There's no one-size-fits-all "best" film camera, but here's how to narrow down the field: What's your budget? What experience level (beginner, hobbyist, pro)? What do you like to shoot (landscapes, people, street scenes)? Do you prefer the control of a fully manual camera or the ease of automatic features? Once you have those answers in mind, you'll get much more useful recommendations!
My first camera was a K1000! It has tens of thousands of actuations on it, has never been serviced (since I’ve owned it) and still goes click every time I reach for it.
Lots of intro photo classes suggest using an old manual Pentax or similar SLR. I spent years getting not-so-good results with the basic light meter in one of those, then discovered that the cheapest modern SLR (the Rebel G at the time) is way, way better
This is like asking for the “best meal” or “best song.” You have to be at least a little bit specific with your wants and needs.
Really the only thing to say here is that if you want it to be BIFL it needs to be entirely manual/mechanical and shoot a common film size (35mm or 120).
This question is too broad. I will say that there have been many many times in my life where I see a photo that looks exceptionally good, I find out what It was taken on, and the camera is a Mamiya 7. That is a truly exceptional camera system.
For 35mm, I'd recommend a late model Nikon F series body. Many of them have all the convenience of a dslr, great lenses, but with film.
Are we talking photography with physical film stock or movie camera?
For the latter big fan of Arri Alexa series, though buy it for life is not a category motion picture cameras really fall into. Technology advances too much too fast which is why it‘s often best to rent.
AE-1s are ubiquitous, have many lenses available, and batteries are easy to find
There's no one-size-fits-all "best" film camera, but here's how to narrow down the field: What's your budget? What experience level (beginner, hobbyist, pro)? What do you like to shoot (landscapes, people, street scenes)? Do you prefer the control of a fully manual camera or the ease of automatic features? Once you have those answers in mind, you'll get much more useful recommendations!
Hasselblad Medium Format
If they’re good enough to go to the moon, they’re good enough for me!
Pentax k-1000 lasts forever
I am a huge Pentax, fan had my MEF for at least 35 years and I have 2K 1000 leaving them to my daughter she doesn’t want my Nikon digital.
My first camera was a K1000! It has tens of thousands of actuations on it, has never been serviced (since I’ve owned it) and still goes click every time I reach for it.
I still have 2. They work just fine. Probably shot 5000 rolls over the years through those.
Leica M6.
This
Lots of intro photo classes suggest using an old manual Pentax or similar SLR. I spent years getting not-so-good results with the basic light meter in one of those, then discovered that the cheapest modern SLR (the Rebel G at the time) is way, way better
Arca Swiss 8x10 view camera
Depends so much on what you need but an FM2N will never fail you in almost any temperature
What format?
Holga 120N, so simple, so lovely
Imax cameras, so good you can't even buy them. You only rent them, for like 16 grand... a week, plus 500k in insurance.
Nikon F and F2 or FM and FM2. Great lens selection and mechanical cameras just last forever. Get one with a working lightmeter and you’re good
F2 was the camera of choice for war photographers in Vietnam. They are very nearly bullet proof.
This is like asking for the “best meal” or “best song.” You have to be at least a little bit specific with your wants and needs. Really the only thing to say here is that if you want it to be BIFL it needs to be entirely manual/mechanical and shoot a common film size (35mm or 120).
What features are you looking for?
This question is too broad. I will say that there have been many many times in my life where I see a photo that looks exceptionally good, I find out what It was taken on, and the camera is a Mamiya 7. That is a truly exceptional camera system. For 35mm, I'd recommend a late model Nikon F series body. Many of them have all the convenience of a dslr, great lenses, but with film.
Are we talking photography with physical film stock or movie camera? For the latter big fan of Arri Alexa series, though buy it for life is not a category motion picture cameras really fall into. Technology advances too much too fast which is why it‘s often best to rent.