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10 Best Film Cameras for Street Photography

The best film cameras for street photography will surprise any photography fanatic.

By Leanna DavisPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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Street photography is created with candid images that are in public places, but does not necessarily have to be strictly taken on the streets. It often includes people as the focal point, but does not have to strictly feature them. Ultimately, it is art that is created around the concept of a random encounter and a candid moment.

If you are in the market for a film camera to capture such photography, you're in luck. We have come up with an ultimate list of the top 10 best film cameras for street photography. Help bring film back to life by acknowledging these awesome film cameras.

However, they are often pricey, as film cameras are commonly sold as collectibles or for photographer enthusiasts, but will still serve each purpose that is necessary for capturing the perfect street photography.

Leica has created one of the best film cameras for street photography because of its reliability. It is compatible with three different types of lenses, either 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm.

Plus, it has three viewing windows. This camera is modeled with the cameras of the 1950s and 60s body in mind. And, as film cameras are hard to obtain, this camera is a limited edition product.

Konica Hexar AF by Konica

Konica Hexar AF is one of the best film cameras for street photography because of its lightweight body and complex technology for its time. With a 35mm len, this camera has an autofocus feature and was produced in the 1990s.

During its time, the camera was a hit, and even formed a cult-like following for photography fanatics. This is a reason alone that the Konica Hexar AF is one of the top film cameras on the market.

As an autofocus 35mm SLR, the Nikon F6 is great for street photography because of its professional technology. Produced in 2004, the camera was one of the top cameras on the market since 1959 with Nikon's previous hit, the Nikon F.

With a focusing screen, viewfinder frame coverage, exposure metering, AF area modes, and shutter speeds, this camera offers all of the tools to capture the best candid shots.

Zorki 4K by Zorki

First produced in 1956, the Zorki 4K was one of the first fully manual cameras of the time and one of the most popular Zorki cameras.

As one of the best film cameras for street photography, this camera has a self-timer, shutter speed selector, and strap lugs.

Leica created the M7 with auto-exposure in mind in aperture priority mode, a definite step-up for the photography company. The viewfinder has a magnification quality of either .58, .72, or .85mm. Plus, it has a shutter speed of 1/60th and 1/125th of a second.

Also, the Leica was even featured in the movies EuroTrip and Ted.

Fujica Auto 7 by Fujica

Year 1981 was the year that the Fujica Auto-7 was released, and still today it stands as one of the best film cameras for street photography. As one of the first autofocus compact cameras, the Auto-7 has a 38mm f/2, eight lens, and a self-timer shutter.

Plus, its built-in flash and small, compact dimensions make for easy transport and quick capturing.

Produced by Minolta, the TC-1 was a hit in the late 90s and was even awarded the Camera Journal Press Club of Japan. It has a top quality 28mm f/3.5 lens.

This point and shoot is perfect for photographers on the go. However, it was expensive when it was first produced, and still remains to be today as a collector's item.

FED 3 by FED

First released in 1961, the FED 3 was originally inspired by Leicas, a classic film camera of the time. Today, the FED 3 remains to be one of the best film cameras for street photography because of its high-quality picture production and easy-to-use format.

As a 35mm film camera, the camera is a collectible and is worth the money to any photography fanatic.

As one of the best options for a wide-angle shooter, the Voigtlander Bessa R4M is 21, 25, 28, 35, or 50mm lens compatible for a range of different photography styles. It has TTL exposure metering, as well as a manual exposure.

Plus, the shutter speed can range from 1 to 1/2000s and bulb. As one of the top film cameras for street photography, you won't be disappointed with each of your shots and its easy-to-use format.

Rollei 35S by Rollei

Year 1966 was the year that Rollei released their 35 S camera. Some features include a shutter speed of 1/2s to 1/500s, as well as double exposure and a CDs photoresistor lightmeter.

When purchasing this camera, keep in mind that its best quality is its sharp image production, and is mostly on the market for photography enthusiasts. However, it is still considered to be one of the best film cameras for street photography.

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About the Creator

Leanna Davis

Social media addict, find the best cute dog photos on my Instagram.

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