Ever since I first developed film shot on an old 1970s SLR, I’ve been looking for a way to make my digital images look more like film. But as I continued experimenting with both film and digital, I realized I was missing a key part of the equation. Digital cameras that look like film are only half of the equation – because the lens matters too.
Some of the most popular cameras in 2025 are those that arguably try to look more film-like, a trend that crosses both the high-end market and budget choices. The Fujifilm X100VI, Nikon Zf, and OM System OM-3 are increasingly popular cameras that embody a retro look. But, there are budget choices too, like the Camp Snap that resembles a disposable film camera, despite being digital, or the Instax Mini Evo, a digital-film hybrid that spits out instant film prints.
