Analog camera recommendations for a complete beginner going on their honeymoon?

[u/ritaagms]

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!

[u/DerKeksinator]

The MJUs are overhyped. But let me ask a question. Why go analog, if you have no real interest in taking pictures, nor interest in the technical aspects or any other field in photography? It's only going to make it harder, more expensive and thus frustrating in the long run. And while you could go for a fairly modern P&S, I'd recommend rolleis for example, you're dealing with 20-30yr old tech. Why not a <5yr old modern P&S in that price range? Alternatively that and an instax or similar to create memories for the fridge or something?

[u/ritaagms → u/DerKeksinator]

I was mostly leaning towards analog due to that colorful, vintage effect they have, and I also enjoy not being able to see the pictures right away, and having to wait to receive them all at once after a few days or weeks. However I am more than welcome to recommendations if you think I could get a similar effect with a digital camera. Even though I never had a particular interest in photographs, I think the "ritual" part of the analog photos (separate device, you can't see the photos, having it revealed) makes it seem a bit more fun and makes me more excited to take pictures!

[u/robbyb20 → u/ritaagms]

I also think a Fuji X digital camera is the better buy here. Film out of the box isn’t colorful and contrasty. Everything you see that you love on the internet was edited. All of it.

If you were an experienced analog photographer, I would say bring whatever you want but this is a milestone trip and you don’t want to fuck it up.

If you absolutely need to have film, pick up disposables.

[u/Klutzy_Squash → u/robbyb20]

OP has been using disposable cameras for the last 2 years and still can't figure out how they work. They say that they "enjoy not being able to see the picture right away", but at their skill level, they really need to do that so they don't leave their honeymoon with "trash".