It seems like film is all the rage right now, trending everywhere you look from Facebook to forums to blog posts.  I figured with all the great resources out there this would be a great time to give film a try.

Here is what I learned (with my disclaimer that I am very much a beginner with film & this is written from that point of view):

Try more than one type of camera:
Different cameras offer different experiences & different types of looks.  You may really love the way a toy camera like a Holga or a Diana turn out crazy unpredictable results while someone else may love the technical part of learning how to shoot with a light meter or using a camera with manual focus.

I tried three different film cameras recently, the Canonet QL17, the Diana F+, and the Canon Rebel 2000 EOS.  They all provided unique experiences and results.

Out of my collection of vintage cameras some actually still work.  One of them is a Canonet QL17 GIII which has a rangefinder focusing system (where you manually move the lens to align two images until they are right on top of each other before you click the shutter).

Just in looking at the camera, I wasn’t sure if I could figure out how to load the film (I know, that should be easy, right?) so I was thankful when I was able to find a copy of the camera manual online (gotta love Google searches).  It was a fun challenge for me to research how to load the film, meter (I had to use a light meter app on my phone because the camera didn’t have the right kind of battery since it is no longer sold in the US), then learn the focusing system.  The below images are using Fuji Superia 400 film.

The next camera I loaded up with film is the Diana F+ that I bought on a whim.  I looked through some Flickr groups to see what kind of crazy results I could get with this camera, read up on the Lomography website, and watched a few You Tube videos (again, I needed help loading the film).  This camera is light weight and made of plastic which made it a great camera to use at the beach and on the street.  It really does feel like a toy & when I would click the shutter I was amazed that was all I had to do.  It shoots in a square frame which I felt was a nice way to challenge myself compositionally since it isn’t how I usually compose the shot.  Since toy cameras can be known for light leaks and being unpredictable I also felt less pressure to get just that one perfect shot. It was a nice break from the typical expectations I place on myself when I shoot with my DSLR.  One thing this kind of camera is known for are light leaks.  I think that is what happened in the image below & why the numbers showed up on the frame during processing.  I think it works here by adding to the sort of vintage surfer feel but I wouldn’t want it on just any image.  These images are using the Lady Grey 400 Black & White film.

The third camera that I loaded up with film (thankfully this one I didn’t have to search for a manual or You Tube video on first) was a Canon Rebel 2000 EOS.  It is the camera most like the one I am accustomed to shooting with, the Canon 5d Mark II simply because of the more modern design.  I was able to use my Canon lenses with this camera which was an added bonus since I know those lenses well including the results each provides.  This camera has an in camera meter which was helpful although I also double checked my settings with the light meter app to compare the two.  The below images are using Kodak Portra 400 film.

Try more than one type of film:
One thing I did before choosing what film to order was look through sites of film shooting photographers to see what they were using.  If I came across someone who had colors & tones that I liked then I added that type of film to my list to try.  Many of the film photographers will list the film they used when they blog images & I find that really helpful.  I also searched by film type on Flickr.  There are groups dedicated to particular toy cameras, like the Diana F+ as well as various film stocks.  It helped me see what kind of results I was more likely to get by doing this research ahead of time.

This type of research also helped me plan what I was going to shoot once I had the film loaded in the camera.  There was a Lomography roll that I knew would give dark saturated colors (not nice soft skin tones) so I loaded that roll in on a day that I took my son on a trolley down Pacific Coast Highway stopping at various beach spots along the way.  I figured that the saturation of colors might play well with the mid-day sun & brightness of that outing.  I reviewed the look of each film stock that I bought & tried to align it with what I was shooting to enhance the trial process for myself.  The below image was shot with Diana F+ Color Slide X-Pro 200 film.

Reasons to Shoot film:

Having a limited number of frames to shoot helped me slow down & set up the shot.  I was really thoughtful about what I was shooting because I didn’t want to burn up the film.  It was a nice lesson on slowing down, evaluating my light and my composition before I started firing off the shutter.

I also liked the simplicity of film (once I got the film loaded & had an idea of how to work each camera).  It felt like I was freed to be more present in the moment rather than checking the back of my camera to see if I needed to adjust my settings or wondering if I got that one shot (you know, that one shot you hope to get every time you shoot?).  Instead, I watched for the story and let it unfold.  Then I grabbed the camera, framed my image, clicked the shutter and I was done.  Back in the moment enjoying life.

One other thing that I really, really liked?  A whole lot less editing.  Yes, I am going to say that even though editing can be a valuable part of the creative process sometimes it just feels like it takes up way too much time.  Instead of sitting in front of the computer editing in Lightroom or Photoshop, I was spending time with my family.  And that was nice.  I had to straighten a horizon or two but that was just about it.

Film tips that I learned & found helpful:

• On the Canon Rebel SLR you can switch out the lenses even in the middle of the roll (I know that seems like common sense but I actually found myself asking someone this question).

• Using a professional lab for developing is worth it because they can answer your questions, provide information, and help you get the results that you want.  I used Pro Photo Irvine for all my rolls this time & felt like the quality of my scans were much better than Costco.  Different labs use different scanners which lead to difference results so if you get to know the lab they can customize better for you, some labs even allow you to send in samples of your typical style of editing to help them get it as close as they can for you.

• You have more room for error with exposure when you are using color film over black and white film.  Although overall, you have more room for error with exposure period when using film over shooting in digital.

• You can use an app on your iPhone for a light meter rather than investing in an expensive one right at first.  I used the Pocket Light Meter & felt like it gave pretty consistent settings for starting off.

• If you can be organized enough to write down your setting for each frame on your first roll or two of film (at least) then you can compare your settings to your results & see where to adjust the next time you shoot.  There is more information on journaling as you shoot in the post 9 Shooting Film Tips for Beginners.

• Make a list of the film type & the location where you shot before turning in the rolls so you know for sure what you are getting back.  For example, I wrote down Canonet + Fuji Superia 400 + Irvine.  Then when I saw the scan from that set I knew what film stock I used + which camera.

• Use the Sunny 16 rule as a default if you are outside on a nicely lit day.  This rule is where you set your aperture to f/16 & your shutter speed the same as the film speed.  It is an easy rule to remember & use if you don’t have a meter in camera or a hand held meter.

Some good resources for shooting film:

– The Luminous Portrait by Elizabeth Messina
– Pinterest Film Board
– Clickin Moms Forum Film section
– 9 Shooting film tips for beginners