Published Jul 30, 2021
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dpreview staff
Curious about film photography? Don’t know where to begin? We’ve got you covered! Parts 1-10 of our absolute beginner’s guide to film photography address all the basics of the medium, from film and camera types to advice on choosing the absolute best camera for your needs. We also cover the nuts and bolts of exposure, including the Sunny 16 Rule, as well as logistical questions, like, ‘Where do I get film developed?’
We cover all the basics of the medium, from film and camera types to advice on choosing the absolute best camera for your needs
And we’re not done yet – we’ve got even more analog beginners guides lined up for the rest of 2021 (they’ll be added to this page as they go live). So whether you’re just getting into film or you’re revisiting an old passion, begin your analog (re)awakening right here:
Part 1 – Getting started
How do you take the plunge into analog photography? This edition of the ‘Absolute beginner’s guide to film photography’ will cover the bare necessities – what you need to get started.
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Part 2 – What you need to know – B&W film
Today, B&W film photography remains popular both for its aesthetic appeal and its ease of use, whether you’re a beginner, a dabbler or a seasoned pro. Here’s everything you need to know about the medium.
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Part 3 – Color print film
One of the greatest joys of experimenting with color print film is discovering the wide variety of options out there, each rendering color/grain/contrast differently than the next. Want to know more? We’ve got you covered in our complete beginner’s guide.
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Part 4 – Color slide film
Color slide film can produce images that are brighter and more vibrant than standard color print film, but with far less exposure latitude, there’s little room for error. Here’s everything you need to know about color slide film.
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Photo: Nesster
Part 5 – The ‘Sunny 16’ rule or how-to expose with no meter
No light meter? No problem. With the ‘Sunny 16’ rule you’ll never have to second-guess exposures again, regardless of whether you’re shooting film or digital.
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Part 6 – Seven common camera types
By our count, there are no fewer than seven common film camera types – just wait until you see our list of uncommon cameras. Here’s everything you need to know about each, including availability and viability in 2021.
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Part 7 – Less common camera types
From the stately twin-lens reflex to the timeless view camera, here are some of the less common film camera types still kicking around on the used market.
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Photo: Chia Ying Yang
Part 8 – Which camera type is right for you?
Looking to get into film photography? Whether you’re hunting for a pocket-sized companion, a camera to learn and grow with, or something capable of the best image quality possible, we’ve got advice for you.
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Part 9 – Common film formats & types
In this edition of our beginner’s guide to film photography, we’ll go over the most common film types – from 35mm to large format – and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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Part 10 – Less common film formats and types
We’ve already discussed common film types, now it’s time to take a look at the oddball film formats. From the discontinued to the hard-to-find, how many of these have you shot?
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Photo: Joost J. Bakker
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