Film photography doesn't require expensive equipment. Some of the best cameras ever made now sell for far less than their original prices. With £100 or less, you can buy excellent gear that produces professional-quality results.
This guide covers proven cameras across formats that regularly appear at budget prices.
Prices are estimates based on typical UK/US used market prices as of 2024. Actual prices vary by condition, seller, and region. Check eBay completed listings for current values.
35mm SLRs
Pentax K1000
What it is: The legendary teaching camera. Fully mechanical, manual exposure, built like a tank.
Why it's excellent:
- Simple: aperture, shutter speed, focus. Nothing else.
- Mechanical reliability—works without batteries (except meter)
- K-mount lens compatibility (huge selection)
- Excellent match-needle meter
Typical price: £50-90 with 50mm f/2
Caveats:
- Later Chinese-made versions less robust than Japanese originals
- No automatic anything—you set everything
- Basic viewfinder compared to other cameras
Best for: Learning exposure, mechanical reliability, those who want simplicity.
Canon AE-1 / AE-1 Program
What it is: The 1970s-80s bestseller that made SLRs accessible. Shutter-priority automatic with manual option.
Why it's excellent:
- Automated exposure eases learning
- Excellent FD lens system
- Widespread availability
- Good viewfinder with LEDs
Typical price: £60-100 with 50mm f/1.8
Caveats:
- Electronic shutter requires battery
- Famous "squeak" from mirror damper (repairable)
- Plastic in construction (normal for era)
Best for: Beginners wanting some automation, classic look, FD lens system.
Minolta X-700
What it is: Minolta's flagship manual-focus camera. Program, aperture-priority, and manual modes.
Why it's excellent:
- Most versatile exposure modes in this range
- Excellent MD/MC lens system (affordable)
- Bright viewfinder
- TTL flash metering
Typical price: £50-90 with 50mm f/1.7
Caveats:
- Capacitor issues on some units (test before buying)
- Electronically controlled shutter
- No mechanical backup
Best for: Those wanting versatile automation with manual override.
Nikon FM / FE / FM2
What it is: Nikon's compact manual-focus SLRs. FM is mechanical, FE adds aperture-priority, FM2 upgrades speed.
Why it's excellent:
- Nikon F-mount compatibility (massive lens selection)
- Build quality exceptional
- FM/FM2 work without batteries
- Professional-grade construction
Typical price:
- FM: £60-100
- FE: £50-90
- FM2: Often exceeds £100 now
Caveats:
- FM2 increasingly expensive
- FE requires battery for shutter
- Smaller than professional Nikon bodies
Best for: Nikon system investment, mechanical reliability, compact professional quality.
Olympus OM-1 / OM-2
What it is: Compact professional SLRs that revolutionised camera size in the 1970s.
Why it's excellent:
- Remarkably small and light for the era
- Excellent Zuiko lenses
- OM-1 is fully mechanical
- OM-2 has pioneering TTL auto
Typical price: £60-100
Caveats:
- Foam light seals often need replacement
- Prism can develop issues on some units
- OM-2 battery-dependent
Best for: Compact carry, excellent optics, travel photography.
When buying a budget SLR, consider lens system costs. Minolta MD lenses are often cheapest; Nikon and Canon retain value but offer more choice. Your first 50mm is usually included—budget for one or two more focal lengths.
35mm Rangefinders
Canonet QL17 GIII
What it is: Canon's premium fixed-lens rangefinder. 40mm f/1.7 lens with shutter-priority auto or manual.
Why it's excellent:
- Sharp 40mm f/1.7 Canon lens
- Quiet leaf shutter
- Compact and well-built
- Both auto and manual exposure
Typical price: £80-120 (often at top of budget)
Caveats:
- Prices have risen significantly
- Selenium meter can fail (check before buying)
- Battery needed for meter only
- Fixed lens (can't change)
Best for: Street photography, compact quality, rangefinder experience.
Yashica Electro 35 Series
What it is: Electronically controlled rangefinder with fast 45mm f/1.7 lens. Various models over many years.
Why it's excellent:
- Fast f/1.7 lens
- Auto exposure (aperture-priority)
- Very affordable
- Good for low light
Typical price: £30-60
Caveats:
- "Pad of death" (capacitor) can fail
- Battery conversion needed (original was mercury)
- Somewhat large for a rangefinder
- No manual shutter speeds
Best for: Budget rangefinder entry, low-light capability.
Olympus 35 RC / 35 SP
What it is: Compact rangefinders from Olympus. RC is tiny; SP is full-featured.
Why it's excellent:
- 35 RC: Genuinely pocketable, zone focus or rangefinder
- 35 SP: Exceptional 42mm f/1.7 lens, spot metering
- Both well-made
Typical price:
- 35 RC: £50-80
- 35 SP: £80-120 (often at top of budget)
Caveats:
- 35 SP prices have risen
- Light seals often need replacement
- Battery issues on older units
Best for: Compact carry, street photography, quality optics.
