I love putting retro filters on some of my Instagram photos. I just love the grainy and sometimes blurry effect you get from those 35mm or film filters, because I think they make my photos look mysterious and so deliciously dramatic.
I was actually pleasantly surprised to discover that 35mm film cameras are again very much on-trend today, thanks to Gen Z’s affinity for anything low-tech. So I searched for a cheap 35mm film camera and found that the Kodak EKTAR H35 Half-Frame Camera has a lot of positive reviews for a beginner camera. “Half-frame” means that you get twice as much the number of shots from a film roll, and seeing as film rolls are still expensive these days (to my suprise and dismay), this feature alone is enough to convince me to buy one. So I did!
I picked one in the color Sage when I ordered. When the camera arrived, my 18yo daughter was absolutely delighted. She told me she’s been wanting one too, which is awesome, and told me she would have picked the same color as I did. (Her and me rarely have anything in common these days. But that’a another story.)
I highly recommend this camera for beginners or if you just want that retro feel with your photos. It’s just a point-and-shot camera and the instructions for using it are pretty simple. Don’t expect a premium feel because it is still a very cheap camera after all. You probably have to handle it with a little more care as the buttons feel a bit flimsy. But I love that it is lightweight and it’s easy to use. We absolutely love this camera and we love the pictures that came out! A few shots came out dark, probably because we forgot to turn the film after shooting. But for the ones that were successfully developed, we are absolutely satisfied! Definitely had double with the half-frame feature.
These are some of the shots we took using our Kodak EKTAR H35:
Aren’t they just all absolutely charming? I’m obsessed, honestly. We’re ready to buy another film roll and shoot away the next time we go somewhere to travel or maybe just to play more around with. Even if we buy some better and more expensive cameras in the future, I would never get rid of this camera. I think it’s just perfect!
If you’re interested in buying the Kodak EKTAR H35 Half-Frame film camera for yourself for some added ~drama! in your photographs, you can click this link and purchase from Amazon directly. Don’t forget to buy film, as well as triple-A batteries so you can start shooting immediately! Disclaimer: I may earn a commission if you buy the product after clicking my affiliate links. (In which case, I appreciate it. Thank you so much!)
The specs of the Kodak Ektar H35 half frame camera are as follows:
- Film Format: 35mm (Half Frame)
- Shutter Speed: 1/100s
- Optical Lens: 22mm
- Viewfinder: Optical Window
- Flash: Built-In
- Power source: 1 AAA battery (not included)
- Weight: 100 grams
Additional features:
- Manual film wind and rewind
- Built-in flash with push switch
- Compatible with any 35mm film, color or black and white
