One of the things I get asked the most about is which cameras would I recommend for beginner photographers. At this point, I’ve tested out a LOT of cameras, so I wanted to share a few of my favorites that I tend to recommend to beginners. There are a lot of options out there, and if you’ve never shot film before, it’s difficult to know which cameras are user-friendly and easy to learn and grow alongside. Even to this day, I’m still overwhelmed by how many cameras are out there that I haven’t tried yet! My ultimate goal in life is to try out every single camera in the world and write a blog post about it. Maybe it’s crazy, but photography is my passion, my true love, and my heart and soul. I hope this guide helps you decide which camera to buy to start your film photography journey! The majority of these cameras are great for any age because they either include an auto setting or are super basic and not complicated to use. So if you have a child that’s interested in photography, this list is a great place to start! Or if you’re older and just diving into photography, these are some of my favorite cameras I’ve used over the years that don’t require a lot of knowledge of the craft. The most complicated part with some of these cameras will be learning how to load the film, but there are always YouTube videos available to help break it down! But even if you’re a seasoned pro, I challenge you to try out some of these cameras because they might surprise you. I learn lessons with every camera that I try out and I love the fact that I haven’t gotten bored with photography yet.
I’ll never forget how I felt when I tried my first film camera. I was overwhelmed and confused and felt like I was staring into a deep, dark abyss. Of course as a kid, I’d used disposable cameras, but they were so simple to use that I never thought anything of it. When I was in college though, I decided to take a photography class and was told to purchase a 35 mm film camera that included aperture priority, shutter priority and manual settings. It’s crazy to me that I still remember walking into Best Buy in 2008 and asking them if they had any 35 mm film cameras that fit that description. I walked out with a Canon Rebel K2, which I still use to this day and recommend often for beginner photographers.
The rest was history. I fell in love with film photography and spent my afternoons developing film and making prints in the darkroom. It was so exciting to see my photographs come to life. It was even more exciting to take photos with a film camera, having no idea what the images were going to look like until I developed my film. There was a magical mystery to film photography that has kept me interested, even after all these years. After I graduated college, I became a professional photographer and it’s been my full-time job ever since! So with all that being said, here are 13 affordable film cameras under $150 for beginners of any age!
1. CANON REBEL K2
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The Canon Rebel K2 is the perfect starter camera for so many different reasons. It’s super lightweight and easy to carry around, it has a million settings on it, it takes surprisingly sharp photographs and it has a flash! I hate that Canon doesn’t produce film cameras anymore, but it’s fairly easy to get your hands on one of these through eBay listings, KEH Camera, Etsy or even Amazon. There are a few other similar cameras from Canon, like the Canon Rebel G, that you could pick up if you can’t find a K2. They are meant to be user friendly for the average consumer, but they also have more advanced settings that allow a beginner to learn more about photography through settings like aperture priority and shutter priority. It’s just an all around great camera and won’t break the bank! I even convinced my sister to get one when she first started shooting film photography and she loves it! You can read more about it on my blog here, or check out my YouTube video here!
WHERE TO BUY
SHOP ON AMAZON
SHOP ON EBAY
SHOP ON ETSY
SHOP ON KEH CAMERA
2. POLAROID CAMERA
I feel like a lot of people are intimidated by Polaroid cameras and honestly, I get it. There’s a bit of a learning curve, surprisingly. Yes, they are essentially a point and shoot camera, but they are incredibly sensitive to different lighting scenarios. That’s why it’s a great camera to use to learn about photography though because it teaches you about the importance of light. The Polaroid brand is still alive and well and there are quite a few models to choose from. Some of them even have bluetooth so you can connect it to your phone! And while they can be a bit frustrating, they are extremely rewarding when you take a gorgeous polaroid. And the best part is, you just look through the viewfinder, press the shutter button, and voila! You have a photo. The instant gratification is why it makes it a great camera for beginners. You learn quickly from your mistakes and you also get a physical memento to keep forever. Photography really is all about capturing the moment in front of you and I think Polaroid cameras are such a great way to experience the importance of photography. I have a blog post about the Polaroid Now Generation 2 camera so if you’d like to see sample photos you can check that out here! The Polaroid Now Generation 3 is the newest version of the camera and you can pick up a starter kit here. You can also buy vintage Polaroid 600 cameras on eBay and the Polaroid company actually still makes 600 film! I use my dad’s old Polaroid camera, the Polaroid Impulse, and it’s super simple and easy to use!
