format suits my vertical portrait crops better than 6×6 and (2) this is an autofocus setup. Hasselblad HC lenses are super sharp and with autofocus too you can nail focus on every shot. This is my number one medium format camera for portraits as I like the economy of 16x 645 photos compared to only 10 6×7 photos on a roll of 120 film. That said 6×7 portraits do have a unique look which is difficult to replicate with smaller formats. If you want the Contax 645 look you can almost mimic it if you use the 100mm f2.2 Hasselblad HC lens. You can also mount Hasselblad 500 series lenses to H series cameras via a Hasselblad V-H adapter. I enjoy this for a more manual experience. I still have my Hasselblad H2. I need to use it more!
OK to summarise
Some of the questions I often receive are things like – What is the best 35mm film camera or what is the best medium format film camera for 6×6, 645 etc. Let’s quickly answer those next based on all the cameras I’ve used and your voted favourites.
Best 35mm film camera – Voted by you
If we look at the results of the poll, the top 5 best 35mm film cameras as voted by you are:
- Nikon F3 / F3HP / variants
- Leica M6 Classic / Leica M6 TTL
- Olympus OM-1 / OM-1n
- Nikon FM3a
- Leica M3
Best 35mm camera – My favourites
What about thoughts, what is my best 35mm camera of all the cameras I own? I will give a shout out to 5 more cameras not voted by you to give you a few more options. Apologies, I am a Leica fan so expect a lot of Leica cameras in the list! In no particular order my best 35mm film cameras are –
- 1930s Leica Barnack cameras – LOVE!
- Leica M-A (or Leica MP if you prefer a lightmeter)
- Nikon FE2 (Cheap alternative to FM3a)
- Leica MDa (Bomb-proof Leica)
- Leica M7 (New purchase – follow to see the review)
See the full Leica M film camera buyer’s guide to compare the different camera models
If you own a Leica camera pick up your free Leica welcome pack using this form:
Best medium format film camera
OK next, what is the best medium format film camera? With analogue medium format cameras I think we need to break it down into film formats. I’ll cover the two formats I use the most, 6×6 and 645 and give some shoutouts for each.
Best analogue camera for 6×6 film
Here are some of my favourite analogue cameras for 120 film and 6×6 images –
- Hasselblad 500 Series (like the Hasselblad 501c) Voted #1 by you!
- Mamiya 6 – Compact rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses
- Kowa Kalloflex (+ TLR cameras) Great lens, compact and fun to use
- Voigtlander Perkeo (+ Vintage folding cameras) Super compact + affordable
- ARAX-CM & Kiev 88 – Cheap version of a Hasselblad to give you a taster
- Rolleiflex SL66 – Smarter than a Hasselblad with lens tilt and macro
Best film camera for 645 film
If you are looking for the best film camera for 645 film I have some great options –
- Hasselblad H cameras – Best “modern’ camera that shoots film for professionals
- Mamiya 645 Super – Compact 645 SLR camera with great lens options
- Fuji GA645 – Medium format point and shoot camera with amazing lens
- Fuji GS645 – Compact folding 645 rangefinder camera with manual focus
Did I miss your favourite camera?
I’ve tried to cover all the popular cameras people strive to own once in their lives but I realise I can’t cover everything. If you think there is a popular camera that I’ve missed please comment below on or the YouTube video itself.
A big thanks to everyone who voted on the first video as to their favourite camera. Some cameras mentioned by viewers are much older and lesser known but perhaps equally good in their own right. The cameras mentioned above are often the last and best in a line of cameras developed so much newer than some of the classics.
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For me, it’s my m6 ttl. Love / hate relationship and I feel like I ‘earn’ my keepers..as well as my screw ups!
Thanks Marc, Yes I feel cameras that make you work harder for your image give your much more reward. (I was shooting 4×5 yesterday as an extreme example!)
Guys what about
Canon. They have
lent out technology (for a cut) were you look at whatever, and focus on that object and there motor is in the lens (a ring motor).
Thanks Richard, a few of my Patreon buddies have Canon SLR. Personally I like their vintage rangefinders if I use Canon.
I don’t have a Leica film camera…..yet . But my favorite film cameras I own are the Nikon fe and Nikomat/Nikkormat ft2 . The Nikkormats are the heavy metal tanks that just work good and simply. The fe’s are small light simple and fast .
Then there is my Nikon F5 that I love . It’s a joy to use . You feel confident you’ve got a good exposure.
Thanks Troy, yes all nice cameras. I have those too. I was using my Nikon FM3a yesterday. I post some results soon.
I agree the Nikkormat FT2 is a great workhorse. Still using mine nearly 50 years after I got it. I love my cheapo fully auto exposure Nikon EM too, great for street photography. That is onoy 40+ years old!
Thanks Troy! 50yrs later.. that’s impressive! (I have the cheap FG model)
Matt, you did a great job covering some of the best cameras out there. I would strongly recommend trying out the Topcon RE Super (Super D) professional series cameras and lenses. Albeit that it competed directly with the Nikon F, it won the U.S. Navy supplier contract in the mid 1960s through 1970s.
Thanks Marc! Yes I’ve heard great things about the Topcon RE Super. It’s on my list to check out if I ever come across one.
Matt-
I have followed you for years and your style has greatly influenced my own photography. I tried Leica’s but struggled being able to enjoy the rangefinder. I had a Kalloflex a little before you and loved it so much I recently pulled the trigger and sold my Leica system and Kalloflex to upgrade to a Rolleiflex 2.8 planar. After watching your success with any camera has made me less focused on a lot of gear and more on just the right gear for you. Thanks for the inspiration!
Brian
Hi Brian, thanks for your kind words and great to hear that you enjoy the TLR experience. Yes RF cameras are not for everyone so I totally agree that it’s about finding a camera that you enjoy using. Enjoy your nice 2.8! Matt