With my last dive into analog photography going back to around 2004, it’s clear that my knowledge of available gear is pretty outdated. Finding the right equipment won’t be a walk in the park. I quickly decided I want an SLR camera because I enjoy controlling my settings. To me, that’s what analog photography is all about: taking the time and effort to compose and expose the shot perfectly in one go. The reward comes weeks later when the negatives are developed and I finally see the results.
Back in the Nikon D3000 days, I shelved that camera because it was too bulky and heavy for my trips. I like to travel light, so I needed something more compact.
Price was another big factor since cameras can get pretty pricey. Since I’m not sure how long this passion will last, it’d be a bit reckless to spend thousands of euros. I’ve set a budget of 250 euros. And it has to be 35mm to keep film and development costs in check.
After a lot of research, I came up with these options:
- Canon AE-1
Known for its reliability, it’s one of the most popular SLRs out there. It’s relatively light at 590 grams, has shutter and aperture priority modes, and there’s a wide range of compatible lenses. - Nikon FE
Praised for its reliability and mechanical precision, this one’s a favorite among enthusiasts too. It’s also light at 590 grams, has a built-in light meter, and offers great build quality. - Olympus OM-1
This one’s special for a few reasons. It’s the lightest SLR at just 510 grams and the most compact of the bunch. The build quality is top-notch, it has a built-in light meter, and the viewfinder is unusually large and bright—pretty unique for this camera.
Since portability was my top priority, the Olympus OM-1 was an easy pick. Although I find the Nikon FE to be one of the prettiest cameras out there, I might grab one later just to decorate my living room.
The Olympus OM-1, first introduced in 1972, was the inaugural model of the OM series by the legendary Yoshihisa Maitani. Its light and compact design set a new standard for SLR cameras, and over 50 years later, it’s still celebrated by enthusiasts for its simplicity, reliability, and optical quality. It didn’t take me long to fall for it.
A few days and hundreds of Google searches later, I found it—my beautiful and elegant Captain Click, reconditioned and shipped from Japan.