The Analog Club, A Hub for Paris’s Film Photography Community

This hybrid space—part shop, part gallery, part darkroom—invites a more mindful approach to photography, rooted in the physicality of film.

03.07.2025

WordsRebecca Zissmann

The Analog Club is a hybrid space—a film camera shop, bookstore, gallery, and darkroom all in one. It is located in Ménilmontant, in Paris’s 20th arrondissement. © Rebecca Zissmann

Countering the tide of digital culture, this hybrid space—part shop, part gallery, part darkroom—invites a more mindful approach to photography, rooted in the physicality of film. Aimed largely at a younger crowd between 25 and 35, many of them newcomers to the medium, The Analog Club offers guidance in choosing a first refurbished camera and hosts workshops on shooting and printing basics. More than a storefront, it’s a meeting point for a community that first came together online, now gathering in person for events ranging from indie photobook launches to curated exhibitions.

Though dedicated to film photography, The Analog Club first emerged on Instagram in 2016. By posting one analog-style image per day, the account quickly drew attention, eventually reaching over 175,000 followers worldwide. Sensing a renewed fascination for the medium among younger generations, the founders decided to launch an online offering of refurbished cameras. They introduced The Analog Box—a curated starter kit including a camera selected by the customer, rolls of film, and a guide to analog photography.

In parallel, the team began curating exhibitions and launched a key event: The Analog Days. Spanning two weeks, the program featured workshops and portfolio reviews, held within a space that doubled as a shop for prints and cameras. As interest grew, the need for a permanent base became clear. In late 2024, The Analog Club settled into its first physical location, in the Ménilmontant neighbourhood of Paris’s 20th arrondissement.

Analog cameras don’t fill the entire space at The Analog Club, which aims to be welcoming rather than intimidating for beginners. Prints, books, and zines—mostly self-published—take up a large part of the space. © Rebecca Zissmann

‘A good camera is one that gets used’

Even before the shop opened, The Analog Box—a starter kit for analog photography beginners—had already been a great success. It includes a camera, films, a battery, a strap, stickers, and a beginner’s guide to analog photography. © Rebecca Zissmann

On the ground floor, part of the collection of refurbished cameras is on display—each one carefully restored by Clément Lacombe, a technician with a passion for repair. Bringing a single body back to life takes between 90 minutes and five hours, from diagnosis to a full overhaul, resulting in a piece that functions like new. ‘Getting into film is already a statement in itself,’ Lacombe explains. ‘We want to remove any technical barriers by offering tools that are truly reliable.’

Most of the cameras are SLRs from the 1960s to 1980s, chosen for their high repairability. ‘These bodies will outlive us if we take care of them,’ he continues. ‘They’re beautifully engineered objects, designed to be maintained and to last.’ That’s not the case with the point-and-shoot models from the ’90s and 2000s, whose current popularity belies a built-in obsolescence that will eventually see them vanish.

The selection of reconditioned analog cameras includes both SLRs and point-and-shoot models. © Rebecca Zissmann

With such a wide variety of models, beginners can find the choice overwhelming. That’s where the Analog Club team steps in. Anyone in search of a first camera can book a 30-minute session in-store, during which they’re offered personalised guidance and hands-on trials of selected models. ‘A good camera, for us, is one that gets used,’ says co-founder Léopold Fulconis. ‘One that someone truly enjoys—both for the images it produces and the experience of using it. Some people want full technical control, others prefer a more spontaneous approach. We have something for everyone.’ For those starting out, the ideal setup is often a semi-automatic SLR, simple to handle and paired with a 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Some models are more sought after than others and already enjoy near-iconic status—such as the Canon AE1 or Nikon FM2 among SLRs, or the Mju series when it comes to compacts. The Analog Club also offers newly manufactured cameras, including recent releases from Pentax, as well as reusable plastic models that recall the look of disposable cameras, all at highly accessible price points. Their ease of use is part of their appeal. ‘For many, owning a film camera isn’t an end in itself—it’s a means,’ says Clément Lacombe. ‘They enjoy the process: taking photos, developing the negatives, making prints. It’s a leisure activity in its own right, regardless of the final image.’

