A New Era of Film Cameras: Honouring the Past, Celebrating What’s Coming

When I first started out as a second-hand camera trader, I used to dream about the day when I could sell brand-new film cameras.

Not because I didn’t love the classics — I did, and still do — but because I knew the truth:
every used camera is a ticking time bomb.

No matter how carefully we test, service, or repair them, any mechanical machine from the 1970s, 80s, or 90s can decide to stop working at any moment. That’s just the nature of vintage gear. And I always wanted to give customers something more stable, something more predictable, something new.

Today, as we approach the end of 2025, that dream finally feels real.

We’ve seen four brand-new film cameras enter the market this year alone — and in the next two months, three moreare coming.
For the film community, this is huge.
For someone like me — a lab owner turned camera manufacturer — it’s almost unbelievable.

Because I know exactly how hard this is.
The engineering. The tooling. The supply chain. The quality control.
You need a rock-solid manufacturing ecosystem to make a film camera in 2025, and everyone who has stepped up to do it deserves genuine respect.

Why New Film Cameras Matter More Than Ever

As AI becomes more powerful, more convenient, and more ever-present, I feel a growing wave of people returning to the old analog ways — not out of nostalgia, but out of sanity.

Film reminds us of a slower, quieter world.

A world where:

• You didn’t need to be a “prompt expert”
• You didn’t need 100 tools to create
• You didn’t have infinite do-overs
• You relied on your eyes, hands, patience, and heart

Film doesn’t just make photos.
It teaches you to see.

Honouring Those Who Came Before — and Those Who Are Building the Future

Today I want to honour all the creators and brands who have kept film alive:

• Those who released new cameras before us
• Those releasing them now
• Those working quietly behind the scenes on what’s coming next

This ecosystem exists because all of us contribute to it — manufacturers, labs, artists, retailers, and the community who choose to keep shooting film.

And yes, FilmNeverDie has thrown our own Nana 35mm hat into the ring.
But we’ve always been camera-agnostic.

A camera is just a tool.
What truly matters is your ability to capture the essence of a moment — your craft, your eye, your timing, your patience.

What’s Next: Learning, Shooting, Growing

Because of this philosophy, we’re offering two big things right now:

1. The Pavlos Kozalidis Masterclass 

A rare chance to learn from one of the greats — a photographer whose work is rooted in soul, humanity, and patience.

2. The 12-Week Film Photography Challenge

A guided program designed to sharpen your eye, train your intuition, and reconnect you with the joy of shooting intentionally.

Whether you’re shooting on a $99 starter camera, a $199 compact, a $750 premium point-and-shoot, or even the upcoming $1600 flagship models entering the market for the first time — we finally have something for everyone.

And honestly?
That’s a milestone worth celebrating.

A Complete Guide to the Modern Comeback of 35mm Film Photography

2024-2026

Something incredible is happening in the world of film photography — something we haven’t seen in decades.

After years of relying on vintage gear, repair shops, and the unpredictable second-hand market, brand new 35mm film cameras are finally returning. Not toy cameras. Not plastic single-use remakes.
But legitimate, newly engineered cameras designed for today’s shooters who still love analog.

From big manufacturers like Pentax to indie innovators like FilmNeverDie and Analogue Amsterdam, 2024–2026 is shaping up to be the biggest revival since the 90s.

This blog breaks down every major new camera, their release dates, prices, and who they’re for.

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⭐ 1. Pentax 17 — A Major Brand Returns to Film

Release: June 2024
Price: ~AU$750
Format: 35mm Half-Frame

Pentax shocked the photography world with the Pentax 17, the first brand-new film camera from a major manufacturer in over 20 years.

It’s a half-frame compact, meaning you get double the shots per roll, and it focuses on a sturdy body, tons of focusing options (Zone focus), reliability, and pure shooting joy.

Best for: Street photographers, travel shooters, and anyone who wants a trustworthy new camera with a classic Pentax stamp for approval.

See a comparison in-depth review here.

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⭐ 2. Rollei 35 AF — Premium Compact With LiDAR Autofocus

Release: Rolling out late 2024
Price: ~AU$1,700
Format: 35mm Full-Frame

This is the comeback nobody expected — a modern reboot of the iconic Rollei 35 series, now featuring LiDAR autofocus, a fast lens, and premium build quality.

