Suanjoto

When you’re ready to take the dive into film photography, or perfect the skills you’ve been working on, a solid 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses is absolutely imperative. An SLR, or Single Lens Reflex, means that a mirror and prism system lets you see exactly what you are shooting. Interchangeable lenses mean just that - you can take the lenses on and off. Most SLRs are sold as “kits,” meaning you get at least one lens with the body; however sometimes you may come across an amazing body on its own which means you’ll have to find a lens yourself.

So what exactly makes a good SLR for beginners? First, it should be fully manual! You’ll never learn shooting automatic, so let that one go. Second, it should be easy to repair and easy to find extra lenses and accessories. Go with a well-known brand versus something obscure (no matter how gorgeous it is!) to make sure you won’t be struggling.

Quite a few major brands manufactured 35mm SLRs, but we’ve put together a list of solid, reliable models that are a perfect fit for any beginner looking to invest in a camera that will last a lifetime. You cannot go wrong with one of these classics:

1. Canon AE-1

The Canon AE-1 is one of the most well-known 35mm SLRs of all time and has a hugely loyal fan base - people literally swear by this camera. It was manufactured in Japan from 1976 to 1984, and in those 8 years enough were produced that you will not have a hard time getting your hands on one for a reasonable price. This camera was not designed for professionals, but instead featured straightforward and easy-to-understand controls intended for beginners or hobbyists. It has an automatic aperture feature, but you won’t be using that if you actually want to learn something. It uses a Canon FD lens mount, making it compatible with any FD or FDn lens. It’s not technically compatible with Canon EF lenses, but plenty of adapters are available to solve that problem.

A couple of fun facts: this camera sold an unprecedented one million units - a first for any SLR. It was also the first SLR on the market to be equipped with a microprocessor. The microprocessor is essential to the electromagnetic focal plane shutter system - which brings us to the one downfall of this camera: if the battery dies the shutter won’t pop. Batteries for most 35mm SLRs are specifically for the light meter, but this is not so in the case of the Canon AE-1. Basically, buy extra batteries if you go for this camera and you’ll be fine. The follow up model to the Canon AE-1 is the Canon AE-1 Program, and is also a good option. If you have a look at the top selling film cameras , you’ll notice the Canon AE-1 is #1 on the list.

We have previously reviewed the Canon AE-1 here.

2. Pentax K1000

The Pentax K1000 is often referred to as a “beast” or “workhorse” because of it’s insane durability. It was manufactured from 1976 to 1997, making it one of the longest produced 35mm SLR models of all time. It’s inexpensive, simple and loved by photographers worldwide. Because of its reasonable price tag and long-standing production, over 3 million Pentax K1000s units were sold over time and today you can easily find them in great condition without looking very far.

It’s all metal, all manual and accepts ALL Pentax K bayonet lenses. On top of that, almost all Pentax K-AF and K-AF2 autofocus lenses also work with it - you just have to focus manually. With the help of an adapter, it also accepts screw mount lenses and will even work with new autofocus lenses that lack an aperture ring - albeit with limited functionality. Essentially, Pentax claims that any Pentax lens will have some functionality on a K1000 so it’s a camera that will give you lots of options. Plus on this body, if the battery dies no biggie - it’s only for the light meter and you can always Sunny 16.

We have previously reviewed the Pentax K1000 here.