Half-frame film cameras are all the rage in 2025! And the Kodak H35N is a very popular and affordable camera that takes good photos and is super easy to use! I got one of these little plastic film cameras for Christmas and I have finally managed to shoot a few rolls with and I can say that has quickly become one of my favorite daily shooters for friends, family, and fun events.

Film photography enthusiasts looking for an affordable and easy-to-use camera should take a close look at the Kodak H35N. This half-frame film camera is a great option for those wanting to get the most out of their film rolls while keeping costs low.

Why Choose the Kodak H35N?

The Kodak H35N is designed for casual film shooters who want an inexpensive and user-friendly camera. The camera is made of plastic with a plastic lens. But in spite of this it feels like a pretty solid camera. Here’s why it stands out:

Easy to Use: With its simple design, even beginners can quickly start shooting.
Affordable Price: Compared to other film cameras, the H35N is budget-friendly.
Half-Frame Film Format: Doubles the number of photos per roll, saving you money on film.
Lightweight and Portable: Perfect for everyday photography and travel.

The $40 purchase price is a big motivator for individuals looking for an affordable and fun point-and-shoot style camera to shoot with.

Half-Frame Film Advantage

One of the biggest benefits of the Kodak H35N is its half-frame film format. Instead of capturing one full-frame image per exposure, this camera takes two images on a single 35mm frame. This means:

More Photos per Roll: A 36-exposure roll turns into 72 shots, effectively doubling your film usage.
Cost Savings: You get twice the number of photos without spending extra on film.

Image Quality & Performance

The Kodak H35N may be a budget camera, but it still delivers decent image quality for everyday photography.

Fixed Focus Lens: Simple point-and-shoot functionality.
Built-in Flash: Helps in low-light situations.
Soft and Nostalgic Look: Produces vintage-style images that appeal to film lovers.

Kodak H35N Product Specs

Film Format: 35mm (Half Frame
Film Transport: Manual Wind And Rewind
Optical Lens: 22mm F11 (F8 with flash on), Coated
2-Element Lens: 1 Glass Lens, 1 Aspherical Acrylic Lens
Shutter Release: 1/100s, Bulb Shutter
Flash: Built-in

Using the Kodak H35N

When I first opened the camera up, I was impressed with the build quality. I wasn’t expecting anything nice for the low price, but I was pleasantly surprised at how solid it felt. I didn’t look at the manual, just opened it up and started trying to figure it out. If you’re familiar with cameras, you won’t any any issues using the H35N. It loads like any other 35mm film camera does. The big difference with this camera is that the film winder is at the bottom left instead of the top right like most of us are used to. The other slightly different feature is the flash-on button. Instead of a traditional switch of button, there’s a rotary switch located on the lens that you have to rotate to turn on the flash. I noticed that I would sometimes forget to turn the flash on, or turn it back off after I finished shooting with it.

Shooting with the camera is easy. The view-finder gives you an approximation of the image you’re taking and I found it pretty accurate relative to what I framed up compared to the image I got on the film. The big difference when shooting with a half-frame film camera is to remember that the orientation of the images is portrait when holding the camera normally. Traditional full frame 35mm cameras take landscape images when holding the camera horizontally. To take a landscape photo, you’ll need to turn the camera vertically. This took a little getting used to.

Half-Frame Pictures from the H35N

I ran a short roll of Kodak Vision 500T 35mm film and a 36 exposure roll of Kodak Tri-X. For an affordable point and shoot style camera with fixed-focus, the images were pretty sharp. I got better exposures with the color film indoors. I’ve noticed that black and white film doesn’t do as well with the built in flashes on disposable cameras and these fixed-focus type cameras. Here are a few images to see the results you can get both indoors and outdoors with the Kodak H35N.

Developing Half-Frame Film

When you’re finally finished shooting your roll of film, there are be a few challenges with getting you half-frame film developed. While most labs can develop your film, not every lab can scan 35mm rolls. Our lab, Shutter Junkies Photo Lab develops and scans half frame film at no additional charge. There are some other labs out there that can develop and scan half-frame, you’ll just need to check with your local lab and confirm. CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart however will not scan your half-frame negatives.

When you’re ready to get your half-frame film developed, just click the button below to get started!

Click Here to get Your half-Frame Film Developed

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Inexpensive and beginner-friendly
Uses half-frame film to maximize shots per roll
Compact and lightweight design
Built-in flash for versatility

Cons:

No manual exposure controls
Fixed-focus lens limits creative control
Slightly lower resolution due to the half-frame film format
Lots of pictures today, which is a blessing and a curse…

Final Thoughts

The Kodak H35N is a fantastic choice for film photography enthusiasts looking for an affordable and easy-to-use camera. Its half-frame film format makes it an excellent option for those wanting to stretch their film budget while still capturing fun and nostalgic images.

If you're searching for a simple and cost-effective way to enjoy film photography, the Kodak H35N is definitely worth considering!

Kodak H35N Review: A Budget-Friendly Half-Frame Film Camera