The Best 35mm Film Camera For Beginners

[@SomeUnremarkableGuy]

Minolta was supposed to be our secret! Jokes aside, I like to suggest to go with the autofocus SLR. When shooting first time with the film, you want to see the photos after and you want them sharp. Focusing manually might be a bit harder at the beggining and very likely to have at least few shots out of focus on the first roll.

[@blvkeinnes]

It was a well kept secret too!!! That’s good advice but then people might get stuck in that “point and shoot” phase. 🤔

[@SomeUnremarkableGuy]

@@blvkeinnes you are right, but that may depends on the camera you buy. there are I'd say, plenty of good AF SLR cameras with options you can play with it. The key here is to ease them to get into the film photography. put the film inside the camera, close the lid, and the camera advance the film itself in a second, and you are good to go. later on GAS will kick anyway and they can start exploring older manual style cameras :D After few AF Minolta bodies, I got X570 with 24mm f2.8 lens, and I must admit, I really struggled to focus with in fast pace environment. Even with 58 f1.4 while doing some quick portraits. I got few blurred photos where I thought I nailed the focus.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@SomeUnremarkableGuy you are right about needing to ease into it. Hopefully some people stop by and read these comments! I think they will be helpful.

[@SomeUnremarkableGuy]

@@blvkeinnes yes, because Minolta sucks! (keep the price down, there are still camera bodies I need to have hahaha)

[@blvkeinnes]

@@SomeUnremarkableGuy hahahaha I see what you’ve done here! 😅

[@krautnapped]

The X700 was technically my second camera (I started with a Canon Rebel 2000), but you're 100% right here. Between the quality of the camera and amount of quality and cheap lenses, it's such a good beginner camera.

[@blvkeinnes]

It was my second film camera as well! I still have it to this day as my main 35mm film SLR. The lenses are incredibly affordable and are sharp as a tack! Such an awesome camera! I was lucky to pick mine up off eBay years ago for $110!

[@michaelhall859]

Love my Minolta x700.... Also have and use the Olympus OM1 and Canon A1 too.... All fantastic 👌🏼👌🏼

[@blvkeinnes]

@@michaelhall859 that is fantastic to hear!! I’ve heard good things the A1 and OM1. I’ve had a great time using my X700 hasn’t let me down yet!

[@24streetphotography]

Amazing video! And I am eternally grateful for being suggested for my photo to be shared ! Thank you 🙏🏽

[@blvkeinnes]

@@24streetphotography really appreciate that dude!! And of course your images are always incredible!

[@Mennozo]

I love the x700 a lot, just as the x300! It are great camera’s with great lenses! Even though I als own and use a Nikon F2, Olympus OM-1, Pentax Spot F and K1000 to name a few, I like the Minolta’s a lot.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@Mennozo glad to hear it! The lenses are underrated in my opinion! They are quite sharp! Sounds like you have quite the collection!

[@thevoiceman6192]

I love my Minolta Maxxum 9000 which I do not use often and My Minolta SRT 101 which I use often.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@thevoiceman6192 that is awesome to hear!! I love mine as well!

[@ashikchowdhury1001]

I just bought the olympus xa as my first film camera. Did a lot of research and i think i picked a good one

[@blvkeinnes]

Amazing!! Have you had a chance to take it out and test it yet??

[@FredericoAlmeida]

Love my Minolta and its my must used camera of my 6 film cameras! Such a beast!!

[@blvkeinnes]

@@FredericoAlmeida that is amazing to hear! It’s my go to 35mm! I’ve had it for a while and boy with those Rokkor lenses it’s produced some stunning images! Only now is it due for the light seals to be replaced! Glad to have another Minolta fan here 🤝

[@gohumberto]

For beginners how about this suggestion? A Canon EOS 500. Reason. They cost about $20. They are, for 35mm cameras, thoroughly modern, with DSLR-like controls. The exposures are likely to be more accurate than older cameras (shutter-speed fall off is a big issue with older mechanical cameras). ..... LENSES !!!!! Remember that a 35mm camera is just a box with a hole in it. There's no sensor to worry about, it ALL comes down to the lenses you put in front of the hole. The EOS 500 takes EF lenses and that means you can put high-quality, auto-focus, stabilised, lenses on it. The nify-fifty f/1.8 is around $50 used. What better way to start? I have a collection of EF lenses for my Canon DSLRs. Now I have the rather amusing combination of a $20 film camera with a $800 16-35mm f/4 L lens on the front. Top quality glass.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@gohumberto that’s great advice!! I’m sure people will stumble upon this comment and take it into consideration 🤝

[@guusofferman4827]

I just bought a spotmatic F, do you think that’s a good choice?

[@blvkeinnes]

That’s the Pentax isn’t it? I think any SLR is a fantastic choice. Some have features that others don’t but if you are willing to research and implement you can achieve great results! If that is the camera I think it is you can get Takumar lenses for it which are pretty damn good!!!

[@Mennozo]

Ofcourse it is. You have a wide range of classic lenses you can use on it. The spotty is also very nice designed btw.

[@JohnDoe-m3q]

Film got really internet dam. Ive also noticed every film channel i come across all the guys or girls look like they are in metalcore/post hardcore screamo bands like theres a dress code for youtube film photography channels. No diss just something ive noticed. Keep it up you have good knowledge in your videos.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@JohnDoe-m3q haha well I am who I am. Can’t help that but hopefully you can see behind my appearance and take something from my videos! Appreciate you taking the time to watch my friend 🤝

[@JohnDoe-m3q]

@@blvkeinnes yes I can look past the appearance. You should do a review on the Argus C-44 it's a fun camera to explore.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@JohnDoe-m3q I’ll keep that in mind!! I’ll have to get my hands on one.

[@rhyswebster]

Actually first 😎

[@blvkeinnes]

My man!!!! You’ll probably gain a million followers now so I apologise in advance…. 🤝🤝🤝

[@rhyswebster]

@@blvkeinnesone can dream

[@niclightfoot4329]

I can think of many film cameras better than any Minolta models. Minolta does not come close to Canon or the Nikon FM3A, which is not fully electronic and doesn't rely exclusively on a battery. It doesn't have a program mode but it does have aperture priority, and is just a much better camera than anything from Minolta. The Minolta may be a good entry level camera, but it is not a very good camera for the long term.

[@blvkeinnes]

That’s an interesting point. However I can only speak from experience and I’ve had the X700 now for a few years and boy have I created some fantastic images with it. I suppose it will always come down to personal preference though. The photographer will have to make the final decision!

[@trevorbrooks813]

Totally disagree, Minolta made some great cameras and superb lenses. Sony knew what they were doing when they bought Minolta and since then their cameras took off.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@trevorbrooks813 😏🤝

[@ciprianoravet]

You have no idea, Minolta was first in a lot of technology innovations, also, one of the most reliable cameras out there are from them: SR, SR-T, XK, XE, XD, so next time do your homework 😊

[@tonykeltsflorida]

If you are starting in film, get a lot of money. Learn how to develop film. A Canon rebel G is also a decent film camera.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@tonykeltsflorida I would like to ‘get a lot of money’ can you tell me the secret??

[@tonykeltsflorida]

@@blvkeinnes I guess if someone could make film rolls, that could make some money. I stopped using film a couple years ago. It just got too expensive for me.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@tonykeltsflorida rats…looks like I’m stuck being poor haha! I can’t make film and if I did good luck selling it. Portra is just way too popular. I shoot film but I don’t shoot as much as other photographers. So I don’t feel the sting to badly!