The best film cameras in 2024: recapture the magic of film in the digital age

A vintage Canon AE-1 with Canon FD 50mm f/1.8
(Image credit: Future)

Once considered a relic of the past, film photography has experienced a remarkable resurgence in recent years. Thanks to platforms like Instagram and specialized sites such as Analogue Wonderland, more photographers are rediscovering the unique allure of analog shooting. There's an almost magical quality to it that digital photography can't quite replicate.

Why do people still shoot film? It offers a range of appealing aspects: the tactile nature of the medium, the thrill of experimenting with different film stocks, and the distinct look each one produces. There's also a sense of delayed gratification, which might seem counterintuitive in today's instant world, but it adds to the excitement—waiting to see how your photos turn out after capturing the moment is part of the charm.

Sebastian Oakley
Sebastian Oakley

For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. He is familiar with and shows great interest in film photography having used many 35mm, medium, and large format cameras from Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, Sinar. Seb is still as passionate about shooting black and white film today as he was years ago, often using his Leica M2 to shoot street photography.

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Sebastian Oakley
Ecommerce Editor

For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights.

He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and is a Master of Arts in Publishing.  He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association. 

He is familiar with and shows great interest in street, medium, and large format photography with products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 shooting Street photography or general life as he sees it, usually in Black and White.

With contributions from