Why Shoot Film in 2024?
In a world of instant digital photography, film offers something different: a deliberate, tactile experience that connects you more deeply to the craft. Here's why photographers are rediscovering analog.
Unique Aesthetic
Film produces organic colors, natural grain, and a distinctive look that's difficult to replicate digitally. Each film stock has its own character and personality.
Intentional Shooting
With a limited number of exposures per roll, you slow down and think before pressing the shutter. This mindfulness improves your composition and timing.
The Surprise Factor
Waiting for your film to be developed and seeing the results is genuinely exciting. It's like opening a gift from your past self.
Learn Photography Fundamentals
Film forces you to understand exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. These skills transfer to digital photography and make you a better photographer overall.
No Batteries, No Problem
Many classic mechanical cameras work without batteries. They're simple, reliable, and can last for decades with basic maintenance.
Affordable Entry Point
You can start film photography with an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera and a roll of film. Professional-grade vintage cameras are often cheaper than their digital equivalents.
Choosing Your First Film Camera
The best camera is the one you'll actually use. Here's a breakdown of the main types of 35mm film cameras to help you decide.
Point-and-Shoot Cameras
Compact, automatic, and easy to carry everywhere. Modern reusable point-and-shoots are perfect for learning without worrying about manual settings.
Pros:
- Very affordable (under $50)
- Compact and lightweight
- No learning curve
- Built-in flash
Cons:
- Fixed focus (may not be sharp close-up)
- No manual controls
- Plastic lenses have limitations
Our Pick: Kodak M35
The Kodak M35 is a fun, colorful reusable camera that's perfect for beginners. It's simple to load, has a built-in flash, and comes in several attractive colors. With its retro styling and affordable price, it's the ideal way to start your film journey.
Check price on AmazonHalf-Frame Cameras
Half-frame cameras shoot two vertical images on each standard 35mm frame, giving you 72 shots per 36-exposure roll. They're economical and produce a unique portrait-oriented format.
Pros:
- Double the shots per roll
- Lower cost per image
- Unique vertical format
- Great for diptychs and storytelling
Cons:
- Smaller negative = less detail when enlarging
- Vertical orientation takes adjustment
Our Pick: Kodak EKTAR H35
The EKTAR H35 has become a cult favorite. Its half-frame format means 72 exposures per roll, making film photography more economical. The compact body, vintage aesthetic, and fun colors make it incredibly popular with new film photographers.
See on AmazonSLR Cameras (Manual)
Single-lens reflex cameras offer full manual control and interchangeable lenses. Classic 35mm SLRs from brands like Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Minolta offer excellent value and image quality.
Pros:
- Full creative control
- Interchangeable lenses
- Through-the-lens viewfinder
- Build quality that lasts decades
- Huge used market with affordable options
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- Heavier and bulkier
- May need servicing if buying vintage
Popular Models to Look For:
- Canon AE-1 - The classic beginner SLR with aperture-priority mode
- Pentax K1000 - Fully mechanical, no batteries needed for basic operation
- Nikon FM2 - Professional build quality, mechanical reliability
- Minolta X-700 - Great program mode and affordable lenses
Rangefinder Cameras
Rangefinders use a separate viewfinder with a focusing mechanism. They're typically quieter and more compact than SLRs, favored by street photographers.
Pros:
- Compact and quiet
- Excellent for street photography
- No mirror blackout during exposure
- Often paired with exceptional lenses
Cons:
- Expensive (especially Leica)
- Parallax issues at close distances
- Requires learning rangefinder focusing
Understanding Film Types
Film comes in different formats, speeds, and styles. Here's what you need to know to choose the right film for your photography.
Film Speed (ISO)
ISO (formerly ASA) measures a film's sensitivity to light. This is one of the most important factors in choosing your film.
ISO 100-200
Low Speed / Fine Grain
Best for: Bright daylight, landscapes, studio work. Produces the finest grain and sharpest images. Requires good lighting conditions.
ISO 400
Medium Speed / Versatile
Best for: All-around use, overcast days, indoor with flash. The most versatile choice for beginners. Good balance of grain and flexibility.
ISO 800+
High Speed / Low Light
Best for: Indoor photography, evening shots, fast action. More noticeable grain but allows shooting in challenging light without flash.
Color Negative Film
The most common and forgiving film type. Produces negatives that are inverted and scanned or printed. Excellent exposure latitude means it handles mistakes well.
Kodak Gold 200
The classic consumer film. Warm tones, good saturation, and very affordable. Perfect for everyday snapshots and travel photography.
