Updated July 6, 2026
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I’m always on the hunt for the “ultimate 35 mm film camera”. When I travel, I tend to bring wayyy too many cameras with me, mostly because not one of them covers all of my photography needs. When I discovered the Minolta Maxxum STsi, I was SO excited to try it out for the first time. It’s super affordable AND it’s EVERYTHING I hope for in a 35 mm film camera. It was originally manufactured in 1999, but you’re still able to find some in near perfect condition on eBay or Etsy. I also have a full YouTube video about the Minolta Maxxum STsi too so make sure to give it a watch here!
I’m starting to fall more and more in love with Minolta cameras as time goes on. They are just reliable, easy to use and produce decently sharp images regardless of how basic the camera is. I also have a blog post about one of Minolta’s point and shoot 35 mm cameras, the Minolta AF Tele if you’re interested and want to see for yourself!
Specifically for traveling, the main features I’m looking for in a 35 mm film camera are the following:
-Lightweight
-Zoom Lens
-Aperture Priority Mode
-Panorama Option
-Pop-up flash (for nighttime photos)
-Double/Multiple Exposure Option (a NECESSITY for me)
The Minolta Maxxum STsi is the first camera I’ve found that has ALL of those features. I’m heading to Italy next week and I will definitely be bringing this camera along. I recently took it on a trip with me to Portland, Maine and shot my first roll of film with it. You can look through them at the end of this post! I was pleasantly surprised with the sharpness of the lens, particularly with the panorama images. I’ve had quite a few panorama 35 mm cameras (such as the Vivitar IC 101) but they all lack a sharpness to the images. I’m absolutely thrilled that the Minolta Maxxum STsi beats them all in terms of crisp, sharp images, especially with a 100 speed film. I used Kodak Pro Image 100 for the images below.
Not to mention, this camera is extremely affordable. I purchased the body ($18) and the AF 28-85mm 3.5-4.5 Zoom lens ($25) separately, both on eBay. Browse through the available options on eBay here for the body or here for the lens!
But you can also find it on Etsy, Amazon, or KEH Camera. There are a ton of different versions of this camera, so if you ever have questions, I recommend calling KEH Camera and asking them what they’d recommend if they don’t have the STsi version. They’re always great with giving advice on film cameras.
WHERE TO BUY
Shop Etsy
Shop Amazon
Shop eBay
Shop KEH Camera
FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:
Kodak Gold 200 35mm film
Kodak Pro Image 100 35 mm film
Kodak Portra 160 35mm
Lomography 100 35mm film
While this is technically considered a beginner camera, it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite 35 mm cameras to travel with. Along with my Nikon FE2, these are the two main 35 mm cameras that I take with me to weddings and for traveling. I have over 100 cameras and the fact that this one makes the cut almost every time is saying something! The only thing that is missing from this camera is
Make sure to check out my blog post, Top 10 Best 35 mm Film Cameras for Beginners if you’re looking for more camera options! And if you aren’t quite sure where to start film-wise, read more about various film options in my post, The Best Color Films for 35 mm Cameras.
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
