Kodak Snapic A1 Reusable 35mm Film Camera Review

Kodak Snapic A1 35mm Camera Review

The Snapic Takes on Copenhagen

What is the Snapic A1 Film Camera?

The Snapic A1 Reusable 35mm Film Camera is the latest offering from Kodak Reto, the brand behind the very popular Kodak H35 half-frame camera, and more recently the hugely successful Kodak Charmera. The Snapic is a 35mm point-and-shoot film camera, developed over the last few years, to bring an exciting new option to film shooters worldwide.

How is the Design & Build Quality?

The design of the Snapic takes cues from some classic cameras to keep things familiar but updates them for a new young market. Cameras are often designed with function being the top priority, and the look being an afterthought – it's clear that Reto have valued both just as much to appeal to a new market that want stylish, good-looking tools. The Snapic A1 35mm reusable film camera has a premium plastic build and feels substantial in your hands. Testing the camera in Copenhagen, I felt very confident transporting the camera around, in and out of bags, pockets, etc., without worrying that I was going to damage it – those looking for a more robust daily camera will appreciate the step up in build quality.

Is it Beginner Friendly or Too Basic?

The Snapic is a joy to use! It really excels at capturing spontaneous moments. Think holidays, family get-togethers, and exploring. You just switch the camera on, flip the focus depending on the scene, and fire – the auto winding ensures you are always ready for the next shot. While the camera still features a fixed shutter speed & aperture, this means that you are not playing around with settings to nail your exposure, an extra step that often leads to missed moments. Reto have prioritised the experience of being in the moment, and the Snapic really lends itself to that style of shooting. Modern colour negative films have great exposure latitude, so the limited settings aren’t a deal-breaker for most people. In fact, this is one of the biggest reasons people still shoot film!

Image Quality & Shooting Experience

As you’ll see from our sample images, along with Reto’s, the image quality is a great step up from previous models – largely due to the brand-new premium glass lens. Standard scans will look great on social media. If you want to print A4+ size, opt for premium film scans, which will really showcase all the detail that we love film for.

Exploring Copenhagen with the Snapic was a joy, I shot two rolls over 4 days but could have quite easily shot twice that amount. I rarely found myself putting the camera away, opting to keep it around my neck for when the next photo appeared – and when it did the camera was ready to capture it.

Tips & Tricks for Shooting with the Snapic A1 Film Camera!

The Snapic A1 35mm reusable camera works best with 200 or 400 speed films – if it’s not a sunny day, then I would go for 400 to ensure enough sensitivity. Ultra Max, Portra 400, and Cinestill 400D are some great options, but feel free to go even higher and capture some lower light scenes – and supplement with the flash! The double exposure function can produce some amazing results, so make sure you play around with it and experiment. Top tip: Make note of how you shot them so you can refer to them once you have your scans to figure out what works best.

Shot on Kodak UltraMax

So, is the Snapic A1 Camera Worth Buying?

Definitely. The camera is great for busy explorers wanting to capture memories and could even be used as a visual journal for more experienced shooters. Quality cameras like the Snapic are not released very often, so it’s important to support what Reto are doing. Each revision of their cameras have shown improvements, and this one is a substantial jump up in build quality, image quality, and usability.