Using a film camera can be a fantastic experience. It forces you to think about your composition, ISO, shutter speed and aperture – things that are often overlooked on digital cameras.
It also means you only get a limited number of exposures which can be a great way to force you to work harder at taking great photos.
Camera Types
There are many different types of 35mm Film Cameras available on the market. They range from the simple point and shoot type to more advanced SLR camera systems.
A single-lens reflex (SLR) camera is an analog camera that uses a mirror and internal light meter to view the image through a lens. It also accepts interchangeable lenses, giving photographers more control over their pictures.
SLRs are a great choice for beginners, because they’re easy to learn and offer a wide variety of features. Some models even allow for multiple exposures.
Using an SLR camera also gives you the ability to switch between different film types, including color and black-and-white. It’s also possible to use reversal film, which produces an image on one side of the film and then reverses it when you remove it from the camera.
A rangefinder is another popular choice for many people who want a more manual experience when it comes to taking photos. They can be found in both automatic and manual versions, with some allowing you to adjust both the shutter speed and the aperture.
Lenses
There are a variety of lenses available for 35mm film cameras. These include standard lenses, telephoto lenses, and anamorphic lenses.
The focal length of a lens determines how far the image will be from the subject. A 50mm lens will capture what the human eye sees, while a 75mm lens is more of a telephoto, helping to zoom in on the subject.
Aperture, or the size of the opening in the lens, also affects how much light is captured. Larger apertures allow more light to enter the camera, but small ones produce a shallow depth of field and less focus.
The standard lens for a 35mm camera is a 50mm, but there are many other options. For example, for medium format cameras using 120 film, an 80mm lens is more appropriate. And for large format cameras, a 150mm lens will give a natural look to the image.
Film Formats
Whether you’re an experienced shooter or new to film photography, you have many options when it comes to choosing the right film format. You need to determine what you want the most out of your camera and then choose a format that will best suit your needs.
35mm FILM: A standard frame size of 24x36mm with a perforation size of KS-1870, this is the most common film format. It’s also one of the most accessible.
120 FILM: Introduced in 1901 by Kodak, this was the main medium format format until the rise of 35mm. It has the same frame size as 135 film (36x24mm) but is twice as long and allows two times as many frames on a roll.
220 FILM: Identical to 120 film except that it does not have protective backing paper on it and can fit on the same sized spool. This makes it easier to use and allows for a higher number of exposures on a roll.
Printing
If you’re looking for high-quality prints, 35mm film is a great option. These types of films offer excellent detail and contrast, and can be printed at large sizes (or even used for printing on paper).
Unlike digital cameras, film is designed to be loaded in a camera’s shutter without the need for a dark room, saving you time and hassle. You can even purchase an automatic film scanner that will convert your negatives to JPEG files for instant viewing on your computer or mobile device.
One of the best things about film is that it has a very wide exposure latitude, meaning that it can be shot with less than perfect technique and still produce a usable image. This is especially helpful if you’re using an older manual-exposure camera or a basic model that has no built-in metering. It also makes it possible to experiment with double exposure, as well as different color settings. It’s a great choice for anyone starting out in photography or those who want to improve their skills.
