AgfaPhoto Reusable 35mm Camera Review: Why I Fell in Love With It

Recently, I’ve been trying out some analog photography again. I wanted to keep it low-budget at first. So I browsed my favorite shops and got myself the AgfaPhoto reusable 35mm camera. For around €35 (or about $40 in the US), it’s a steal.

And honestly? I love that I bought this little plastic box. Here is my full review and why I think it’s a great addition to any street photographer’s bag.

The AgfaPhoto is easy to take with me

The AgfaPhoto is a small box, so it’s very compact. I find that you can even just fit it in your hand, and I am carrying it around as if it were a smartphone. The manufacturer also adds a lovely pouch in the packaging for you to store it.

I often have it in my backpack in case I want to go out and make analog photos. Because it weighs next to nothing, it’s the ideal lunch break activity. You don’t need to lug around a heavy camera bag to get some shooting done.

No need to think about settings

The settings on the AgfaPhoto camera are fixed at 1/120s shutter speed, f/9 aperture, and infinity focus. The only real control you have is the ISO. And that choice is made when you load the film. As soon as it’s in, it’s out of your control: no way to change it.

So when you go out on the street, all decisions are already made. Well, apart from one…

It’s all composition

You still have to think about composing. That’s all you need to think about. The viewfinder and lens aren’t connected, so you don’t exactly make the photo as you see it. But it’s close enough, especially with the wide 31mm lens. You see sufficient details and can visualize what you are doing.

Just make sure your fingers aren’t in the frame. Trust me on that one.

Is the AgfaPhoto 35mm a good camera?

If you are looking for a straightforward answer: Yes, the AgfaPhoto 35mm is a good camera, as long as you know what to expect.

The lens is plastic, which makes the image quality far less sharp than that of my Nikon Z8. But that really doesn’t matter. You can anticipate the slightly softer, less sharp photos and compose for them. It has that authentic, gritty “disposable camera” look, but you can reuse it over and over again.

With digital photography, we often take photos and immediately look at the screen to see what we could improve. But for me, it’s fun to think ahead. I have a limited amount of frames, and I can’t do bursts as I have to reload the next shot manually. Thinking ahead is essential when using a little analog camera like this, and that limitation actually makes you a better photographer.

Which film should you use?

I often get asked what kind of film I use in this camera. Because the aperture is fixed at f9 and the shutter speed at 1/120s, the camera thrives in daylight.

I highly recommend using an ISO 400 film for everyday shooting. Kodak Ultramax 400 or AgfaPhoto Color 400 are excellent choices that deliver beautiful, punchy colors and enough flexibility when the sun goes behind a cloud. If you are shooting exclusively on a bright, sunny summer day, a 200 ISO film like Kodak Gold will give you those lovely warm tones.

The specs of the AgfaPhoto camera

It’s a small plastic box, but there are a few specs to keep in mind when using it.

• Compatible films: Black and white + color
• Lens: 31mm
• Film ISO’s: 200, 400, and 800 ISO
• Flash: Yes (Requires 1 AAA battery)
• Aperture: f9
• Shutter Speed: 1/120s
• Focus: Fixed
• Dimensions: 115 x 64 x 44mm

AgfaPhoto 35mm Sample Photos

Though I haven’t had it for very long, I’ve already taken some lovely photos with it. I love the slightly imperfect, vintage look the plastic lens produces.

(For these specific sample photos, I shot with Fujifilm Xtra400 color film, and I think Ilford 400, which handled the daylight scenes perfectly.