Which film should I start with?
Film photography can be overwhelming when you first dive in. There are so many formats, film types, and looks to choose from! But don’t worry, this guide breaks it down simply and helps you pick the best films to start experimenting with today.
🎞 Film Formats:
Before choosing a specific film stock, let’s talk about film format, that’s the physical size of the film:
- 110 Film (Pocket Film) - 110 film is a small-format cartridge film originally designed for compact, easy-to-use cameras.
- 35mm (135) - Most popular for beginners. Affordable, easy to find, and fits the widest range of cameras.
- 120 (Medium Format) - Larger negatives, more detail, generally higher cost per shot.
- Large Format (e.g., 4×5) - Huge negatives with stunning detail, but complex and expensive. Usually not for beginners.
* If you’re just starting out, 35mm film is usually the best choice, it’s affordable, easy to load, and widely supported by labs.
*Recommend a 35mm film to start off with.
🎨 Types of Film:
- Color Negative Film (C-41) - This is the most common type of film and the one most beginners should start with. It’s forgiving with exposure, easy to process at most labs, and gives natural colours.
- Black & White Film - just tones and contrast. B&W film is great if you want to focus on light, texture, and composition. It’s also easier to develop at home if you want to try DIY processing.
- Slide Film (E-6) - Also called reversal or transparency film, this type gives very vibrant colours and sharp contrast — but it’s much less forgiving with exposure and more expensive to process.
- Cine and Creative Films (ECN) - These include motion-picture films repurposed for still photography (like CineStill) or special effects films (e.g., redscale, tungsten-balanced stocks).
*Recommend a Color Negative Film (C-41) for ease of developing to start off with.
🌞 What Is ISO in Film?
ISO refers to how sensitive the film is to light. Unlike digital cameras, where ISO can be changed shot-to-shot, film ISO is fixed for the entire roll, once you load it, you’re committed until the roll is finished.
In simple terms:
- Lower ISO = needs more light
- Higher ISO = works better in low light
*Recommend a 200-800 ISO for versatility to start off with.
🛒 Ready to Buy Film?
We stock a wide selection of beginner-friendly rolls, from classic colour films to black & white.
To make it easier for you to find the films on our online shop, we have implemented a filter system that you can use. The links below are already filtered for your convenience.
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Hope it helps!