35mm Camera Tutorial

35mm has been the most common film size for decades.

The vast majority of cameras that use film take 35mm film. 35mm film was developed as a smaller format than other film sizes, and became the most popular film size for amateur photographers. Today, used 35mm cameras are available at very low prices. Several major camera manufacturers continue to make cameras that use 35mm film.

Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Point-and-shoot cameras are the simplest 35mm cameras. They range in price from free to around $100. They are small and easy to use. Some point-and-shoot cameras have a zoom lens that can range from moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto. Others have a fixed focal length lens. Loading point-and-shoot cameras is easy; many feature automatic film loading and rewinding.

Point-and-shoot cameras use a viewfinder that's cheap to manufacture and helps keep the camera small, but what is shown in the viewfinder may be slightly different from what is captured on the film.

SLR Cameras

Single-lens-reflex 35mm cameras are the most common choice of many professionals who still shoot with a film camera. The image in the viewfinder is the image that is captured on film because the same lens is used both for the viewfinder and for creating the image. Light from the lens is reflected by a mirror into the viewfinder. When the shutter is pressed, the lens flips up allowing the light to pass through a shutter to the film. Of all 35mm cameras, SLRs offer the widest range of interchangeable lenses.

Rangefinder Cameras

Rangefinder cameras pre-date SLRs and in some cases are considered better cameras. A rangefinder uses a viewfinder, like a point and shoot camera, but allows manual focusing of the image through a rangefinder mechanism. Some rangefinder cameras offer optics superior to those in 35mm SLRs. Rangefinders have fewer available lenses but are often preferred by photographers who work in situations where a quiet camera is an advantage. Rangefinders, because they don't have a mirror in the mechanism, are virtually silent. Many street photographers prefer rangefinders because they are less noticeable than SLRs.

References

• Buying a Point and Shoot Camera
• SLR Camera Buyer's Guide
• 35mm Rangefinders