Most of our articles on cameras concern their performance, their features, what’s new, what they’re good for, and where they fit in a brand’s lineup, but it’s worth also considering a camera’s design and aesthetics. While it’s the definition of superficial judgement, thinking about how good a camera looks—how stylish it is—can affect your desire to use the camera. You might be more likely to reach for the camera that looks good, feels good, and is a joy to use and carry rather than a camera that outperforms on paper but isn’t enjoyable to work with or look at.
Here're some of the most stylish and well-designed cameras available today:
Hasselblad 907X & CFV 100C
Most photographers would agree that Hasselblad’s 500-series medium format film cameras, originally developed in the 1950s, are among the most iconic cameras ever designed. Styled after these legendary cameras, one of their latest medium format digital platforms—the 907X & CFV 100C—takes numerous aesthetic keys from the 500 series and is even compatible with these older film-era camera bodies.
The camera body here, the 907X, is really more of a thin interface adapter allowing the use of V-system digital backs with Hasselblad’s X-series of mirrorless lenses. The digital back, the CFV 100C, is the latest iteration of a series of CFV backs that have the iconic chrome and black leatherette styling reminiscent of an A12 film back. These backs are compatible with V-series film camera bodies, too, including the legendary 500C, 501C/M, and 200 series cameras, among many others.
This system is the epitome of a stylish camera and one whose good form doesn’t interrupt high-end function.
FUJIFILM X100VI
There’s definitely a theme with many of the most stylish cameras having a retro feel to them and one of the protagonists of this wave over the years has been FUJIFILM’s X100-series of cameras, including the most recent iteration, the X100VI. This camera line was one of the originators of the “rangefinder-styled” camera trend and one of the most prominent examples of a retro-themed camera that offers more than superfluous looks—it’s also inspired the design of several more cameras within FUJIFILM’s own lineup, including the X-Pro line of mirrorless cameras and even the INSTAX MINI EVO. The design is eye-catching, sure, but it also contributes to a more tactile method of control over camera settings—something than many users favor over the abundance of touchscreens in our lives.
The X100VI, and its immediate predecessor, the X100V, have also gained quite the cult following over the past few years. Both cameras are near-impossible to find readily, with the X100V achieving this scarcity more than a year after its release and the X100VI being essentially unavailable from launch. This immense popularity is accredited to its stylish and emblematic design, as well as its social media cred.
Leica M11-D
Undeniably good-looking, the Leica M11-D is also a camera that not everyone “gets.” This is part of its appeal, however, for it’s a camera that lacks a screen or any other kind of on-board menu options. It’s a camera that’s as filmic as a digital camera can be, essentially forcing you to trust that you got the shot each time you press the shutter. Part of this very deliberate design decision is to inspire this need to trust in your photographic abilities and free yourself from second-guessing. Another part of the decision is just because it makes the camera look so appealing and desirable, even if it’s not the most practical.
The M11-D is the third in a series of Leica M “D” cameras, all of which shed the rear screen to provide a shooting experience that is unlike almost any other digital camera; the Pixii+ and Pixii Max are other cameras that offer this screenless design, but do have a top settings display, menu controls, and some electronic info in the viewfinder. And, beyond the screenless design, the Leica M platform on its own would make almost any stylish cameras list—it’s a timeless camera system with a consistent design that stretches from the mid 20th century film era up until today’s latest digital creations. It’s a classy, simplified, and elegant camera line; Leica M cameras (along with the Hasselblad 500 series mentioned above) have some of the most recognizable and distinct silhouettes in photography history.
Pentax 17
The Pentax 17 stands out as “a new film camera in the age of digital.” It is the first camera to come from Pentax/Ricoh’s Film Project Initiative, which strives to introduce new film photography products and maintain film’s presence in photography. Conceptually, the Pentax 17 is an especially unique camera in 2024; in the context of this list on design and style, though, the Pentax 17 is an interesting entrant as it’s a bit of a Frankenstein camera that borrows many physical details from past Pentax cameras to render something wholly new.
The film rewind knob is taken from the Pentax LX, the ISO dial from the SP, the flash and shutter release from the KP, the lens housing from the Espio Mini, the front logo text from the 67, the knurled battery cover from the DA WR series of lenses, the film advance lever from the Auto 110, and the magnesium alloy top plate from a special edition LX. Also, the viewfinder includes Pentax's own classic logo along with the Asahi AOCo logo and a film plane indicator taken from their line of DSLRs.
The sheer mixture of components in the 17 is a testament to Pentax’s design legacy and the camera itself is a tasteful and honest example of meshing film-era design with 2024 production capabilities.
MiNT Camera SLR670-S (a.k.a. Polaroid SX-70)
One more film camera for good measure and another iconic piece of photography equipment, the Polaroid SX-70 was a landmark camera when it was first introduced in the 1970s, helping to popularize a more automated style of instant film photography during that time. The SX-70 was succeeded by many other Polaroid cameras over the years, but the original SX-70 folding variants remain some of the most coveted models in terms of functional and elegant design.
Fast forward to the 2000s and MiNT Camera has begun refurbishing these classic cameras; updating them to take newer film types (like i-Type film, thanks to a new built-in battery), improving exposure metering, and offering manual control over shutter speed settings.
Credit goes to both Polaroid for designing such an iconic camera and MiNT Camera for keeping these legends running decades after their debut.
Nikon Zf
Nikon’s Zf mirrorless camera is the latest in their line of heritage-inspired digital cameras, which began in 2013 with the Df DSLR. As has been the case with the three Nikon throwback models, the Zf takes virtually all of the functions of another camera in their lineup (the Z6 II, in this case) and adds a retro shell that’s modeled off one of Nikon’s film-era SLRs (the FM2, here). The sum is greater than the parts, though, as the Zf’s inspired design certainly adds a bit more fun to shooting along with improved settings control thanks to the abundance of dials. This is a similar recipe to what we see in FUJIFILM’s designs but Nikon’s recipe is slightly different thanks to direct references to their own history and a stylistic lineage of SLRs rather than rangefinders.
Another distinction from some of these other stylish cameras on the list is that the Zf isn’t compromised by its aesthetics (except for maybe a smaller hand grip). Other cameras with decisive and divisive designs often end up appealing more to a specific type of photographer or to be used for a specific genre of shooting—the Zf, conversely, isn’t hampered by its retro design. It still is a fully functioning 2024-ready full-frame mirrorless body, fit with impressive video recording, fast AF, image stabilization, and more. This isn’t to say it outperforms other cameras on the list, rather, it retains its ability to be an all-arounder, general-use camera in a way that many of these other models are not.
Compiling this list of standout stylish cameras highlights the aesthetic efforts some brands make to create visually desirable cameras. Contrasting these attempts to create true design objects worthy of being shown in a museum, the majority of the camera industry right now is focused on function and technology—the lane most should honestly be in. There is a different kind of beauty in utility and seeing cameras as tools that disappear during use so you can concentrate more on the act of photographing. However, there is also a time and place to appreciate the cameras above as beautiful objects in and of themselves.
Did we miss a top stylish camera? What’s the best-looking camera ever made? Let us know what you think, in the Comments below.
