Getting Started With Film Photography
Porta 160 film shot on Olympus Stylus 100
Porta 160 film shot on Olympus Stylus 100
Porta 160 film shot on Olympus Stylus 100
I look at shooting film like a photo diary. Film photos have a soul to them that digital can’t even compete with. Knowing that the image you have exposed onto your negative is the only one like it in existence gives film an artistic quality that blows me away. If you have ever wanted to venture into the world of film photography, here are simple steps to start.
Steps to shooting film
Find a camera
Pick out a few rolls of film
Shoot your images
Send your completed rolls off to be processed
Patiently wait for the lab to process your negatives - generally a week’s wait
Receive your images!
Tweak/edit your images to your final preferences
Request that the lab mail your negatives back to you
Save the negatives for your archive of images
Experiment and enjoy the creative process!
Gear & Lab Recommendations
35mm Cameras
Canon A-1 or AE-1 - I use this as my main camera for significant shoots. The classic analog camera produces high quality shots and is easy to use, especially in full auto mode. Its rather on the large side for throwing in your bag for casual use, but the control you have over the images is fantastic. You can find them for less than $200 on eBay!
Olympus Mju ii, also called the Stylus Epic in America - this little camera is considered one of the all around best in the “point and shoot” category. It has a wide aperture at 2.8 which lets in lots of light and creates lovely bokeh (a photography word for background blur). It is teeny so it is perfect for throwing in your bag while traveling. Over the past few years this little camera has gained a cult following for its gorgeous image quality, though this has made the price inflate drastically. Its available on eBay for around $300.
Olympus Stylus 100 Zoom, also called the Mju iii- this is a cheaper alternative to the Mju ii and I have loved having it as a backup camera. It has a zoom function so it provides more versatility in capturing images as opposed to the fixed focal length of the Mju ii. You can find this camera on eBay for around $100.
Cheap Point and Shoot alternatives like the Olympus Infinity cameras can be purchased on eBay for around $30 and are an even more economic start to your film journey.
Film Stocks
Portra 160 & 400 - Portra generally has warmer colors due to the yellow base tones in the film. This means that golds pop in your images! The 400 version handles all lighting situations very well and is a great start into the professional film stock category. Portra 160 is a personal favorite of mine due to its lower contrast and milky hues.
Fuji 400h 35mm color film - this film has a bright and airy aesthetic with pops in blue + green hues. This is considered a professional grade film stock and I reccommend buying rolls from the FIND Lab. The FIND Lab has the most competitive prices on film . Check out this blog post by The FIND Lab that details how to get the most out of this film.
Fujifilm Superia X-TRA ISO 400 35mm Color Film - this is my pick for inexpensive learning film. It still has a beautiful aesthetic, especially when shot in full day light. This is considered a consumer grade film stock and you can pick rolls up at any convenience store.
ILFORD HP5 - this might just be my favorite bw film stock! Ilford HP5 is known for having a soft aesthetic with low contrast + high grain.
Processing + Information Source
The FIND Lab - this is my go-to resource for EVERYTHING film. They process (take the film from rolls to photos), print, and sell film. I frequently utilize their informative blog posts for understanding the complicated nuances of film
Basic + Film Processing with Regular Sized Scans- The FIND Lab has several levels of film processing and scanning. They range from the cheapest “Auto” Scans to “Premium” Scans. I recommend starting with the Basic + level because it is an all around medium between all of the options. It produces gorgeous image tones and the FIND Lab provides feedback on how to produce better images!