Do you want to take film photos, but can’t afford a manual film camera? Do you dislike having to go into the store to buy a new disposable film camera every time you use up your last one? Want something that’s like a mini film camera but you don’t need to throw it away? Then try point and shoot cameras! In this post, I will be talking about what kind of point-and-shoot cameras you should be looking for, as well as how to use them.
The first question is, “What is a point-and-shoot film camera”?
Well, a point-and-shoot camera is a type of film camera that automatically focuses and determines the shutter speed and aperture you should be shooting at. The aperture is fixed to a certain focal length depending on what kind of camera you bought. The ISO, however, is dependent on whichever film roll you purchase (I recommend Kodak UltraMax 400, you can get 3 rolls for 15$ at most Fred Meyer). So, with these three elements of photography taken care of all, you have to do is line up the shot and press the button.
“What kinds of pictures can I take with point-and-shoot cameras?”
All kinds! It’s really up to whatever you want to take photos of. You can capture some memories of you and your friends, or capture a particularly beautiful day, or plan a whole film photoshoot with just your point and shoot camera!
“Where can I buy point-and-shoot cameras?”
You can find point-and-shoot cameras for sale on many different websites or even in person. If you were to purchase one online I would recommend searching on eBay. While searching on eBay make sure you are reading the title, the conditions of the camera, and the description of the sale. Sometimes, sellers will say a camera is used (a used point-and-shoot is completely fine, you don’t need a brand new one) when in reality they have no idea if it works because the battery hasn’t worked in years. But a new battery for a point-and-shoot is not a difficult thing to fix. If you were to buy one in person I would recommend going to any thrift store and checking their electronics area. There you may be able to find a point-and-shoot for very cheap. However, finding one in a thrift store can be rare.
Also, the cost for a point-and-shoot will vary depending on the brand you choose. For your first point-and-shoot I would recommend not going above 15$ unless you are completely sure it is working well and you have heard good things about the camera.
“What kind of point-and-shoot cameras should I be on the lookout for?”
For what kind of camera you should get, I would say whatever is in your price range! The photos you get may vary little from camera to camera so you might buy a few to see what kind of look you want your photos to look like. Most of the time the type of photos you get will still produce a nice film grain look to it.
However, if you are looking for even more guidance on what brands to focus on when buying a point-and-shoot I recommend, Olympus, Minolta, and Canon.
Here is a link to another article that lists the top 5 best point-and-shoot cameras.
Finally, some extra little tips about point-and-shoot cameras:
Some point-and-shoots have features that allow you to take better photos, like red-eye correction, a stabilizing feature, a night mode, the ability to burn the current date into the photo, and even the ability to shoot without flash (seems obvious but some cameras always have an automatic flash). Be sure to look up the manual for the camera you’re about to purchase because the manual will tell you all you need to know about the camera!
Now you are all set to find the point-and-shoot camera that’s right for you!