WHERE TO BUY
SHOP ON AMAZON
SHOP ON B&H PHOTO
SHOP ON POLAROID.COM
KEH CAMERA (VINTAGE POLAROID 600 CAMERAS)
3. DISPOSABLE CAMERA
Almost everyone has used a disposable camera at some point. At least, everyone from my generation as a millenial. They have definitely been making a comeback at weddings as a way for guests to capture silly moments and to help document the day. I had a few disposable cameras at my wedding, and I’m not going to lie, they are some of my favorite photos from the day! They are perfect for capturing those candid moments and to play around with without expectation. They aren’t meant to take incredible photos. They are just there to pick up and snap a photo when you see a moment that’s worth documenting. If you truly want to start at the beginning with film photography without investing too much money at the start, I definitely recommend picking up a disposable camera and seeing what you end up with! There are even some disposable cameras loaded with fun, colorful film like the LomoChrome Purple disposable camera by Lomography. I have a full blog post with sample photos that I took in Hawaii here!
WHERE TO BUY
AMAZON
B&H PHOTO
B&H PHOTO (LOMOCHROME PURPLE DISPOSABLE CAMERA)
4. HOLGA 120 GCFN
If you know my work at all, you know I’m going to recommend the Holga camera. It’s my favorite camera in the entire world and it has traveled with me everywhere - from Paris to Tokyo to Portugal. I have at least 15 Holgas in my camera collection and my goal is to collect all of the fun colors! The Holga might be one of the most intimidating cameras on the list because it uses 120 film (medium format film), which isn’t as common and can be a bit scary at first. You’ll only get 12 or 16 images per roll (depending on which setting you decide to use), which forces you to really plan out your images so you don’t waste film. At the heart of it all though, it’s an extremely basic camera. It doesn’t have any crazy settings to mess with and it is essentially a plastic box with a hole in it. The Holga has sort of a cult following and I can understand why. I’ve never used a camera that takes images quite like the Holga. They are always unique and surprising to me. I never know what I’m going to get and that’s why I love it so much. I particularly love creating multiple exposures with it. You can read more about what a multiple exposure is on my blog here! And of course, I have a full blog post and YouTube video about the Holga if you want to learn more. My second photography teacher in college made us all pick up a Holga and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with it. My main advice is to be patient, have fun, and don’t take yourself too seriously!
WHERE TO BUY
AMAZON
B&H PHOTO
SHOP ON EBAY
5. DIANA F+
The Diana F+ is sort of a sister camera to the Holga. They are pretty similar but most photographers prefer one over the other. For me, I find the Holga a bit easier to use, but the Diana F+ became famous partly because a lot of famous photographers used it in the 1970s. And while it is similar to the Holga in the way that it functions, I find the images from the Diana to be a bit softer. I like to use mine from time to time just to challenge myself and afterwards, I always ask myself why I don’t use it more often! They are fun and quirky and easy to use as well. Once you figure out how to load the film, the rest is basic stuff. There are a few distance settings and then a bulb/normal setting. What I love about the Diana the most though is that you can find various lenses like a fisheye (you might be able to find one on eBay) that are super fun to use. If you’re on the hunt for a great gift for a photographer who already has a 35 mm film camera and they have shown interest in creating experimental images, a Holga or Diana F+ is a great option. It’s just plain fun to mess around with them and see what you end up with! And of course, I have a blog post and YouTube video about the Diana F+ too. And make sure to read my blog post about which 120 film stocks I recommend!
WHERE TO BUY
AMAZON
B&H PHOTO
SHOP ON EBAY
6. KODAK BROWNIE HAWKEYE
I don’t know why I was so terrified to try out a box camera. They are just so old that I guess I figured there was no way they could still work! But I recently tried out the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye and absolutely loved it. These are even easier to use than a Holga or Diana F+. There are typically no settings at all on a box camera so all you have to do is load the film and hold the camera as still as you possibly can while you’re taking a photo. They typically have very slow shutter speeds so even using a tripod or setting it on a wall while taking your photo can help a ton. I just find it so thrilling to use cameras from the 1950s to take photos. These are the cameras they used to take photos during World War I and World War II! It’s exciting to be a part of history and take photos that truly look like they’re from that time period. I’ve been given a lot of box cameras over the years and they just sat on my shelf because I was scared of them! But now that I’ve ventured out and tried the Hawkeye, and another called the Kodak Duaflex, I’m so ready to try even more box cameras. And when it comes down to it, when you’re using a box camera, you’re really starting out at the very beginning of consumer-based photography. They were really the first cameras accessible to the average person, as opposed to expensive large format cameras that were typically only used by professional photographers at the time. It’s a great way to learn the history of photography while also learning about how a camera is made and how they function at a basic level. Watch my YouTube video about the Brownie Hawkeye here or read my full review here!
