A Beginners Guide to Film Cameras

We all make New Year’s Resolutions and more times than not, we never actually follow through with them. This year, my New Year’s Resolution was to carry a film camera with me at all times and capture some great memories. I’ve always loved the look of film photos and the whole “vibe” and nature of the experience. 

I knew it was time to jump head first and get started on my film journey when I saw a video come up on my phone. This small business was promoting how they will develop your film for only $10 and have the digital copies back to you within three days. Z41 Film has developers in different parts of the United States making it easy for you to mail your film rolls.

Most people go through places like Walgreens to develop their film and that’s fine but it’s expensive and takes at least two weeks to get your photos back. I can confidently say that I have used Z41 Film to develop all of my film rolls so far and I plan to continue to use them as an alternative to mainstream services.

the basics:

To start us off, let’s begin with some general information for those who don’t know that much about film. Personally, I have experience with two types of film cameras: disposables and point-and-shoot. 

Disposables can be great for someone who is beginning but they do have some cons. I started my film journey with a disposable camera and went through nearly seven cameras before I bought my first point-and-shoot. The disposables were almost my “training wheels” and once I saw how interested and consistent I was in film, I felt I was ready for an upgrade. 

Disposables are nice to have for parties or crowded areas like a concert if you don’t want to lose or ruin your “good” camera. With my point-and-shoot camera, I find myself almost “protecting” it and keeping it at home when I go to college parties because I fear I will break the camera. Disposables get the job done and most everyone knows what it is as soon as they see it. That makes it easier for guests at a party to pick it up and take their own photos which is a great surprise when you get them developed. 

This photo was taken on a Fujifilm Disposable Camera during Goat Yoga in Florida.

Now let’s talk about the negatives of a disposable camera. When you want to start a new roll of film, you have to buy a whole new camera. The price of a disposable can vary from $13-$25. Buying that over and over again can add up quickly. Disposables are also not the most reliable when it comes to photo taking. You practically always need flash on and still, some photos don’t turn out perfectly once they are developed. The final con of disposable cameras is an ethical issue. Disposing of the camera every time you want a new film roll is not the best option for the planet.

The mess that a disposable camera leaves behind after opening them to get the film out. 

Now for point-and-shoot cameras, I can think of more pros than cons. With these cameras, you keep the camera and just buy a new roll of film. This is a cheaper option as you just have to invest in a point-and-shoot camera. Sometimes, however, if you are lucky enough, you can find a point-and-shoot camera for a pretty good price and not have to break the bank.

Buying film separately is cheaper than buying disposable cameras in the long run. You can find a pack of three film rolls for around $12-$18 which gives you much more exposures than a disposable camera. This also is great for someone who likes to experiment with film. With disposables, you are stuck with the film in that camera but you can use whatever brand or color of film you want with a point-and-shoot.

This was a photo taken on an Olympus Infinity Stylus Zoom point and shoot camera in downtown Chicago. 

Point-and-shoot cameras are way more reliable in taking photos and if you have an automatic point-and-shoot, the camera will know when to use flash or not and that helps ensure your photos turn out well. Automatic point-and-shoot can also possibly have a zoom and timer feature. Finally, point-and-shoot cameras are way better for the planet and you can save the camera for years (and possibly hand it down to generations!) This helps you build a bond with the camera and even name it — yes, I have named my film cameras, “Vintage Viv” and “Olly Oldtimer.”

tips and tricks:

After many trials and errors, I have learned a lot of important things the hard way so here is a little list of tips, tricks and things to consider to ensure you have an amazing experience with your film camera.

1. Don’t get your hopes up.

Although film is an amazing way to capture some important memories, it isn’t always reliable. I can’t count the number of times I’ve taken a photo and thought “that’s going to look great!”. Then I got my film back and it didn’t turn out very good at all. So, my advice to you is to take a photo on your phone or a digital camera in addition to the film camera just for a back-up of the bigger moments. 

2. Always have your camera with you.

This might be harder if you have a bigger film camera but for the most part, any point-and-shoot and especially disposables are small enough to fit in your purse or pocket. If you bring it with you at all times, you can capture some amazing moments you didn’t think you would.