Clément Lacombe, the technician and repair specialist at The Analog Club, offers tailored advice to each customer based on their photographic needs and preferences. © Rebecca Zissmann

Washi films, made in Brittany from Japanese paper, produce a uniquely beautiful print quality. © Rebecca Zissmann

Learning to print with vintage equipment

The Le Sel darkroom, located in the basement, allows beginners to learn film development and photo printing. © Rebecca Zissmann

The Analog Club caters to both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts. Some visitors grew up with film and are looking either to reconnect with it or to engage in conversation around the medium. Beyond cameras, the boutique also stocks a curated range of accessories, including an impressive selection of original film. Among them, the Sunbath rolls—made in Paris—are in fact a photographic version of Kodak’s Vision3 motion picture film. Most striking, though, is the Washi film, handcrafted in Brittany on Japanese paper, giving prints a singular and tactile visual character.

For those interested in film photography beyond the act of shooting, the Le Sel darkroom—tucked away in the basement of the boutique—offers an ideal gateway into the art of printing. Its founder, Thibaut Piel, personally sourced and restored the vintage enlargers that now line the space—rare finds in today’s market. Though more technical to handle, they exude a nostalgic charm, reviving forgotten gestures and sounds. One, for instance, comes with a dial timer mounted on the wall, emitting a soft, rhythmic ticking that sets the tone.

Piel leads introductory workshops on film development and printing. Once participants have grasped the basics, they’re invited to return and use the space independently. The darkroom is limited to two people at a time, often strangers. Two young women who met there have since become close friends—the printing process, it turns out, naturally fosters conversation and mutual support.

Vintage enlargers restored by Thibaut Piel give the space a unique atmosphere. © Rebecca Zissmann

A dynamic space where the community gathers and grows

A bench has just been installed in the bookstore area, providing visitors a place to sit, exchange with each other, or consult the staff if they need advice. © Rebecca Zissmann

The Analog Club cultivates this sense of connection by regularly spotlighting its community. More than a store, it’s a vibrant hub hosting exhibitions and events to celebrate new book releases—most of them self-published—which form the backbone of its carefully curated bookstore corner. Since opening, the team has maintained an open call for members to submit work, with the possibility of being featured either on-site or on the club’s Instagram page. Many visitors now come to browse the zines and often leave with a print—some starting at just a few dozen euros.

Going forward, the team hopes to expand its workshop offerings, bringing in street photographers, portrait specialists, and other practitioners to help nurture the growing analog movement. Thibaut Piel himself shoots using an Afghan box camera and is committed to reviving the use of large-format wooden view cameras—one of which takes pride of place in the shop window.

An old wooden large-format camera catches the eye in the shop window. © Rebecca Zissmann

‘Today, there’s a culture of immediacy tied to our increasingly fast-paced routines,’ observes Léopold Fulconis. ‘Analog photography runs counter to that. You don’t get your photos right away—you have to drop off the rolls at the lab, wait for them to be scanned, and even then, there’s room for error. You might ruin a roll. It’s a slower process, one that encourages greater care and attention: you think more about your framing, about how you shoot. You take fewer pictures, but they mean more. And unlike the thousands of images buried on our phones, these are photos we actually look at.’

In a world where everyone is now a photographer thanks to smartphones, choosing to shoot film is far from an obvious step. And while making that leap may feel daunting at first, the knowledgeable and welcoming team at The Analog Club makes it easier to begin with confidence—and joy. It’s a return to the pleasure of taking one’s time, of slowing down to look, compose, and connect. And perhaps, along the way, to meet others equally enchanted by the magic of film.

 

More information about The Analog Club is available on its website and on its Instagram account.

Further details about Le Sel can be found on its website.

Léopold Fulconis, co-founder of The Analog Club. © Rebecca Zissmann

Prints are continuously exhibited to showcase the work of The Analog Club community members, who can submit their projects through the ongoing open call. © Rebecca Zissmann

Original films, mainly European, are offered for sale. Notably, Sunbath films derived from cinema stock are featured. © Rebecca Zissmann

Numerous events bring life to the space. Here, at the launch of the book ‘Augure’ by Rodrigue de Ferluc on May 14, 2025. © Rebecca Zissmann

Cameras awaiting diagnosis and repair in Clément Lacombe’s workshop. © Rebecca Zissmann

Clément Lacombe in the process of repairing a camera. © Rebecca Zissmann