It’s possibly the most advanced full-frame 35mm compact made in the last 30 years.

Best for: Shooters wanting a luxury everyday compact with the highest modern engineering, Petapixel gave some harsh initial "feels unfinished" review last time around but recently updated their view. 

See our comparison in-depth review here.

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⭐ 3. FilmNeverDie Nana — Australia’s Own Modern Point-and-Shoot

Release: Late 2024
Price: AU$250 – 399 (with bundles)
Format: 35mm Full-Frame

Designed here in Melbourne, the Nana is built for today’s film community:

• Motorised advance and rewind with metal body
  

• Full-frame 35mm with one element f11 aspherical coated lens

• 30mm filter thread , allows close up filter, wide angle and fisheye attachment.

It’s the first Australian-designed 35mm camera in production, created to make film accessible, fun, and reliable again.

Best for: Everyday film shooters, beginners, and creators who want a stylish, simple, reliable point-and-shoot, with 2 years warranty and a multitude of add-on lenses you can find , in 2025 and beyond its definitely feeling like a more complete camera. 

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⭐ 4. Ilford Pixie 35-II — Creativity on a Budget

Release: 17 October 2025 (Japan)
Price: AU$99
Format: Full-Frame + Half-Frame Adapter

The Pixie 35-II is Ilford Japan’s quirky and clever take on the budget film camera:

• Full-frame shooting or optional half-frame

• plastic light weight with no flash 

•  3-step aperture control (f/6.4, f/16, f/100)

• Removable lens for pinhole photography

Lomo Gakkenflex TLR - lens
→ Sharp centre + wild chromatic aberration 🌈
→ Barrel distortion & tasty vignetting 🍩
→ That dreamy tilt-shift-ish look

It’s surprisingly flexible for the price and gives newcomers lots to experiment with.

Best for: Students, creative shooters, artists, and anyone wanting to explore film without spending big, outdoor as it has no flash. 

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⭐ 5. Lomo MC-A — Modern Build, Old-School Soul

Release: Jan 2026
Price: AU$799
Format: 35mm Full-Frame

Lomography returns with its most premium modern film camera yet:

• All-metal body

• USB-C charging

• 32mm f/2.8 fast lens

• Multi-exposure modes

• Strong retro aesthetic

It feels like a modern digital compact reimagined for film.

Best for: Lomography fans, creative shooters, and anyone who wants modern convenience with analog results.

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⭐ 6. Kodak Snaptic A1 - a 3 element glass lens

Release: Expected mid Dec 2025
Price: AU$199
Format: 35mm Full-Frame, ABS body, dual focus , 3 element lens

The KODAK Snapic A1 35mm Film Camera is a versatile full-frame film camera. Apart from the high-quality 3-element glass lens, it also features a range of automatic functions, including auto wind, rewind, and auto flash, ensuring ease of use. The 2-zone focus allows for quick adjustment between portrait and landscape shots, while the double exposure function invites creative expression by blending two images into one.

Best for: Works out of the box with minimal fuss,It doesn’t aim to replace premium manual film bodies—but that’s exactly its strength: simplicity + format + fun.

 

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⭐ 7. Analogue aF-1 — The Mju-II for a New Generation

Release: Expected early 2026
Price: ~AU$850 
Format: 35mm Full-Frame

Designed by Analogue Amsterdam, the aF-1 aims to be the spiritual successor to the Olympus Mju-II.

It uses LiDAR autofocus, a sharp f/2.8 lens, and a sleek minimal design.

This is one of the most anticipated film cameras of the decade.

Best for: People who want the look, speed, and reliability of a premium 90s compact, without paying $1000+ for a second-hand one.

 

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🎞️ Why This Matters

For the first time in over two decades, film photographers have:

✨ New gear options
✨ Manufacturer support
✨ Better reliability than old second-hand cameras
✨ A mixture of premium, mid-tier, and budget choices
✨ Innovation (LiDAR AF, bring back Metal body)

We’re witnessing a genuine new wave of analog tools emerging — and this will shape the next generation of film shooters.

FilmNeverDie is proud to be part of that movement.

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💬 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or someone discovering film for the first time, there has never been a better moment to jump in. From the affordable Pixie and Nana to the high-end Rollei AF, each new camera serves a different slice of the community.