Film camera brands: where to start looking

Choose a brand by the cameras and lenses you’ll use. A familiar name can help you narrow a search, but it doesn’t tell you whether a particular old body still works.

Canon and Nikon

Canon made manual-focus FD cameras and later EOS cameras with a different lens system. The AE-1’s museum entry lists its FD mount. Check the exact mount before ordering a lens. A lens from the same brand won’t necessarily fit.

Nikon’s manual-focus range gives you several exposure styles to compare. The FM is mechanical with manual exposure. The FE adds aperture-priority automation. Nikon’s camera history explains how these models developed alongside the F3. Lens compatibility depends on the body and lens, so check the manual for both.

Pentax and Olympus

Pentax is worth exploring if you want a traditional SLR layout. The K1000 and compact MX are useful names to start with in the Pentax archive. Compare their controls and viewfinders before deciding.

Olympus put a lot of effort into reducing the size of its OM cameras. The company’s account of the OM-1 design describes the millimetres that went into making it smaller. You can also explore its compacts if an SLR feels too much to carry.

Minolta and Leica

Minolta’s history includes the 7000 autofocus SLR, introduced in 1985, as recorded in its corporate history. Check whether you’re looking at a manual-focus or autofocus system before choosing lenses.

Leica’s M range is worth a look if you want to understand rangefinder photography. Its M-System history starts with the M3 in 1954. Try the focusing method before choosing a system.

Compare actual cameras

Pick two or three bodies with the controls and handling you like. Read their manuals, check lens and battery requirements, and ask the seller about testing and returns.

The brand directory groups our camera library by maker. For a first purchase, the used-camera checklist will help you ask more useful questions than simply which brand is best.