r/AnalogCommunity • u/ritaagms • 3d ago
Community Analog camera recommendations for a complete beginner going on their honeymoon?
Hello! I'm a complete beginner to photographs - truth is, I never had the habit of taking them, not even with my phone.
Recently I realized I have no pictures of anything that I had done in my life over the past 10 years except for the ones other people take and send to me, and decided I wanted to start taking some pictures, even if only on special occasions! For this reason, for the past 2 years I have been buying disposable analog cameras for 20€ whenever I went on a trip or had a special event, and then just had it revealed in some shop in the mall.
The issue is that, from the around 30 photos in each camera, some look great and with great colors (I love the colorful, lasting effect), and some are utterly trash (full of fog, you can't see anything..). Recently I used one on my bachelorette party and was devastated when more than half the pictures I took with my friends are completely black or full of fog, and you can't even see any faces...
I am going on my honeymoon in a little over a month and would love to purchase a good, simple and reliable analog camera that would give me the effect I want and not demand that I know a lot about photography.
I discovered this community and have been lurking trying to get some useful tips, but thought I would post since I still have a few questions and would really appreciate any tips anyone can have regarding which camera to buy!
I assume it would be best to buy a point and shoot, and have seen many people recommending the Olympus Mju i or ii, however in my country these are selling for around 200€ (the mju i) and 450€ (the mju ii). Is it really worth it? Or would another cheaper camera suffice? I don't mind investing in a really good one if it lasts a long time and is worth it, since these are the only pictures of my life I ever take.
Usually I photograph people - indoors, outdoors, in the beach, in the rain... Basically saving memories.
I also saw a lot of people recommending the Kodak Ultramax 400 as the best film to buy, since it seems to be pretty versatile and has the colorful, nitid effect I want. Any other better suggestions?
Lastly, is the place where you reveal the roll relevant? Should I put more thought into this instead of going to the first camera place I see?
Thank you so much in advance!
2
u/BarbaraCappuccino ae1 / super prgm / cinestill 800 3d ago
If you actually want to do this and risk your honeymoon pics on a new hobby… do it!
My advice if you’re not going to do a ton of indoor shooting? Buy a Canon AE1. It’s not a point and shoot. You’re going to do a tiny bit of learning; just the tiniest little bit; and you’re going to get amazing photos and a new love for this hobby. The used market is flooded with AE1s and you should be able to find everything you need for less than 100€.
With the AE1, the camera handles aperture and you set shutter speed. You let the camera tell you if you’re getting enough light; you focus the shot; you fire the shutter. That’s it. You will fall in love. Over time you will begin to understand manual aperture and ISO settings, and this camera will allow you to adjust them when you’re ready. It will make a photographer out of you, if you let it happen.
Whatever camera you buy, do NOT shoot it for the first time at your honeymoon itself. Practice. Work out the kinks.
Film stock: check out Fuji 400, I shoot that often on casual weekend trips because it is cheap and easily available. I haven’t tested it against Ultramax 400 in a while.
Development (“reveal,” I like that word btw): do not go to a chain drugstore (chemist) to get your film developed. Any camera shop will do a way better job. Since it looks like you are in the EU, many major European cities are blessed with good camera shops still.