I never want to discourage anyone from trying something new. Especially something that I also have a passion for. However, I would be remiss if I did not educate those interested in trying out film photography on some of the drawbacks of the craft. Here are some things to keep in mind when getting into film photography.
Volatility of Film
Modern digital cameras require, at a minimum, a SD card to capture and store photos. Other types of cameras, like iPhones, rely on built in storage instead of removable media. Film cameras require, well, film. Film is composed of various chemicals that react to light in order to capture an image. Light is your friend. Light is also your worst enemy. Too little light, and your images will be under exposed. Too much light, and your images will be blown out. This is also true of digital cameras, but with several caveats:
You can preview or review your images easily with the LCD screen and make adjustments as needed.
You can take multiple pictures until you get the right look.
You can usually edit your images in photo editing applications to correct your images exposure.
With film, you don't have the same luxuries. Instead, you rely on your camera's light meter (if it has one) or the Sunny 16 rule (if you can remember it) to get the correct exposure. Only after you get your photos back from a lab, will you know if your images are exposed correctly.
The chemical compounds in film do not last indefinitely. In fact, most film packs will have an expiration date or best-of date. The chemical compounds in film will break down overtime and become less reactant to light. Temperature plays a big part in this degradation. Many film photographers will opt to store their film in cold locations, like a refrigerator, to prolong the life of their film. X-rays machines, like the ones at airports, also can negatively impact film. These machines send out radiation that can potentially reduce the sensitivity of film. Exposed film, or film that has been used to capture an image, can also experience a deterioration in image quality when exposed to these types of machines.
Reliability of Legacy Film Cameras
Most film cameras in circulation are old. Like, really old. The Pentax K1000, one of the more popular film cameras on the market, first hit production in 1976! Camera manufacturers began phasing out film cameras in the late 1990s and early 2000s in favor of the conveniences of digital cameras. As of writing this article, the only new film cameras in production are done by Leica and smaller brands, like Lomography.
The biggest problem with these aging film cameras is reliability. Overtime, different components in these cameras will start to break down and fail. There are many different issues that can arise, but the most common is electronic failure. Some cameras rely on electronic components to function properly and when they go, your camera is basically a brick. A circuit board made in the 1970s is not going to stand up to the test of time. Once it goes, that's it. Most camera brands cannot service these components as they are no longer in production. Other brands, like Mamiya and Contax, are not even around anymore!
Another related issue is the lack of trained service providers. Most film cameras require cleaning, lubrication and adjustment (CLA for short) over their lifetime. With the switch from film to digital, a lot of trained service shops have either switched focus to digital cameras or closed up shop. Overtime, there will be fewer and fewer trained individual that can service these cameras.
Cost
Film photography is expensive. Yes, cameras can be had for cheap, but once you start considering the cost of buying and processing film, things begin to add up. First, lets consider the camera selection. As I stated previously, the amount of reliable film cameras on the market is slowly beginning to dry up. Prior to the most recent "film craze" (2015ish to present), cameras were cheap and plentiful. Thanks to IG, the desire for the film look and Kylie Jenner, camera costs have sky rocketed. Thankfully cameras like the Pentax K1000, Canon AE-1 and Nikon FM10, can still be found for under $200. These models usually will include a standard kit lens, like a 50mm 1.8. Film costs have also slowly increased over time. Kodak, for example, has within the past few years, increased the prices of some of their most popular film stocks. Kodak Portra 400, a wildly popular, professional grade film stock, has gone up in price from around $50 for a 5 pack to $75 per 5 pack in 2024. In addition to film costs, processing and scanning costs have also increased. Most film labs have slowly increased their fees to compensate for new demand, equipment and staffing requirements. More tenured film photographers have begun opting to develop and scan on their own. While this cuts out the need for a lab, there are still start up and reoccurring costs for self development, such as chemicals, scanners and photo editing software.
Conclusion
Film photography does require some careful thought and upfront costs to get started. Film is pricey and requires additional considerations to shoot and handle properly. Film cameras are sometimes hit or miss in terms of reliability and cost. Be sure to do your own research when considering if film photography is right for you.
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