An Ode to Analog: A Guide to the Top 10 Film Camera Brands

In an era dominated by everything digital, virtual, and artificial, there's an enduring allure to analog photography. As a tribute to this enduring fascination, we embark on an ode to analog — a celebration of the craftsmanship embodied in film cameras and the brands behind them.

From the precision engineering of German luxury brand Leica to the innovative Japanese technologies found in an Olympus film camera, join us as we explore these iconic brands and others that have shaped the way analog photographers capture moments in time.

1. Minolta

Minolta, once a major player in the camera industry, has a history dating back to the early 20th century. They were known for their innovative technologies, such as the first integrated autofocus system.

Cameras like the Minolta X-700 and the Maxxum series (AF cameras) were popular among photographers. I, myself, have also thoroughly enjoyed my experience shooting with the Minolta SRT-303 (A.K.A SRT-102 in the U.S.).

2. Leica

Similarly to Minolta, Leica's history also dates back to the early 20th century. A German brand highly regarded for its precision engineering and optical excellence, the Leica name is virtually synonymous to luxury and premium.

With the luxury stamp on it, it's no surprise that the camera sells for a lot. While the most resourceful among us might be able to find Leica cameras for under $500, the most expensive Leica ever was sold for a whopping $15 million at an auction back in 2022.

Leica cameras are often associated with 35mm film rangefinders, though they have also produced other formats. Similar to most of the other brands listed here, the company produces both digital and analog cameras.

Leica cameras are often associated with 35mm rangefinders

3. Nikon

Nikon is a Japanese brand with a strong presence in both digital and film photography. They are particularly well-known for their SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras.

Nikon's F series of SLR cameras, such as the Nikon F3 and F5, are particularly held in high regards among film photographers. The FE2, on the other hand, has been known to be one of the lightest and most compact SLR cameras, a perfect choice for travellers.

4. Canon

Canon is another major player in the photography industry, producing a wide range of cameras and imaging products.

Canon's EOS series of SLR cameras, including models like the EOS-1V, gained popularity among professionals for their advanced features. While some, like the Canon AE-1, for instance, are widely popular for beginners.

The Canon AE-1 is widely popular for beginners in film photography.

5. Pentax

Pentax is another brand that is well-known in the film photography world, particularly for their SLR and medium format cameras.

The Pentax K1000, for example, is one of the most popular 35mm SLR cameras, known for its simplicity and reliability. Often compared to the Canon AE-1, the camera comes with a relatively affordable price tag of around $200, making it an excellent choice for film photography newbies.

6. Olympus

Another Japanese brand on the list, Olympus is known for its compact and innovative cameras. They gained popularity for the Olympus OM series, a line of compact SLR cameras. The Olympus OM-1 and OM-2, for instance, are highly regarded 35mm SLR cameras.

Olympus also produced compact point-and-shoot cameras like the Stylus Epic, and not to mention the AF-1, which has been a go-to of mine for a while now.

7. Contax

Contax is a German brand recognized for its high-end cameras produced in collaboration with Japanese manufacturer Yashica. The Contax T series and Contax G series are some notable examples.

The Contax T2, T3, and G2, in particular, have been famous for their exceptional build quality and optics. In fact, both are quite popular with the likes of Kendall Jenner and other celebs who shoot film.

The Contax T and G series are known for their exceptional build quality and optics, making them the go-to option even for celebrities.

8. Fuji

A Japanese company, Fuji is known for its diverse range of imaging products. While they are often known for their film stocks, like the Fujicolor c200 and Superia 400, they also produced film cameras, including compact point-and-shoot models.

Fuji's Klasse series of compact cameras, like the Fuji Klasse W, gained popularity for their high-quality optics and ease of use.

9. Hasselblad

The only one in our list that is neither German or Japanese, Hasselblad is a Swedish brand recognized for its modular design and image quality. Hasselblad cameras typically use medium format film, which produces images of exceptionally high resolution and clarity due to the larger film size compared to 35mm film.

The Hasselblad 500 series, such as the 500C/M, has been widely used by photographers for its interchangeable components and exceptional optics.

10. Rollei

Another brand popular for their medium format cameras, Rollei is a German brand that established a worldwide reputation with its top-of-the-line Rolleiflex and Rolleicord, medium format twin-lens reflex (TLR) cameras. Rolleiflex TLR cameras, like the Rolleiflex 2.8F, are iconic in the medium format film photography world.

No longer producing cameras, Rollei now produces a line of black and white films. The Retro 400s, for instance, has been one of my favorite black and white film rolls.

Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex (TLR) cameras are iconic in the medium format film photography world.

Well, there you have it! The top 10 film camera brands that have left a lasting impact on the film photography world. Whether you are searching for your first film camera or your next one, hope this guide helps give you a brief overview of who's who in the film photography world. This is of course not to undermine a few other brands that were not listed, such as Mamiya, Konica, and others.

Want to hear more about these brands and others? Let us know in the comments below.