Are Film Cameras still made today?

With the rise of interest in film photography and film cameras during the last years, one question that gets asked a lot of times is: “are film cameras still in production today?” The answer is yes, a couple of brands still produce film cameras in 2023, but some of those might not be what you are hoping to find here. Despite the increased interest in analog photography, the demand is still far away from the level that would be needed for manufacturing film cameras in a profitable way again. Keep on reading in order to find out everything you need to know about which film cameras are still made today.

Why the production of film cameras has mostly been stopped?

Only very few people are willing to spend as much money on a “new” film camera as would be required to make a profit for the company. The biggest competitor might be the used market here. Even if there are exceptions like the simple Point-and-Shoot camera models such as Yashica T5 or Olympus Mju ii that have recently spiked significantly in price, there are still enough budget options available and the used camera market is saturated.

Not too long ago, a Kickstarter project that aimed to achieve the revival of 35 mm SLRs failed. Producing cameras might not be as easy as it seems, and required price tags probably won’t be accepted by the market.

Who is still producing film cameras?

Most of the big and well-known brands have stopped the production of film cameras during the last few years. In 2020 after 16 years of production, Nikon discontinued the production of the Nikon F6, their last flagship SLR, the same happened to the Canon EOS 1V in 2018. If you’re lucky you can still find one of these models in brand-new condition at your local merchant or online at eBay or Amazon but they are not in production anymore. So let’s take a look at what brands are actually still manufacturing new film cameras.

Leica

Leica, a well-known german brand recognized for its quality rangefinder cameras is still manufacturing two different film camera models, the Leica MP and the Leica M-A. For some film photographers, Leica cameras seem to be the holy grail of film photography, they are praised for their design, simplicity, and mechanical quality so you can expect pretty hefty price tags for all of their models.

Leica MP

Leica MP stands for “Mechanical Perfection” and this is precisely what Leica aims to achieve with this model. The camera features a classic retro design and Leica offers various camera finishes such as black chrome, black paint, and even more options for further customization. This model is often out of stock, so in case you are interested make sure to enter the waiting list. Check prices and availability here.

Leica M-A (Typ 702)

This is Leicas most recently released film camera, when comparing it to the Leica MP this model is even more stripped down to the essentials. It does not use a battery and it does not offer a light meter, making the Leica M-A the more puristic choice between the two. Built quality and construction wise it is very similar to the Leica MP. Check prices and availability here.

Lomography

Lomography is not only a brand but also a specific photographic style that evolves around taking spontaneous photographs with no attention to the classical technical details. Light leaks, color shifts, and other traits of cheap low-quality cameras or toy cameras are used for aesthetic effects. The brand itself does a great job at keeping this community alive and also at putting out new cameras on a regular basis. Their products range from cheap plasticky reusable cameras over gimmicky fisheye and wide lens models to their flagship model Lomo LC-A. The cheapest options start at around $20 and prices go up to around $500.

If you are interested in Lomography examples or want to join check out their community gallery or join a Lomo-related group on flicker.

Light leaks and color shifts – good examples for lomography type photography

Polaroid

Polaroid is well known for its instant film and the associated cameras. Especially in the younger generations, these cameras are in great demand due to their ability to capture the moment and print it on a physical photocopy in a couple of seconds. Polaroid divides its models into three categories.

• Polaroid Now – The classic Polaroid experience, large format, and autofocus
• Polaroid Now+ – More features, the option to fully manually control the camera by using the app
• Polaroid Go – Smaller Instax format but fast developing times, better suited for quick snapshots

Disposables

Disposable 35mm film cameras are offered by various brands, for example, Kodak, Fuji, and Ilford but there are also other options available. They are preloaded with film and often have some slightly different specifications but are overall pretty similar. There are also waterproof models or Lomography models that come with different color options for flash or Lomography-specific film stock. I recommend just browsing around on B&H and trying one or the other in case you’re interested.

Where can you still buy film cameras?

The best place to buy new film cameras definitely is online in specialized stores like B&H. Price comparison for the likes of Leica is easier and more convenient. Amazon and eBay are also great options and with eBay, you also have the possibility to look for used ones. Lomography and Polaroid can easily be purchased on their own websites, but you usually won’t find the best-priced offers there.

Disposables on the other hand can really be purchased anywhere, from your local Walmart to souvenir shops at busy locations.

Can you still buy film for Film Cameras?

Yes! Buying 35mm is still possible and several manufacturers are still producing it. The biggest and best-known brands that still produce film are Kodak, Fujifilm, and Ilford. Other examples would be Cinestill or Lomo. There are also lots of Indie Brands but it is not always sure what film exactly is used here, often it is just repackaged Kodak film.

Where can you still buy film for Film Cameras

B&H Photo Video

The big and well-known photo & video retailer from New York offers a broad range of photography-related products. Besides the most demanded 35 mm film stocks, they also offer medium format, large format, and even 110 cartridge-based films. Just looking at the available 35 mm films they currently offer over 100 different film stocks.

Each product can be reviewed by the customers on their site, which is a great feature to support your buying decisions. They are offering a Q&A section for each film stock and you have the ability to talk to an expert. B&H is offering worldwide shipping but you can also select your favorite film in their brick-and-mortar store base in New York.

Amazon

Amazon of course, like probably any other product the world’s biggest online retailer also offers a variety of film stocks. They are not as well sorted as specialized photography retailers but the most common film brands are usually in stock.

Film photography can be expensive so most of the time I am switching between a couple of well-known brands with a good price-performance ratio. Amazon’s competitive pricing really helps to keep costs down, and their excellent customer support is another big plus. Of course, international shipping is offered.

eBay

You can get everything on eBay and specifically for film and analog cameras it’s a gold mine. If you are searching specifically for Lomography-related films you can get very lucky here, it’s the perfect place for expired film and toy cameras. But if you are not looking to get into Lomography you should be careful to check with the seller whether the film is still good to use.

Make sure to also keep a close eye on shipping costs if you are ordering internationally.

KEH Camera

KEH Camera is another great place to buy film stock or film-related products in general. KEH is the world’s largest used camera gear dealer so there should be a huge variety of options to choose from. KEH is also offering international shipping.

Other options

Even supermarkets or retailers like Walmart, Costco, or CVS still offer film stock. The downside is that choice is pretty limited and the pricing is also rather expensive, they will usually only offer a couple of the most common 35 mm film stocks, and talking to an expert is not really an option here.

You could also check for local retailers or specialized labs. You can often get great advice and expertise here, pricing usually is not the cheapest but supporting the local film photography community is always a great thing to do. If you decide to also get your film developed at a local lab this is often the way to go.

Can you still get your film developed at Walmart/Walgreens/CVS?

Yes, you can still get your film developed at all of these retailers. Pricing is usually competitive and they will just send it out to a big lab that specializes in film development. In case you are just looking to get a common film stock developed this is a great option. There should be no difference to any more expensive lab as the development processes are standardized.

The downside is that the developing times are a bit longer as the retailer will first have to ship to the lab, get it developed and then ship it back. Sometimes people also complain about improper handling of their developed film stock, resulting in scratches and incorrectly cut negatives.