35mm Compact Cameras: They Just Don’t Make ‘Em Liked They Used To…

Every other day, I hear my father, mother, uncle or friend say the phrase ‘man they just don’t make them like before...’ From burgers, to chocolates to cars, this phrase is being glued to almost all products that we use in everyday life. I am not sure whether it’s true of these products (especially chocolates because I continue to eat as many) but it surely does apply to 35 mm compact cameras.

Cameras have been around for almost a century now. Although the advent of technology has brought photography within the grasp of masses (since almost every aspect of it has been automated), I have valid reasons for saying that my 1970’s camera is still better.

Just why would I advice you to buy a 4 decade old camera instead of the digital junk of today?

Dime: You can buy a 20, 30, 40 plus year old camera on in good working condition at decent rates. At the time of writing this article, I checked eBay. Numerous 35mm compact cameras fell between the range of $60 to $100 dollars. That, my friend, is a deal you can’t refuse! Today’s cameras go range from several hundreds to some thousands yet offering the same quality pictures if not worse.

Firm Build: Go to an electric products store and ‘mistakenly’ drop a camera on the floor. Made of mostly plastic, it is going to shatter into pieces. (Warning: a few hundred bucks with you incase they find out it wasn’t a ‘mistake’)

The camera that I have was made back in the day when people were sensible enough to use more metal than plastic. These legendary cameras require minimal maintenance and are ready to get to work at all times. They are even easier and cheaper to service and repair. Old is certainly gold.

Control: I am thankful that technology had advanced much in my days. With 35mm compact cameras of my teenage years, photography was much more ‘manual’ than it is today. I had the control over the quality of pictures I took since I could choose my own shutter speeds.

Besides that, with a handful of manual settings, I learnt how the camera actually worked. I am sure many of us using today’s cameras consider taking snaps a miracle. We do not even have the remotest of clues about what’s happening on the ‘inside’.

Vintage feel: Everyone can buy 35mm compact cameras produced in recent years, but not everyone can have one of ‘that’ times! See what I mean? It sort of makes you cooler!

No matter how advanced cameras get, they certainly are no match against my 35mm compact cameras!