A camera that exposes photographic film to light in order to take a picture. Used since the late 1800s, the film is a chemical emulsion on a plastic substrate that is sensitive to light. When exposed, an analogous image of the scene is created within the chemical layer of the material; thus, film cameras are analog cameras (see analog).

Film-based still cameras are made for a variety of film types including 35mm, Advantix, 120, 220 and the larger 4x5 and 8x10 formats. Film-based movie cameras capture consecutive images (frames) on 8mm, 16mm and 35mm film. Contrast with digital camera.