Welp MagazineIn these days of 4K and digital cameras, you might ask why anybody would be in the market for the best 35mm point and shoot camera. Why is anybody reading this article, you ask. Well, 35mm point and shoot cameras are a great way to get back to basics when it comes to photography. They were widespread for a reason: they’re simple to use, produce great results, and are a lot of fun to shoot with. If you’re looking for a 35mm point and shoot camera, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First, consider your budget. There are a wide range of 35mm point and shoot cameras available, from cute affordable models to high-end collectors’ items worth blowing your paycheck for. Second, think about what features are important to you. Some 35mm point and shoot cameras have built-in flashes, while others don’t. Some have manual focus, while others are fully automatic. Finally, decide what kind of photography you want to do: for example, if you’re looking for a camera to take with you on vacation, you’ll want something small and lightweight.
No matter what your budget or needs, we’ve found the best 35mm point and shoot camera for you!
Product Comparison Table: Best 35mm Point and Shoot Camera
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Canon Canonet QL17 G-III | $$ | 4 stars | Best Manual Focus | Amazon |
 | Contax T2 Silver 35mm Camera | $$$$ | 4.5 stars | Best for Travelers | Amazon |
 | Kodak Ultra F9 Film Camera | $ | 4.5 stars | Best Budget | Amazon |
 | Ilford Sprite 35-II Reusable/Reloadable 35mm Analog Film Camera | $ | 4 stars | Best for Beginners | Amazon |
 | Olympus Stylus Epic QD CG Date 35mm Camera | $$$ | 4 stars | Best Overall | Amazon |
Canon Canonet QL17 G-III
Let’s start our competition for the best 35mm point and shoot camera with a collectors’ item: the Canonet QL17 G-III, a manual focus point and shoot 35mm camera that was first released in 1975. Sometimes the old ones are the best, and this camera proves it!
It might look museum-ready, but the Canonet still works like a dream – the manual focus lens gives you a degree of control over your image that makes you question why autofocus became standard. The Canonet’s fixed 40mm f/1.7 lens is fast and good for low-light photography, and pairs well with a built-in light meter which helps you to get the perfect exposure for your shot every time.
Pros
- Classic design
- Sharp lens and great picture quality
- Good for street photography
Cons
- Tricky for beginners
- No zoom
Verdict
If manual zoom’s your thing, the Canonet QL17 G-III is the best 35mm point and shoot camera that’s compact, affordable, and high-quality. It might be old-school, but this model was built to last, built to create fantastic photos – and built to look great around any street photographer’s neck!
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Contax T2 Silver 35mm Camera
Not only is the Contax T2 one of our best 35mm point and shoot cameras, but it’s also recognised as one of the best 35mm point and shoot cameras ever made! The Contax T2 is known for its needle-sharp lens, lightning-fast autofocus, and super-sleek design. It is also one of the smallest and lightest 35mm cameras available.
The Contax T2 has a fixed 38mm f/2.8 lens, which is a good all-around lens for shooting a variety of subjects, and remains sharp even at wide apertures. The T2’s autofocus is fast and accurate, and the built-in flash lights up even the darkest evening sightseeing trips (or raves in the desert).
Pros
- Mega-portable and hardwearing
- Deserved good reputation
- Fast and crisp in action
Cons
- Hefty price tag
- No manual focus
Verdict
The Contax T2 Silver 35mm Camera is our best 35mm point and shoot camera in this category because it’s portable, high-performance and a joy to use – making it ideal for travelers wanting to take their best ever photos of their best ever memories. So what are you waiting for? Grab this camera and book your ticket to the Galapagos.
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Kodak Ultra F9 Film Camera
Are you a seasoned shutterfly looking for a backup camera? Are you a casual photographer not keen to invest too much dough? Are you just a little broke right now? If you answered yes to any of those questions (especially the last one), then the Kodak Ultra F9 Film Camera is the best 35mm point and shoot camera for you!
Reliable and easy to use, it’s the Kodak Ultra F9’s simple, intuitive interface that sets it apart. Like the Canonet, it has a built-in light meter to monitor exposure alongside its fixed 35mm f/2.8 lens and built-in flash. Pictures are clear, sharp and attractive. For the price, it’s fantastic.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Built-in light meter
- Competitively priced
Cons
- No zoom
- Not as capable as more expensive models
Verdict
What makes the Kodak Ultra F9 Film Camera our best 35mm point and shoot camera in the budget category is that it doesn’t look, feel or shoot like it’s a budget camera. Even though it’s a $30 camera, the Kodak Ultra F9 never behaves like it belongs here. The photos it takes dont either. And neither will you.
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Ilford Sprite 35-II Reusable/Reloadable 35mm Analog Film Camera
The accessibility of 35mm film means that beginners will always be drawn to the art of film photography, and the Ilford Sprite 35-II is the best 35mm point and shoot camera to make any beginner feel welcome!
The Ilford Sprite 35-II is the ‘no frills’ classic type of point and shoot camera that every beginner needs when you’re learning the ropes. The fixed 31mm f/9 lens is another sharp all-rounder lens, and while a fixed-focus camera might seem a pain to the photography old-guard, it means focussing is one less thing to worry about when taking your first great photos!
Pros
- Great shots for the price
- Affordable
- Simple ‘no-frills’ design
Cons
- Might frustrate the more experienced
Verdict
In conclusion, the Ilford Sprite 35-II is our best 35mm point and shoot camera for beginners because its affordable, easy to use, and produces great photos. Simple as that. It’s perfect for those who want to get into film photography without spending a lot of money, while still maintaining that vintage feel.
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Olympus Stylus Epic QD CG Date 35mm Camera
Drum roll please… And the Oscar for our overall best 35mm point and shoot camera goes to… The Olympus Stylus Epic QD CG Date 35mm Camera! This 35mm point-and-shoot camera was released in 1996, but it remains one of the smallest, lightest, and most popular 35mm cameras ever made even thirty years later!
The Olympus Stylus Epic is our overall best 35mm point and shoot camera because this classic strikes the perfect balance between cute and compact and collectors’ candy. It features a 38-80mm f/4.5-8.9 zoom lens, 3.5-megapixel CCD sensor, and automatic exposure and focus. Combine this with a variety of shooting modes, a built-in flash, and date and time imprint, and the Olympus Stylus Epic is clearly the ideal camera for beginners and experienced photographers alike.
Pros
- Unbeatable performance
- Multiple shooting modes
- It can zoom!
Cons
- A bit pricey
Verdict
We’ll go ahead and say it. In our opinion, the Olympus Stylus Epic QD CG Date is the best 35mm point and shoot camera ever made on this planet. It’s so good, it’s even better than the best 35mm point and shoot camera that came before it. And the one before that. And the one before that. The Olympus Stylus Epic is the camera that will instantly make your friends jealous, your parents proud, and reincarnate you as Ansel Adams. Probably.
