Camera Dojo

Film and instant cameras, rated by the people who own them.

We read hundreds of owner and reviewer opinions per camera, count where they agree, and link every source.

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Ornate lamp posts on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris, photographed on film
Paris, 1981. Shot on a Canon AE-1.Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Camera and film files

50 files so far, built from 6,400 opinions across 1,532 pages and videos. Each file says what owners agree on, what goes wrong, and what it costs today.

  • 35mm SLR, 1976

    Canon AE-1

    Still the first film SLR many owners recommend. Easy in auto, cheap lenses, but buy a tested body: age-related squeals and stuck shutters are common.

    Opinions sorted
    168
    Sites and channels
    31
    Tested or serviced
    $226-330

    Sturdy enough that many still work after decades

    Shutter squeal or a stuck mirror after years unused

    Read the AE-1 file

  • 6x7 medium format rangefinder, 1995 (7II: 1999)

    Mamiya 7

    Mamiya's 6x7 rangefinder: very sharp lenses, about 1,210 g with the 80mm, a plastic body that dislikes drops, and used 7II bodies at $2,495 to $4,095.

    Opinions sorted
    158
    Sites and channels
    22
    Used 7II body, Oct 2026
    $2,495-$4,095

    Very sharp, contrasty lenses and clean, detailed 6x7 negatives

    Used prices have climbed so far that many owners call it overpriced

    Read the Mamiya 7 file

Most searched questions

  1. Polaroid 600 Film, i-Type, SX-70 and Go: The Complete Film GuideInstant cameras
  2. Where to Develop a Disposable Camera in 2026Film cameras
  3. The Exposure Triangle, Explained for Film PhotographyTechniques and editing
  4. The Best Instant Cameras in 2026: 8 Instax and Polaroid PicksInstant cameras
  5. Can You Still Develop Film at CVS, Walgreens or Walmart?Developing and scanning
  6. Sunny 16 Rule for Film: Exposure Chart, Zone Focusing and MeteringTechniques and editing
  7. Canon AE-1 Battery: Which One and How to Change ItFilm cameras
  8. The Best Point-and-Shoot Film Cameras in 2026: 8 Picks by BudgetFilm cameras
  9. Light Leaks: What They Are and How to Get (or Avoid) ThemTechniques and editing
  10. Film vs Digital Photography: Cost, Look and Which to ChooseTechniques and editing

How a camera file gets made

Read
Hands-on reviews, long-term owners in forums and on Reddit, retailer customer reviews and video reviews. We look for people who actually used the camera.
Count
Every opinion is sorted by topic and tone, so you can see how many people praise the light meter and how many fought with the battery door.
Link
Short quotes only, each one linked to the original. Prices carry the date we checked them. When we test a camera ourselves, the page says so.

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