From the Arch Club Journal
The best 35mm film cameras of 2026
From a first camera to a lifelong one. Our picks, by what you want to do.
Written by Arch Club. We shoot 35mm on a Canon EOS-1V, which appears below. Updated for 2026.
Our picks
I
Best first camera: Pentax K1000 or Canon AE-1 Program.Simple, plentiful and repairable. The K1000 is fully manual; the AE-1 Program can set exposure for you while you learn.
II
Best all-mechanical: Nikon FM2.Works without a battery except for the meter. Fast shutter, tough body and Nikon's huge lens range.
III
Best compact SLR: Olympus OM-1 or OM-2.Small, light and lovely to use, with bright finders and fine Zuiko lenses.
IV
Best new camera: Leica M6 or Pentax 17.Leica brought the M6 back into production; Pentax launched the 17, a new half-frame camera. Both come with a warranty, which no vintage camera can offer.
V
Best pocket camera: Olympus Stylus Epic or Contax T2.Sharp lenses in a body that disappears into a coat. The T2 is the luxury pick and priced like one.
VI
Best professional SLR: Canon EOS-1V.Canon's last flagship film body. Fast, precise, and compatible with every EF lens. It is our 35mm camera.
Buying used
- Buy from a seller who tests cameras and offers a return or warranty.
- Check the shutter at every speed and look for haze or fungus in the lens.
- Budget for a service on any older mechanical camera.
- Run one cheap roll before trusting it with something important.
The best camera is the one you trust enough to carry every day.
Shot on film at Arch Club
ARCH CLUB
A members' club for foot photography, shot only on film.
Every Arch Club photograph is made on a Canon EOS-1V, a Mamiya 7 or a Fuji GW690II, with real models in New York and never AI. Members receive new film photographs every month, and collectors can own the original negative, sealed in display resin with a print of their choice.
Membership$49.99/mo
Polaroid$111
4×6 print$200
Negatives$1,100 to $2,000
Cameras35mm, 6×7, 6×9
Anyone can find a picture. Few will ever hold a photograph.
Visit Arch ClubPublished by Arch Club, Brooklyn, New York.