35mm Point & Shoot Film Cameras

A Simple Introduction to 35mm Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Whether you want to shoot black and white or colour images, a 35mm point-and-shoot camera lets you get started right away without a huge learning curve. Unlike expensive SLR cameras, these 35mm designs let an inexperienced novice snap high-quality film photographs. A point-and-shoot device differs from a 35mm compact camera, which refers to a small body device that may or may not have fully automatic capabilities.

Manufacturers design these cameras for simple operation. Both new and vintage models are available on eBay. Look for autofocus or focus-free lenses, preset or automatic exposure settings, and built-in flashes. Some models feature a metal housing. You can find some devices with “superzoom,” a term that refers to a built-in optical zoom of between 30x and 60x optical zoom. Point-and-shoot cameras have no lens mounts. Smaller models of these highly automated cameras have no optical viewfinder, whereas standard and larger models do feature an optical viewfinder. These cameras may or may not have a light meter. The image sensors used vary by camera model. Common sensor sizes in 35mm point-and-shoot cameras are:

• Small 1/2.3 inch
• 1 inch
• APS-C
• Full frame

You’ll be able to use rolls of 35mm film in newer 35mm point-and-shoot camera devices. Many point-and-shoot devices made before the late 1980s used 110 film, also called disc film. While the photographer could have 35mm prints made from this film, it did not use the same roll format as professional 35mm cameras of the time. Many of the point-and-shoot devices made in the 1970s used 126 rolls. While it did use the roll format, its casing made it easier to load than traditional 35mm rolls. While there are numerous point-and-shoot film types, only the 35mm rolls will work in these cameras.

You can find stand-alone cameras and camera and accessory bundles from many manufacturers on eBay. You’ll find these fully automated, easy-to-use cameras made by several brands, including:

• Canon
• Contax
• Fujifilm
• Konica Minolta
• Minolta
• Nikon
• Olympus
• Pentax

You’ll find point-and-shoot cameras that offer auto, fixed, manual, and both auto and manual focus. This means that you can choose a camera from this category that still allows you to make some settings and focal decisions.