The Analogue aF-1 is an upcoming, relatively budget-friendly, high-quality point-and-shoot camera set to be launched this summer. The project has been in the works for over two years and caught my attention late last year. Recently, Analogue Amsterdam shared an update about their new point-and-shoot film camera, hinting at a reveal on September 30th.
Creating film cameras, especially high-end automatic point-and-shoot models, is quite challenging, which leads to skepticism surrounding any new company entering this market. This skepticism applies to Analogue Amsterdam, a European company that claims to have found a factory capable of producing a fully featured point-and-shoot camera in 2025.
Such doubt is warranted, given the lack of any comparable cameras over the past decade that can rival the excellence of the Minolta TC-1 or the sleek design of the Ricoh GR1. Even simpler models, like the Olympus Mju I, have not made it back to store shelves.
The Analogue aF-1 resembles the Mju I in various aspects; it is priced at €399/$412, equipped with a six-element 35mm f2.8 lens, Lidar autofocus, autoexposure, motorized film transport, shutter speeds of up to 1/1000, a flash, and a DX-code reader.
The key distinction between Olympus in the 1990s and Analogue Amsterdam is that Olympus is a well-established multinational Japanese corporation with decades of experience in crafting film cameras, whereas Analogue is a lesser-known photography shop and design agency. This disparity contributes to the skepticism surrounding Analogue, particularly since the company has exceeded its internal deadlines by five months.
Thus far, Analogue has released a few brief video clips, some filmed on the factory floor and others showcasing the internal components of their camera. Their latest post serves as a teaser for an upcoming demo unit that may be unveiled on September 30th.
However, this does not guarantee that the camera will be available for purchase that same day, or that the final product will appear or function identically. Nevertheless, it would certainly represent a significant boost of confidence in the project, which many would be eager to witness.
Manufacturing film cameras, especially the premium automatic point-and-shoot models, is such a challenging endeavor that new companies attempting to enter the market frequently face considerable doubt. This remains true for Analogue Amsterdam, a European company that has secured a factory capable of producing a completely new, fully equipped point-and-shoot camera by 2025.