- Warm, golden tones
- Great for daylight
- Very affordable
- Widely available
Kodak UltraMax 400
Kodak's versatile all-purpose film. Slightly more saturated than Gold with increased flexibility for varied lighting conditions.
- Versatile ISO 400
- Vivid colors
- Good for indoor/outdoor
- Budget-friendly
Kodak Portra 400
The professional's choice for portraits. Beautiful skin tones, fine grain for ISO 400, and incredible exposure latitude. A favorite of wedding and portrait photographers.
- Exceptional skin tones
- Fine grain for speed
- Wide exposure latitude
- Professional quality
Fujifilm 200
Fuji's budget-friendly option with cooler, greener tones compared to Kodak. Great for landscapes and outdoor scenes where you want natural-looking greens.
- Cool, natural tones
- Excellent greens
- Sharp and fine-grained
- Affordable
Kodak Portra 160
The finest grain in the Portra family. Ideal for studio work, bright outdoor portraits, and any situation where you want maximum detail and smoothest tones.
- Ultra-fine grain
- Best for bright light
- Studio favorite
- Maximum detail
Black & White Film
Creates timeless, classic images. Many black and white films can be developed at home with basic equipment, making it popular for enthusiasts who want complete control over their process.
Popular B&W Films:
- Kodak Tri-X 400 - The legendary film stock. Classic grain, excellent contrast, incredibly versatile.
- Ilford HP5 Plus 400 - Similar to Tri-X with slightly different tonal characteristics. Very pushable.
- Kodak T-Max 400 - Modern T-grain technology for finer grain than traditional films.
- Ilford Delta 100 - Extremely fine grain for maximum detail in good light.
Slide Film (E-6)
Also called reversal or transparency film, slide film produces positive images that can be projected or viewed directly. It offers stunning colors but requires precise exposure with less latitude for error.
Essential Shooting Tips
Master these fundamentals to get the most out of every roll of film.
1. Understand the Sunny 16 Rule
On a sunny day, set your aperture to f/16 and your shutter speed to 1/ISO. For example, with ISO 400 film, use f/16 at 1/500s. This is your baseline for manual exposure.
Quick Reference:
| Conditions | Aperture |
|---|---|
| Bright sun, hard shadows | f/16 |
| Slight overcast, soft shadows | f/11 |
| Overcast, no shadows | f/8 |
| Heavy overcast or shade | f/5.6 |
2. Expose for the Shadows
Color negative film handles overexposure much better than underexposure. When in doubt, give it more light. Slightly overexposed negatives scan beautifully with rich shadow detail.
3. Use a Light Meter App
If your camera doesn't have a built-in meter (or if you want to verify it), smartphone apps like "Light Meter" or "Lux" provide accurate readings and help you learn exposure.
4. Keep Notes
Write down your settings, especially when you're learning. Note the film, ISO, location, and any tricky exposures. When you get your scans back, you can learn from what worked and what didn't.
5. Watch for Light Leaks
Old cameras may have degraded light seals. Before loading film, check the door seals and foam around the mirror (in SLRs). Orange or red streaks on your images indicate light leaks.
6. Don't Open the Back Mid-Roll
This seems obvious, but it happens! Make absolutely sure your film is rewound before opening the camera back. Listen for the rewind completely finishing.
7. Bracket Important Shots
For crucial moments, take three shots at different exposures: one at your metered reading, one stop over, and one stop under. This ensures at least one will be well-exposed.
8. Store Film Properly
Keep unused film in a cool, dry place. For long-term storage, the refrigerator works well. Let refrigerated film warm to room temperature before loading (about 1 hour) to prevent condensation.
Getting Your Film Developed
You've shot your roll - now what? Here are your options for turning those latent images into viewable photographs.
Typical Lab Costs
Prices vary by lab and location, but here's a general idea:
- Development only: $5-10 per roll
- Development + basic scans: $12-18 per roll
- Development + high-res scans: $18-30 per roll
- Development + prints: $15-25+ per roll
Scanning Your Negatives
If you develop at home or want more control than lab scans provide, scanning your own negatives opens up creative possibilities.
Dedicated Film Scanners
Purpose-built for film, these scanners offer the best quality for 35mm negatives. They're a worthwhile investment if you shoot regularly.
Budget Option: Plustek OpticFilm 8100
An excellent entry-level dedicated scanner with 7200 DPI resolution. Produces sharp, detailed scans that rival professional lab work. Includes SilverFast software for color correction.