Konica Auto S3 / S2
What it is: Fixed-lens rangefinders with excellent Hexanon lenses.
Why it's excellent:
- Outstanding Hexanon lens reputation
- Well-engineered
- Often overlooked (better prices)
- Good ergonomics
Typical price: £40-70
Caveats:
- Less common than Canonet
- May need CLA (clean, lube, adjust)
- Battery conversion for meter
Best for: Value-conscious rangefinder users, Hexanon lens quality.
35mm Compacts
Olympus Mju II / Stylus Epic
Note: This famous camera now typically exceeds £100 due to popularity. Included for reference as prices fluctuate.
What it is: Weather-resistant point-and-shoot with sharp 35mm f/2.8 lens.
Why it's famous:
- Sharp, fast lens
- Compact size
- Splash resistant
- Cult following
Typical price: £100-200+ (often above budget)
Alternative: Olympus Mju I (original) often available for £40-60 with slightly slower lens.
Nikon L35AF / One Touch
What it is: Nikon's early autofocus compact with 35mm f/2.8 lens.
Why it's excellent:
- Sharp Nikon glass
- Simple operation
- Reliable AF for era
- Good flash
Typical price: £30-60
Caveats:
- Autofocus basic by modern standards
- No manual control
- Battery dependent
Best for: Casual shooting, backup camera, simple operation.
Canon Sure Shot / AF35M
What it is: Canon's compact autofocus series. Many variations.
Why it's excellent:
- Good optics (varies by model)
- Affordable
- Widely available
- Reliable
Typical price: £20-50
Caveats:
- Many variations in quality
- Zoom models generally worse than prime
- No manual control
Best for: Casual use, backup, always-in-bag camera.
Ricoh GR1 / GR10
Note: GR1 now significantly exceeds £100. GR10 sometimes available at budget.
What it is: Premium compact with 28mm f/2.8 lens (GR1) or 28mm f/3.5 (GR10).
Why it's famous:
- Excellent wide-angle lens
- Manual control available
- Compact body
- Street photographer favourite
Typical price:
- GR1: £300+
- GR10: £80-150 (sometimes at budget)
Best for: Street photography, wide-angle preference.
Premium compact prices have risen dramatically due to social media-driven demand. Be skeptical of claims about "hidden gems"—markets adjust quickly. Buy for function, not hype.
Medium Format
Yashica-Mat 124 / 124G
What it is: Twin-lens reflex (TLR) producing 6×6 negatives. The affordable alternative to Rolleiflex.
Why it's excellent:
- Medium format image quality
- Sharp Yashinon lens
- Quiet leaf shutter
- 124G has improved meter
Typical price: £80-150 (often within budget)
Caveats:
- Heavier than 35mm
- Waist-level viewing (reversed image)
- Fixed 80mm lens equivalent
- May need servicing
Best for: Medium format entry, portraits, square format.
Mamiya 645 1000s / 645 Super
What it is: Modular 6×4.5 SLR system. Interchangeable lenses, backs, finders.
Why it's excellent:
- True system camera
- Excellent Mamiya-Sekor lenses
- Interchangeable film backs
- 15 frames per 120 roll
Typical price: £80-150 with standard lens (often within budget)
Caveats:
- Large and heavy
- Battery dependent
- Additional lenses cost more
- Learning curve
Best for: Serious medium format work, system expandability.
Bronica ETRS / ETRSi
What it is: Modular 6×4.5 SLR alternative to Mamiya 645.
Why it's excellent:
- Quality Zenzanon lenses
- Leaf shutter (flash sync at all speeds)
- Modular system
- Often cheaper than Mamiya
Typical price: £80-120 with standard lens
Caveats:
- Battery dependent
- Parts less available than Mamiya
- Heavy
Best for: Studio work (leaf shutter), medium format entry.
Bronica SQ-A / SQ-Am
What it is: Modular 6×6 SLR. Square format alternative to Hasselblad.
Why it's excellent:
- Square format
- Zenzanon lenses excellent
- Interchangeable backs
- Much cheaper than Hasselblad
Typical price: £100-200 with standard lens
Caveats:
- Heavy
- Battery dependent
- Less prestigious than Hasselblad (purely psychological)
Best for: Square format medium format, Hasselblad alternative.
Seagull TLR
What it is: Chinese-made TLR based on Rolleiflex design.
Why it's excellent:
- Very affordable medium format entry
- Decent optics for price
- 6×6 square format
- Mechanical operation
Typical price: £30-60
Caveats:
- Build quality below Japanese cameras
- May need adjustment out of box
- Variable quality control
- "You get what you pay for"
Best for: Absolute budget medium format, experimentation.