WHERE TO BUY
SHOP ON EBAY
AMAZON
ETSY
KEH CAMERA
7. INSTAX MINI
Instax Mini cameras are newer, more modern instant cameras that have become quite popular over the last 10 years or so. In my experience, most of the people in my life who are truly just getting into photography and want to step away from taking photos with their iPhone tend to pick up an Instax camera. Mostly because they are easily accessible and can be found in places like Best Buy, Walmart, Urban Outfitters and other similar stores. I’m sure you’ve seen them around! The nice thing about these cameras is that the film is cheaper per photo than the more traditional Polaroid cameras I mentioned above. With the Instax mini, the photographs are super small and cute, perfect for sharing with friends or sticking up on your fridge. There are also Instax wide cameras if you’d prefer bigger images that are more like the Polaroids from your childhood you might have been used to seeing. It’s just nice that you don’t have to break the bank taking photos with the Instax mini. Shooting 35 mm film or 120 film can get expensive quickly because you have to pay for the film and then pay to get the images processed and scanned. With Instax cameras, you’re usually paying about $1 per photo. That might sound crazy but it’s the cheapest option on this list when it comes to shooting film! Film photography is an investment in itself and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I spend all of my extra cash on film and processing. It’s just part of the commitment. I guess that’s why they call it a hobby - it’s not free and it requires quite a bit of experience to do it professionally, but it’s incredibly fun and rewarding! If you’d like to see sample photos, I have a full blog post about Instax mini cameras here. And don’t forget to pick up some film!
WHERE TO BUY
AMAZON
B&H PHOTO
8. SAMSUNG EVOCA ZOOM 115
If you’re looking for something that is pocket-sized and good for travel, a standard 35 mm point and shoot camera is probably what you’re looking for. There are a million different ones out there and it’s on my to-do list to try out a few more soon, but I’ve already come across a handful of them that I absolutely love. I’m always on the hunt for one that has an auto setting but also has a variety of other settings I can try out, like multiple exposure or portrait modes. The Samsung Evoca Zoom 115 is one of my favorites because it also has a zoom lens, a flash and a panorama mode. Point and shoot cameras are so fun to travel with and I actually use them more than any of my other cameras when I’m traveling because they are easy to pull out of my bag and snap a photo quickly. The Samsung Evoca Zoom is my favorite one currently and I’ve taken it on quite a few international trips! I even hiked a 102 mile trail in the Cotswolds with it! Make sure to check out my YouTube video and blog post about this camera!
WHERE TO BUY
SHOP ON ETSY
SHOP ON EBAY
9. CAMP SNAP CS-V105 CAMERA
Ok, so technically the Camp Snap CS-V105 is a digital camera, but it’s meant to mimic a disposable film camera from the 80s or 90s. This is probably the most kid-friendly camera on the list because you’re not wasting any film at all when they want to take a photo. It’s incredibly easy to use, with an on/off/flash button on the back. Those are the only options! Otherwise, you just point and shoot. The images are saved onto a memory card built into the camera and then you just download them to your computer! It’s a great way to get into film photography because it allows you to get comfortable with shooting images without knowing what they look like. There is no digital screen or anything built into the camera that allows you to see the photos after taking them. But that’s the fun of film photography! It forces you to be in the moment and not obsess over taking a perfect photo. I recently wrote a full blog post about this camera and included tons of sample photos so make sure to check that out here!
WHERE TO BUY
B&H PHOTO
10. PENTAX PC35AF-M
I find cheap Pentax point and shoot cameras to be super sharp for the price. The Pentax PC 35AF-M is very basic and doesn’t include many of the more complicated functions that some of the other point and shoot cameras on this list have. It’s really just meant as a point and shoot camera and not really a camera to grow with, but it is pocketable with sharp photos, a built-in flash and auto film advance. It’s incredibly easy to load the film and includes a nice focusing feature that helps to make sure your subject is in focus. You can read more about it on my blog and see sample photos here!
