Film photography has seen a surge in recent years. With the revival of analog aesthetics and soft images, many young photographers are turning towards the purchase of analog cameras. While there are plenty of options out there, we have chosen the top three vintage models that we adore. Have a look.
Nikon N2020
The N2020 is a 35mm film camera with manual controls. Despite being launched in 1986, it still offers great ergonomics. The device is also built well, like today’s entry-level DSLRs. It is compact, has some nobs and dials, but the body is made of plastic. The autofocus is loud, and in low light, the camera requires you to place the focusing point on a brighter area. It is slow by today’s standards, but it works given the situation. If you load a nice film into it, you get a camera that meets your needs. As we explained in our review, “I really like the Nikon N2020, not because I consider it a family heirloom, but because it’s an actual nice camera. Surely though it’s designed for a hobbyist or an enthusiast.”
Leica R6
The Leica R6 is also a 35mm camera, produced between 1988 and 1992. It has 1-1/1000 +B shutter speed, X sync at 1/100, depth-of-field preview, self-timer, and more. It is also a simple camera with a lettered finish and will remind you of the Pentax Spotmatic in some ways. Albeit, the R6 has a better light meter and build quality. The camera was able to stand some rain and snow, but it does not feature a weather selaing to b ecarried durng torrential rain. It is a manual focus camera that offers zone focusing, and with enough light, the latter is a great option. As we said in our review, “The Leica R6 is arguably the best to use with R lenses. More importantly, it’s also incredibly reliable. If the battery stops working, the camera will continue to function at all shutter speeds, so it will just become a fully manual option.”
Olympus XA2
Introduced between 1980 to 1986, the Olympus XA2 is a 35mm camera which offers a 35mm in-built lens, shutter speed of 2s-1/750 and Albada-type bright-line finder. It is compact, has a slider over the lens, and also comes with easy control. It is small, which makes it ideal for genres such as street photography and travel. The device has an all-plastic body, and you have to be careful to not drop it. Similarly, focusing is done via a switch on the side, and it also offer zone focusing. The camera we tested had a bit of light leak, which only made the images more artistic. If you are looking for a point and shoot film device, this one is definitely for you.