Analogue Teases aF-1, a New 35mm Autofocus Film Camera
The Analogue aF-1 is a new 35mm point-and-shoot film camera currently in development by Analogue, a design agency based in Amsterdam. Announced earlier this year and now available for pre-order, the camera is expected to begin mass production in December 2025, with deliveries scheduled for early 2026.
The aF-1 is built entirely from scratch, a rare move in an industry where most contemporary film cameras are either revivals of older designs or modifications of existing models. Its design takes inspiration from compact cameras of the past, such as the Olympus Mju series, Contax, Yashica T, Minolta Riva, and Pentax Espio, but applies a simplified, modern approach. The camera body includes a sliding clamshell-style lens cover, a textured grip, and an emphasis on one-handed usability; it’s rated splashproof (IPX4) and has a replaceable lens cover.
At its core, the aF-1 features a fixed 35mm f/2.8 Double Gauss lens, constructed from six elements in four groups. The aperture closes to f/16, and the lens covers a 63-degree field of view. Autofocus is handled by a LiDAR-based system that measures light reflection time, allowing focus from 0.5 meters to infinity, with the ability to operate through glass. The camera also includes a two-stage shutter release with focus lock and a LED indicator.
Shutter speeds range from 1/1000 second down to four seconds, while exposure is controlled automatically. Film is advanced and rewound by a motorized system, with DX-coded cartridges setting ISO automatically between 25 and 5000, but a manual rewind option is also included. Power comes from a single CR123A battery.
The viewfinder is an Albada reverse Galilean type, equipped with framing guides and close-up correction markers to reduce parallax. The aF-1 also incorporates a built-in GN8 electronic flash with modes for automatic, forced, red-eye reduction, night use, and manual off. Its range reaches up to three meters at ISO 100, with a recycle time between 0.5 and three seconds. A 10-second self-timer is included.
The aF-1 has been presented as both a design project and a technical challenge, with the team emphasizing the difficulties of building a new film camera in the current era. Prototype images have been shared, including the first photographs taken with the camera, though earlier promotional material had relied on renders and simulated output. Analogue has stated that development has involved extensive testing and refinements, and that further adjustments, particularly concerning autofocus and exposure, are still underway.
Pre-orders for the aF-1 are open at around €449 (approximately $566), with discounted early pricing having been available at €399. As mentioned, deliveries are set for the first quarter of 2026, with the project marking one of the few completely new film cameras designed in recent decades.
