20 Best Film SLRs for 2020

I get more email comments on my blog posts about recommended cameras than anything else I write about here. Seems there are a lot of people searching the internet these days for suggestions about the best film cameras to buy and try. After ten years of success and failure, here are my top 20 single lens reflex film cameras for 2020:

Canon A-1

Multiple shooting modes available in this lightweight and affordable SLR. Plenty of Canon FD lenses available.

Tip: The Canon squeak is common with the A-1 and AE-1 models. It’s annoying but doesn’t affect operation. A CLA solves the issue.

Canon F-1 New

The final evolution of the F-1 series features a cool matte black finish, aperture-priority auto exposure and a sweet sounding shutter!

Contax RX

I have tried several Contax SLRs from this era and like the RX the best. Big viewfinder, electronic focus assist and wow…those Carl Zeiss lenses!

Tip: Shop carefully. Contax cameras are complicated electronic devices and the technology hasn't aged well.I bought my body from B&H Photo which offers returns if not satisfied.

Hasselblad 500cm

Beautiful medium format SLR that is completely modular allowing you to build a camera to fit your personal style.

Tip: The 500c is less expensive but doesn’t offer the option of changing out the focus screen. I upgraded to an Acute-Matte screen in my 500cm. It’s much brighter.

Leicaflex SL2

The cost of building this SLR nearly put Leica out of business. One of the nicest vintage cameras I have ever used.

Tip: Shop carefully…the prisms in these tend to de-silver with age but are easily repairable. DAG Camera Repair is the go to shop for Leicaflex.

Leica R4s

After fighting electronic gremlins in the R3, Leica got it right with the R4. The last version of the R4, the R4s MOD-P is the most dependable and nicest to shoot.

Leica R6

This is the SLR version of the M6 rangefinder. All mechanical, simple and accurate TTL metering and one of the most affordable ways to try Leica lenses.

Tip: The R6.2 is the same camera but with a top shutter speed of 1/2000th.

Minolta XD

I have tried lots of Minolta SLRs and I like the XD best. Also called the XD-7 and XD-11, this camera is a result of a Minolta/Leica collaboration.

Nikon F2

A wonderful mechanical professional level SLR! The interchangeable prisms on the F2 make it a F2 Photomic, F2S, F2SB, F2A or F2AS. The AS is the final version with the most accurate meter. It’s also the most expensive.

Tip: Every F2 I have bought needed new seals and mirror bumper foams. Most will benefit from a complete CLA. Sover Wong is the go to guy for that.

Nikon FM2n

All mechanical with built-in center weighted metering, the FM2 was the dependable back-up camera to whatever pro body working photographers were shooting at the time. You can’t go wrong buying one of these great Nikons and oh…those fabulous NIkkors!

Nikon FE2

The FE2 was the first film camera I bought when I got back into photography in late 2009. This camera is the electronic version of the FM2 with aperture priority auto exposure and one of the best viewfinder displays of any classic SLR!

Nikon F3HP

It took three tries before I finally warmed up to the Nikon F3. Some cameras are better appreciated with experience. I’m at peace with my F3 now…it is a joy to shoot!

Nikon F4

I know there are a lot of haters out there, but I just love my big, heavy Nikon F4. This was an expensive and revolutionary camera when it came out. Whenever I shoot my F4 someone will come up and say “Wow, what kind of camera is that?”

Nikon F100

The newest camera I own and one of film photography’s best values! These cameras are amazing and they sell for cheap! I remember when the F100 came out, there was a waiting list to buy one.

Tip: Nikon used a kind of rubber on the outside of this camera that gets sticky over time. I find that handling the camera often takes care of that issue. Not sure why, but it works!

Olympus OM-1 and OM-1n

Gorgeous, jewel-like little cameras with amazing lenses! These cameras used now banned mercury batteries but can be adjusted to use modern photo cells. Love this camera!

Tip: John Titterington sells serviced OM-1 cameras on eBay. I have purchased all my Olympus cameras from John.

Pentax Spotmatic

The Spotmatics are well made cameras that use amazing Pentax Takumar lenses. You’ll have to learn stop down metering to use a Spotmatic, but that’s easy. Buy a Spotmatic F and you’ll get open aperture metering.

Tip: You can find a nice Spotmatic for around $30. Then, immediately send it to Eric Hendrickson for CLA and battery upgrade. You’ll have around $100 total invested and own a great picture taking machine!

Pentax LX

Pentax’s professional grade SLR. The LX is a system camera with interchangeable prisms and loads of accessories. Perfect size, super accurate metering and a wide range of SMC lenses.

Tip: The LX is expensive to buy and own. A CLA on this camera is $200-$300, but when you shoot it, you don’t mind :-)

Pentax MX

Manual, mechanical and mighty small. The Pentax MX was the professional grade camera in the M line up.

Pentax ME

Wonderful and affordable platform for Pentax SMC lenses. Offers aperture-priority auto exposure only.

Pentax K2

Before the LX came out, the K2 was the flagship Pentax camera. Aperture-priority or manual exposure and a sexy sounding shutter!

Tip: Many K2 cameras came with plain matte focusing screens. I sent mine to Eric Hendrickson for upgrade to split image focusing.

Runners up: Pentax 645n, Nikon F, Olympus OM-2n, Minolta XE-7, Pentax ME Super, Nikon N90s, Pentax K1000, Nikon F5.

Sharing what I have learned over the years, here are some of my tips on buying old film cameras.

1. Buy from an established retailer if you can. Places like KEH Camera, B&H, Adorama, Tamarkin Camera, Blue Moon, The Leica Store, etc. stand behind their cameras and offer returns.

2. If you buy from eBay, try and buy from a seller that has 100% good feedback. When I have followed that rule I’ve not been burned. The few times I have not followed that rule, I’ve ended up with issues.

3. Expect that any vintage camera you buy will need a service at some point. These cameras are decades old and their history is mostly unknown. Try and find the best example you can afford and set aside some funds for service. There are very good service techs out there that work on most every kind of camera. After a good service, most vintage cameras will outlive their owners.

4. Watch out for fungus. Many old film cameras were stored improperly and fungus can grow on internal foams, metal and glass surfaces. Fungus is white or light grey colored, is difficult and expensive to remove and can spread from camera to lens. Look carefully at the photos of any old camera you are going to buy for signs of fungus.

5. If you buy camera and lens separately, make sure you do your research on lens compatibility. Many camera manufacturers changed lens mounts over time and just because you buy a Canon lens for a Canon camera, it may not fit. Google is your friend here.

6. Same is true for batteries. Some older cameras take batteries that are no longer available. Good news is that most of these cameras can be adapted to use modern batteries. Again, do your research.

Happy camera shopping!