Check price on AmazonMid-Range: Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE
Adds infrared dust and scratch removal (iSRD) that automatically detects and removes imperfections. Saves significant time in post-processing.
See on AmazonHigh-End: Plustek OpticFilm 8300i SE
The latest generation with 38% faster scanning, improved infrared channel, and bundled with SilverFast SE Plus 9 software. Best for serious enthusiasts.
Check price on AmazonBatch Scanning: Plustek OpticFilm 135i
Motorized automatic scanner that can batch-process entire strips of film. Ideal for high-volume scanning without constant supervision.
See on AmazonDSLR/Mirrorless Scanning
Using your digital camera to photograph negatives is fast and produces excellent results. You'll need a macro lens, light source, and film holder.
Advantages:
- Very fast (seconds per frame vs. minutes)
- Uses equipment you may already own
- Easy to batch process
Requirements:
- Camera with manual controls
- Macro lens (or extension tubes)
- Even backlight source (LED panel or tablet)
- Film holder or scanning mask
- Copy stand or tripod
Flatbed Scanners
Consumer flatbed scanners with transparency units (like the Epson V600) can scan film but typically produce lower quality than dedicated film scanners. They're versatile if you also need to scan documents and prints.
Scanning Tips
- Clean your negatives: Use an anti-static brush or rocket blower before scanning to remove dust
- Handle by edges: Fingerprints on the emulsion are difficult to remove
- Scan as raw as possible: Apply corrections in post for maximum flexibility
- Don't oversharpen: Let the natural film grain show through
- Store negatives properly: Use archival sleeves and keep away from humidity
Our Top Picks for Beginners
Ready to start your film photography journey? Here are our curated recommendations to get you shooting.
Best Starter Camera
Kodak M35
The Kodak M35 is the perfect entry point. Its reusable design, fun colors, and foolproof operation make it ideal for learning film photography without any technical overwhelm. Just load film, point, and shoot.
Check price on AmazonBest Value Camera
Kodak EKTAR H35
Get 72 shots per roll with this half-frame camera. The EKTAR H35 cuts your film costs in half while delivering that classic film aesthetic. Great for experimenting and storytelling through paired images.
See on AmazonBest All-Around Film
Kodak UltraMax 400 (3-Pack)
ISO 400 works in almost any lighting situation. UltraMax 400 has vibrant colors, good sharpness, and handles both daylight and indoor flash beautifully. Buy in bulk to save money.
Check price on AmazonBest Budget Film
Kodak Gold 200 (3-Pack)
The classic affordable film stock. Kodak Gold produces warm, nostalgic images perfect for sunny days and travel. Its forgiving exposure latitude is ideal for beginners.
See on AmazonBest Premium Film
Kodak Portra 400
When you're ready to level up, Portra 400 delivers professional results. Gorgeous skin tones, fine grain, and incredible exposure latitude make it worth the investment for important occasions.
Check price on AmazonBest Film Scanner
Plustek OpticFilm 8200i SE
Scanning your own negatives puts you in complete control. The 8200i SE produces excellent scans with built-in dust removal, paying for itself after just 30-40 rolls compared to lab scanning.
See on AmazonBest Camera Strap
TARION Leather Camera Strap
A quality strap makes carrying your camera comfortable and adds vintage style. This genuine leather strap is adjustable, durable, and looks great on any film camera.
Check price on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
How much does film photography cost?
A roll of 36-exposure film costs $8-20 depending on the stock. Development and scanning adds $12-25 per roll. So each shot costs roughly $0.50-1.25. While more expensive per image than digital, the cost encourages thoughtful composition.
Can I still buy 35mm film?
Yes! Film is experiencing a resurgence. Kodak, Fujifilm, Ilford, and others continue to produce 35mm film. You can find it at camera stores, online retailers, and even some drug stores.
Is film photography hard to learn?
With a modern point-and-shoot camera, it's as easy as digital. If you want to use a manual camera, there's a learning curve, but understanding exposure is a valuable skill that improves all your photography.
What happens if I mess up the exposure?
Color negative film is very forgiving. You can be 2-3 stops overexposed and still get usable images. Underexposure is harder to recover, so when in doubt, give it more light.
How long does film last before I develop it?
Exposed film should ideally be developed within a few weeks for best results. Unexposed film has an expiration date (usually 2-3 years from manufacture) but can be used beyond that with some color shifts.
Can airport X-rays damage my film?
Carry-on X-rays are generally safe for film under ISO 800. Higher ISO films and multiple X-ray passes can cause fogging. Request hand inspection if you're concerned, especially with high-speed film.