Every Photographer Needs A Point & Shoot Film Camera

I recently picked up a Fujifilm Cardia Mini Elite 35mm film point & shoot camera and I believe it provides an experience every photographer would enjoy!

There are five main reasons why I enjoy using this camera so much, and I want to share them here. I had the pleasure of spending a day camera shopping in Tokyo with Bellamy (@japancamerahunter on Instagram). I was not even looking for any camera in particular, but as soon as I laid eyes on it in a small shop in Shinjuku, the 1993 styling of the camera instantly grabbed my attention and I decided to purchase it. This blog will spend less time reviewing this particular camera and instead spend more time discussing the idea of 35mm point & shoot cameras in general, although I will touch on a few things I love about this particular model.

1. They Are Fun!

With these cameras, less can really be more. They are generally fully automated and very simple to use. The process is so simple: point and shoot – literally! These cameras help me keep photography pure and unfussy. There aren’t fiddly menus or complex settings. Other than manually turning off the flash, there is nothing else I have ever touched in the settings. The fun aspect here is getting back to the roots of what photography is: capturing a moment in time. These cameras aren’t instruments for precision or perfection, but nothing hinders grabbing a slice of time. When using this camera, I’m not expecting the tactile experience of my Leica M6 or the precise framing of my Canon AE-1. I’m not anticipating razor-sharp focus or a clinical lens rendering. I’m perfectly ok with flaring and soft corners. And when you make those concessions, you really free up and start having some serious FUN! I even find that the bit of “mystery” about how a certain photo will turn out in odd lighting situations adds to the mystique of the process.

2. They are versatile!

Whether day or night, these cameras really provide a usable image regardless of the available lighting. Toss in a 400 speed film, and you can literally photograph in almost any lighting conditions! In my experience, the auto exposure is really accurate. I don’t have to carry around an external flash to get images I’m happy with. I simply utilize the in-camera flash. This versatility may give you a surprising ability to capture moments you wouldn’t normally expect to! Once you get comfortable with the focal length of your particular point & shoot, you may begin to enjoy snagging these moments without even having to look through the small viewfinder.

3. Extreme Portability

The Cardia Mini Elite is so small that it can easily be slipped into a jacket or pant pocket, in a small sling, tote, or fanny pack, or even just worn around a wrist on a small strap. It is not cumbersome and doesn’t slow me down. It takes up practically no space and weighs virtually nothing. It allows me to bring a camera everywhere without having to “take photos” in a serious manner. It takes the pressure off of having to do “serious photography”. I won’t feel bad if I don’t use it that day, but the option is always there. It is a great daily companion.

4. The in-between moments

This camera makes perfect logical sense for days when I am traveling or in transit between destinations. Whether my main cameras are packed away while on a plane or train, or I just don’t want to carry something larger and heavier on the subway on the way to dinner, this camera is perfect for the “moments between moments”. I find in my travels around the world that having a small camera to throw around my wrist while my more serious cameras are packed away allows me to grab small memories of travel days. For example, on a recent trip to Japan, just days after purchasing the camera, I was making my way from Tokyo to Nagoya via the shinkansen bullet train. I had a large suitcase in one hand and a heavy backpack on my shoulders. The only camera I could use was the Cardia Mini Elite! I grabbed a few images I really love and are nostalgic to me. This probably wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I was also able to spend an evening in Shibuya making street photographs during a downpour, with an umbrella in my left hand and the point & shoot in my right. Not having to manually focus the lens allowed me to keep both myself and my camera (mostly) dry, and once again, I made photos that encapsulated the mood of the night in a way that felt fun and free.

5. people aren’t intimidated

I’ve been to two extended family gatherings and a friend’s wedding in the short time I’ve owned this camera, and one immediate dynamic I noticed is that people are generally much less put off by it than by something larger and more professional. I also find that people ask more curious questions about it than they would if I were simply using an iPhone to take photos. They’re also less afraid of damaging it compared to a traditional SLR or rangefinder camera. Most of the time, it ends up getting passed around the room and everyone joins in on a little vintage fun. For me, this opens the door to taking casual and candid images of my friends and family without any stressful stigma. And isn’t that the whole point of these cameras anyway? A little fun!