Half-Frame Cameras
Olympus Pen EE / EES / EED
What it is: Half-frame cameras producing 72 exposures on a 36-exposure roll. 18×24mm frame size.
Why it's excellent:
- Extremely compact
- Twice the frames per roll
- Selenium meter (no battery)
- Sharp lenses
Typical price: £30-60
Caveats:
- Half-frame = more grain at same print size
- Portrait orientation by default
- Zone focus (EE) or rangefinder (EED)
- Selenium meters can weaken
Best for: Experimental shooting, travel, diary photography.
Canon Demi
What it is: Canon's half-frame compact series.
Why it's excellent:
- Quality Canon optics
- Compact
- Various models with different features
- Affordable
Typical price: £30-50
Caveats:
- Half-frame limitations
- Some models more automated than others
- Less common than Olympus Pen
Best for: Half-frame entry, Canon quality.
Testing a Used Camera
Before buying, check:
- Shutter fires at all speeds (listen for difference between 1s and 1/1000)
- Aperture blades move freely (look through lens while adjusting)
- Film advance feels smooth, not gritty
- Light seals aren't crumbling (check door edges)
- Battery compartment is clean (no corrosion)
- Meter responds to light changes (if applicable)
- Lens focuses smoothly from close to infinity
A cheap test roll before important work is always worthwhile.
What to Check When Buying
SLR Cameras
Shutter accuracy: Fire at all speeds. Listen for consistent timing. 1 second should sound like 1 second.
Mirror operation: Should be smooth without hesitation. Listen for unusual sounds.
Meter function: Compare to phone app or known meter. Should be within 1 stop.
Viewfinder: Check for fungus, haze, or prism delamination. Should be clear.
Light seals: Look for foam debris in mirror chamber and around film door.
Rangefinders
Rangefinder alignment: Focus on distant object, then close. Patch should align accurately at all distances.
Shutter leaf condition: Open back, fire at 1/2 second, look through lens at light. Blades should be clean, oil-free.
Meter function: If selenium, may be weak or dead. CdS meters usually survive.
Lens condition: Check for haze, fungus, scratches, separation.
Medium Format
Film advance: Should be smooth and complete without skipping.
Back light seals: Essential for light-tight operation.
Lens shutter: Fire at all speeds. Listen for accuracy.
Mirror (SLRs): Check dampening and return.
Where to Buy
Online Marketplaces
eBay:
- Largest selection
- Use "buy it now" for reliable sellers
- Check seller ratings carefully
- Factor in return policy
KEH / MPB / UsedPhotoPro:
- Graded inventory
- Return policies
- Slightly higher prices but more security
Local Options
Camera shops:
- Can inspect before buying
- May include warranty
- Support local businesses
- Often willing to negotiate
Camera fairs:
- Good prices possible
- Cash preferred
- Can inspect thoroughly
- Negotiate expected
Facebook Marketplace / Gumtree:
- Local pickup possible
- Test before paying
- Negotiate in person
- Beware of scams
Avoiding Problems
Red flags:
- "Untested" often means broken
- "For parts or repair" means broken
- Unrealistic prices (too good = too bad)
- Stock photos instead of actual item
- Reluctance to answer questions
Good signs:
- Multiple detailed photos
- Honest description of condition
- Sample images from camera
- Reasonable return policy
- Responsive seller
Recommended Starter Kits
Pure Beginner (Under £75)
Option A: Manual SLR
- Pentax K1000 with 50mm f/2 (~£60)
- Light seal replacement if needed (~£10)
Option B: Rangefinder
- Yashica Electro 35 (~£40)
- Battery adapter (~£5)
Enthusiast Entry (Under £100)
Option A: System SLR
- Canon AE-1 or Minolta X-700 with 50mm (~£70)
- Budget for one additional lens later
Option B: Quality Rangefinder
- Olympus 35 RC (~£60)
- Pocketable, excellent optics
Medium Format Entry (At £100)
Option A: TLR
- Yashica-Mat 124G (~£100)
- Classic square format, immediate results
Option B: System SLR
- Mamiya 645 with 80mm (~£100)
- Expandable, professional results
Summary
Best value manual SLR: Pentax K1000 or Minolta X-700
Best value rangefinder: Yashica Electro 35 or Olympus 35 RC
Best value compact: Nikon L35AF or Canon Sure Shot
Best value medium format: Yashica-Mat 124G
Best value half-frame: Olympus Pen EE series
Key principles:
- Test before buying when possible
- Factor in service costs for used equipment
- Lens system availability matters for SLRs
- Condition matters more than brand prestige
- Start simple, upgrade with experience
Expensive equipment doesn't make better photographs—understanding light, composition, and technique does. These budget cameras have produced countless professional images. Master what you have before seeking more.