6 Best 35mm Film Cameras For Beginners

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When you’re ready to take the dive into film photography, or perfect the skills you’ve been working on, a solid 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses is absolutely imperative. An SLR, or Single Lens Reflex, means that a mirror and prism system lets you see exactly what you are shooting. Interchangeable lenses mean just that - you can take the lenses on and off. Most SLRs are sold as “kits,” meaning you get at least one lens with the body; however sometimes you may come across an amazing body on its own which means you’ll have to find a lens yourself.
So what exactly makes a good SLR for beginners? First, it should be fully manual! You’ll never learn shooting automatic, so let that one go. Second, it should be easy to repair and easy to find extra lenses and accessories. Go with a well-known brand versus something obscure (no matter how gorgeous it is!) to make sure you won’t be struggling.
Quite a few major brands manufactured 35mm SLRs, but we’ve put together a list of solid, reliable models that are a perfect fit for any beginner looking to invest in a camera that will last a lifetime. You cannot go wrong with one of these classics:

1. Canon AE-1

The Canon AE-1 is one of the most well-known 35mm SLRs of all time and has a hugely loyal fan base - people literally swear by this camera. It was manufactured in Japan from 1976 to 1984, and in those 8 years enough were produced that you will not have a hard time getting your hands on one for a reasonable price. This camera was not designed for professionals, but instead featured straightforward and easy-to-understand controls intended for beginners or hobbyists. It has an automatic aperture feature, but you won’t be using that if you actually want to learn something. It uses a Canon FD lens mount, making it compatible with any FD or FDn lens. It’s not technically compatible with Canon EF lenses, but plenty of adapters are available to solve that problem.
A couple of fun facts: this camera sold an unprecedented one million units - a first for any SLR. It was also the first SLR on the market to be equipped with a microprocessor. The microprocessor is essential to the electromagnetic focal plane shutter system - which brings us to the one downfall of this camera: if the battery dies the shutter won’t pop. Batteries for most 35mm SLRs are specifically for the light meter, but this is not so in the case of the Canon AE-1. Basically, buy extra batteries if you go for this camera and you’ll be fine. The follow up model to the Canon AE-1 is the Canon AE-1 Program, and is also a good option. If you have a look at the top selling film cameras , you’ll notice the Canon AE-1 is #1 on the list.
We have previously reviewed the Canon AE-1 here.

2. Pentax K1000

The Pentax K1000 is often referred to as a “beast” or “workhorse” because of it’s insane durability. It was manufactured from 1976 to 1997, making it one of the longest produced 35mm SLR models of all time. It’s inexpensive, simple and loved by photographers worldwide. Because of its reasonable price tag and long-standing production, over 3 million Pentax K1000s units were sold over time and today you can easily find them in great condition without looking very far.
It’s all metal, all manual and accepts ALL Pentax K bayonet lenses. On top of that, almost all Pentax K-AF and K-AF2 autofocus lenses also work with it - you just have to focus manually. With the help of an adapter, it also accepts screw mount lenses and will even work with new autofocus lenses that lack an aperture ring - albeit with limited functionality. Essentially, Pentax claims that any Pentax lens will have some functionality on a K1000 so it’s a camera that will give you lots of options. Plus on this body, if the battery dies no biggie - it’s only for the light meter and you can always Sunny 16.
We have previously reviewed the Pentax K1000 here.

3. Nikon FM Series (Any)

The Nikon FM series includes the original Nikon FM, Nikon FM2, Nikon FM2n, Nikon FM-10, Nikon FM3a and a few special variants (like the illusive Nikon FM2n Tropical Edition, which unfortunately does not feature a palm tree print.) Starting with production of the Nikon FM in 1977, the Nikon FM10 is one of the few film cameras still currently available. You can buy a new one from Nikon right now in 2015.
The simple fact that Nikon FM series cameras have been in production for so long makes them very easy to find, easy to repair and they are compatible with a very large quantity of lenses. Any Nikon F bayonet mount lens is compatible - even newer models. The only issues you may run into are an incompatibility with autofocus - all Nikon FM series cameras are manual focus only - and newer lenses that lack an aperture ring. That being said, any lens you buy for a Nikon FM series body will also work on your Nikon DSLR no problem. (Side note: I’ve had my Nikon FM2 for 25 years, have never had to have it repaired and it still works like the day I got it.)

4. Minolta X-700

Introduced in 1981 as the successor to Minolta’s XG series, the Minolta X-700 was the company’s most popular manual-focus model. It’s inexpensive price tag and easy-to-use features made it a perfect entry-level SLR, with the added benefit of TTL (through-the-lens) flash metering - a feature not available on the previous XG series models. You can grab one today for under $100 without looking very long - these cameras are extremely reasonable on your wallet. Not quite as durable as the previously mentioned Pentax K1000 or Nikon FMs, but for someone interested in a solid camera on a budget this is a great option.
Like the Canon AE-1, the Minolta X-700 has an electromagnetic shutter release and requires a battery to operate.

5. Olympus OM System (1-4)

The Olympus OM system includes quite a few models, but we specifically recommend the Olympus OM-1, Olympus OM-2, Olympus OM-3 and Olympus OM-4. These were considered professional series, which may seem counterproductive for beginners but in fact they offer the most manual functions. The consumer grade OM series models have quite a few limitations for shooting manually and are less durable.
The Olympus OM-1 was released in 1972 at a time when plenty of 35mm manual focus SLRs were available, but what distinctly set it apart was it’s extremely compact and lightweight design combined with a significantly quieter shutter than other models. For those of you specifically interested in extended exposures, night photography and astrophotography, the original OM-1 has a mirror lock-up feature; the subsequent OM models do not have the mirror lock-up.  The Olympus OM-4 was discontinued in 2002, giving the OM system quite a lengthy run.

6. Yashica FX-3

The Yashica FX-3 was released in 1979, and although it bares the Yashica name it was technically manufactured by Cosina. It’s completely manual and features a focal plane shutter, but the real bonus on this camera is that it’s compatible with all Yashica and Contax lenses — including the Contax Carl Zeiss T lenses. Like the above mentioned OM system, the Yashica FX-3 is super compact and weights about one pound. The follow-up models, the Yashica FX-3 Super, FX-7 Super and FX-3 Super 2000 offer the same compatibility and are also great options.
Courtesy of: I Still Shoot Film