Travelling With Film (Analog) Cameras Today

Updated on July 20th, 2024

I have no illusions that taking photos with film in plain 2023 is not for the faints of hearth and it's more for stubborn people like me.

Although we can still buy fresh film in 2023, it's near impossible to buy new film cameras, even more, good ones. And the cost and variety of films aren't exactly pleasant news.

But there are plenty of camera bargains in the second-hand market, or even on some forgotten drawer, or somewhere else.

The problem that bugs me is how reliable these old cameras are today. If you are like me and have a fixed idea of always trying to shoot with film for fun, it's better to triple-check your equipment before going on a trip with untested cameras and come back frustrated because they had a working problem.

First rule:

Always test/check old cameras from time to time. It's a common problem to have sticky shutters with long-time unused cameras. Exercise the shutter from time to time, they need a little workout every 6 months minimum. If they are sticky, send it to a technician for CLA. Check also for the light seals.

I have a friend who traveled to the Atacama desert and the Bolivian Altiplano with a venerable Minolta SRT101 and had issues caused by low temperature and old lubricants. The camera mirror stuck in 50% of the time. Not a catastrophe but indeed very annoying and frustrating.

In my case, I don't spend too much money on absolute any analog camera. Not talking about lenses, but camera bodies. Why? Because unless you're a collector, you will lose money and honestly the camera body will not be the determinant factor for good or bad photos.

Definitely I would avoid fancy cameras unless they are being sold very cheap. For example, I always try to avoid any electronically controlled camera (with very few exceptions), because they are much more prone to failure than all-mechanical ones.

When I'm traveling analog, I always carry two cameras, the main one, let's say a mechanical SLR and a small compact. If the main camera decides to stop working, a backup may save your day. They need to use the same film format, of course.

For the compact, there are plenty of pretty good and cheap ones and you can always find something very interesting in a garage sale. I always look for half-frame cameras like the Olympus Pen and the Canon Demi series.

Like I wrote before, beware of electronic-controlled cameras. But I like some ones and would not hesitate to buy them if they are in working order. Some that are worth a look are the Minolta X300/350 and the Canon EOS range, which the EOS Rebel 300/500/500N are my picks. I don't like any automatic ones from Nikon, Olympus, or Pentax (Except for the K2 maybe), but this is me.

Another thing you need to have are spare batteries. Some types are becoming hard to find. Some cameras depend on them to work and other ones use them just for the light meter.

It's always good to have a handheld light meter just in case. If you don't have one or don't want to buy one, you can install a proper app on your mobile phone, or an exposure table. It's better than nothing.

1- Always check and test your gear periodically

2- Pay double attention if you have an electronically-controlled camera

3- Have a small backup camera if possible

4- Remember to carry spare batteries

5- Have a light-meter (device or app) or an exposure table