Okay, there are lots of articles like this on the web, but I've noticed most of them are AI-generated. Here is your real-life person perspective on which 35mm film cameras are the best in 2025.

(Seriously, the top article on this subject stated that the Nikon FM10 35mm film camera is still manufactured today. They stopped manufacturing that camera in 1995.)

35mm film photography is super fun, and one of the best hobbies to have. (Although, we are biased in this opinion!) 

It helps to improve your photography skills in general. It also helps you to slow down, and appreciate what you are taking a photograph of, rather than taking 100 photos on your phone. You'll greatly improve your composition skills, as well as how you frame your images.

You will learn how to correctly expose a photograph, and how each setting affects the final image that you get. I started my career as a professional photographer by using 35mm film cameras, and now I can meter almost anything completely by eye.

It is a great way to bond with your friends too, as you can show them how cool your 35mm film camera is and help them learn how to use it too.

From a trusted, reliable seller. (Like us.)

Hear me out on this.

Cameras By Max (me, the site you are currently on) service and repair all of the cameras you see on the site. So when you buy a 35mm film camera from us, it is fully serviced, and fully working. I am also always on hand to answer any questions you have and if you run into any trouble, you can easily send us an email.

eBay is a good place to buy, however servicing and maintenance of vintage 35mm film cameras is vitally important. It may look great from the outside, but the inside is what is important. I cannot tell you the amount of times I get emails from people who have bought a camera from eBay only to realise that it doesn't work. And most of the time, that is after they have wasted a few rolls of film.

ALWAYS read the Google reviews of a business before you buy from them. There are a few camera shops out there that look great on their social media, and all their millions of Google Ads, but read their genuine reviews from customers.

Yes! However, some of these 35mm film cameras carry quite a large price tag. For example, the Leica M6. If you have a cool £5000, maybe you have found the perfect 35mm film camera for you! You'll need a bit more to be able to get a lens for it as well, though.

Pentax have also released the Pentax 17, a compact half-frame 35mm film camera. They are also planning to release more cameras in the future.

Avoid the plastic newly manufactured cameras from Kodak and other brands. These are terrible quality, not only in the images they produce but the build. Many of them break after one or two uses and are not repairable.

Okay, lets get to the good stuff. 

Firstly, how have we decided which cameras make this list?

I have worked with and on a lot of 35mm film cameras over the past few years (hundreds, if not thousands). So, I have come to learn what is worth a punt, and what isn't. 

When choosing the 35mm film cameras to make this list, I have considered their usability, their results, how likely they can be repaired, their quality, and their price.

I should preface by saying that all of the cameras we have on our site are worth the money, and we don't sell anything that we wouldn't use ourselves.

So, in no particular order...

Incredibly easy to use, really compact, and with great results, the Olympus Pen EE-3 (or EE-2, they are almost identical) is a fantastic choice. It is almost all metal, meaning it will withstand the elements, and be a trusty partner for a long time. 

It is also a half-frame 35mm film camera so you can get double the amount of photographs from this camera as you would with a normal 35mm film camera. This makes it more economical for film shooters. You can read more about half-frame cameras here.

Read more about the Olympus Pen EE-3 here.

Properly serviced and well-looked after, the Contax T2 is a formidable 35mm film camera that is loved by its users. It has manual aperture settings to accompany its automatic shutter speed. The Contax T2 also offers a built-in flash and exposure compensation.

It has a fantastic lens, that is pin-sharp, and more autofocus points than some modern DSLRs.

Two mighty 35mm film cameras that have stood the test of time is these two point and shoots. They have fantastic lenses, cool features, and are made from a hard-wearing plastic. The Canon Sure Shot EX and Ace are both affordable options that do not sacrifice image quality.

The all-new 35mm film camera from Pentax that was released in 2024. The Pentax 17 is a half-frame camera with manual focusing, automatic exposure, exposure compensation settings, and some creative settings as well.

Why does this make our list? This camera made our list for the people who are looking for something ultra-reliable and brand new. Certainly for the next few years, the Pentax 17 will require no servicing and no repairs. 

The price of the Pentax 17 is what puts a lot of people off as it is one of the most expensive half-frame cameras on the market.

Still stuck on which 35mm film camera to buy?

Try our 35mm film camera quiz. All you have to do is answer a few questions, and then you will get a list of personalised camera recommendations. 

Or send us a message on Instagram, send us an email, chat to us on our live website chat, or read some more of our blog posts!

If you like what we do, but can't buy a camera from us, please consider buying us a cup of coffee! It helps us to keep these resources free, consistent, and accessible.