WHERE TO BUY
SHOP ON EBAY
ETSY
AMAZON
KEH CAMERA
11. MINOLTA AF TELE
I took the Minolta AF Tele with me to San Diego last year (watch my YouTube video from my trip here!) and had such a blast using it. I have a full review about it on my blog too! It has a unique lens feature in that it has two distance settings, one more for portraits (60 mm focal length) and one for wider, landscape shots (35 mm). It’s also easy to load the film, great for traveling, and includes a built-in flash as well. When it comes down to it, most simple point and shoot 35 mm film cameras are similar, it just depends on whether you like the way the images look! You can’t really go wrong though as long as the camera works! I was surprised by the sharpness of the images and I’ve recently been loving Minolta cameras in general. I particularly love the Minolta Maxxum STsi, a 35 mm camera that I didn’t include in this list, but if you’re looking for a camera that’s a step up from the cameras I’ve mentioned so far, it’s a great option. The Minolta AF Tele though is a unique camera in my opinion, and I love seeing it up on my camera shelf.
WHERE TO BUY
AMAZON
SHOP ON EBAY
SHOP ON ETSY
KEH CAMERA
12. PENTAX IQ ZOOM
The Pentax IQ Zoom 140M was one of the first pocketable 35 mm point and shoot cameras that I fell in love with. There are a ton of different versions of this camera, like the IQ Zoom 130M (you might be able to find it on eBay here) or 90MC (browse eBay listings), but they are all quite similar so if you’re having a hard time finding this specific one, don’t fret! There are many different options out there. It has so many features for such a tiny camera, including a panorama mode and a crazy zoom lens. It’s another great travel camera, it’s easy to load the film, and it has a flash. It’s similar to the Samsung Evoca Zoom 115 I mentioned earlier and takes sharp, gorgeous photos. It’s sad to me that these cameras just keep getting older as the years go by, so make sure to pick one up and give it some love before these vintage cameras stop working! The Pentax IQ Zoom 140M and Samsung Evoca Zoom are a great idea for middle school/high schoolers because it has a full auto setting and has that built-in flash aesthetic that the Gen Z kids love. 35 mm film is cheaper to use than 120 film that the Holga and Diana F+ because you get 24 or 36 images per roll, instead of 12 or 16. Unfortunately, I broke one of the buttons on mine, but it sits up on my shelf and I love thinking about my trip to Kauai that I took with it and the gorgeous photos I came home with. :) You can see sample photos on my blog here, or watch my YouTube video about this camera here!
WHERE TO BUY
AMAZON
SHOP ON ETSY
SHOP ON EBAY
KEH CAMERA
13. LomoApparat
I keep telling myself I need to use my LomoApparat more because I had such a blast with my first few rolls of film. I have a full review and YouTube video about this camera too! My favorite thing about the company that created this camera, Lomography, is that they actually care about producing cameras that inspire creativity. The LomoApparat comes with various color filters and lens attachments to make your photos more unique and creative. It also has a flash, a multiple exposure function and a bulb mode for long exposures. It can take some patience when loading the film, but I love how the photos turned out on my trip to St. Augustine, Florida. It has a super wide 21 mm fixed lens which is perfect for traveling. I love a wide lens when I’m visiting a new place because it allows me to capture landscape, tall buildings and larger scenes. It’s an incredibly fun camera to use and is a great, affordable way to get into film photography.
WHERE TO BUY
AMAZON
B&H PHOTO
FINAL THOUGHTS
I hope this list helped you in your search for the perfect beginner film camera! I love making these lists because it reminds me of all of the amazing and exciting cameras I’ve used over the years. There are so many more to try though so keep checking back for more photos, reviews, lists and videos! I’m so grateful that there are people out there still interested in film photography. I hope it stays around forever! I feel so lucky to live in the world at a time that I get to experiment with these vintage cameras and digital cameras. It’s a unique time in history, and I know that these vintage cameras won't last forever. I’m just trying to immortalize them as best as I can! :)
If you’re looking for film recommendations, make sure to read my post The Best Color Film for 35 mm Cameras. Or if you’re on the hunt for more gift ideas, check out my gift guides, 15 Unique Gifts for Photographers or my 2026 Gift Guide for Photographers. Or if you’re ready to dive deeper into film photography with cameras that are a little more expensive than the ones in this list, check out my post Top 10 Best 35 mm Film Cameras for Beginner Photographers.
If you found this post helpful in any way, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.
If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!
<3 Myles Katherine