3. Use flash when you are indoors or in dark settings like nighttime.

I’ve said it before and I will keep saying it until we all hear it. With disposables, use flash for 95% of your photos especially indoors or your photo will not come out. When using a point-and-shoot camera that has an automatic flash, make sure it is turned off when you are shooting on a bright day. 

This photo was taken on a Fujifilm Disposable camera at the Ohio volleyball tournament. My younger brother’s school had just won state and this was an attempt to capture their reactions. Sadly, because I didn’t use flash (I thought the gym was bright enough) all 12 photos I took of the audience, the team and the student section came out grainy and dark like this photo.

4. When traveling with film, NEVER put the film through the TSA scanner at airports.

I saw a video explaining how the scanners used at airport security can fry your film rolls literally days before I was about to travel with my camera. Luckily I just bought a disposable for the weekend once I landed. Since then, I’ve learned a new trick. Instead of putting your film through the scanner and risking losing all your amazing photos, you can put all your film in a plastic bag and have the TSA Agent check it by hand. 

5. Print out your photos and put them in a box.

This is clearly a personal preference but I feel like printing your favorite film photos out and keeping them in a pretty little box under your bed (or wherever you want to keep your memories) can be nice for future generations. They can look through those photos and see how you lived your life before they were around — It’s a type of legacy. 

6. The number on the film box matters.

When buying a film roll, or even a disposable one but this applies more for individual rolls, the number on the box matters. For example, Kodak 400 vs Kodak 200 has a huge difference. This number is in regards to the ASA/ISO so if you buy film with a lower number, it is ideal to shoot with it on brighter days while a higher number is better suited for night shooting or a darker setting. 

7. The subject of your photo can be anything.

I always thought that when I had my disposable, I had to take photos of people and that was it but once I got my point and shoot, I realized that both people and places/nature are great subjects to shoot. Some of my favorite photos I’ve taken are of places rather than people. Just shoot, you’ll find a photo you love regardless.

This is an example of shooting a place or location with a film camera. This was taken on an Olympus Infinity Stylus Zoom point and shoot camera in Chicago.

This is an example of shooting people and was taken on a Fujifilm disposable camera in Florida at a Blue Wahoos baseball game (from left to right: Sarah Sommers, Sam Johnson, Daniel Sommers, and Jake Sommers).

8. Wait until you finish a few rolls to send them away to get developed.

This is another personal preference but when I wait until I have 3-4 rolls to be sent out, I find that once I get the photos it’s more surprising and I get more excited. I forget which photos are on the roll and it feels like Christmas morning. 

WHERE TO BUY:

Now after all the nuts and bolts, you’re ready to buy your camera! If you are going with a disposable camera, my personal favorite is the Fujifilm Quicksnap Camera. Another great option is this pack of two Fujifilm Disposable Cameras if you know you’re going to use them. I will say, the Walmart in my hometown doesn’t sell this option anymore so it might only be available online. Another disposable option is the Kodak disposable, I personally have not used it but have heard decent things about it from others. 

If you are looking to get a point-and-shoot camera, there is no one place you can get one. I got my Vivitar point-and-shoot for $5 from a pawn shop (and it isn’t the best at taking photos to be completely honest) and got my Olympus Infinity Stylus Zoom at a local camera store in Dayton, Ohio. You can find point-and-shoot cameras at pawn shops, thrift stores, Ebay, and possibly just by asking your grandparents or parents if they kept theirs. I know if my mom’s brother didn’t ruin her point-and-shoot camera on a canoe trip, I would have used that one — thanks Uncle Steve! 

Once you get your point-and-shoot, you’ll want to get some film…duh! My go-to is a pack of three Fujifilm rolls from Meijer. If you don’t have a Meijer near you, you can get some from Amazon or Walmart. If you try Fujifilm and aren’t a fan of the look of your developed photos, you can experiment! I am currently trying some Kodak film from Urban outfitters and am looking forward to seeing if I like it more than Fujifilm. The world is your oyster, you can try any film you want and you’ll find the one you love, I’m sure of it!

My personal experience with film has been life changing. We live in a culture where we take photos and then have to look at them and approve them on the spot and if they aren’t perfect, we have to take them again until they are. With film, you can’t see the photo until after it’s developed so it makes you appreciate the moment a little more and honestly, some of my favorite photos of myself are on film cameras and they somehow make you love your picture a little more. It adds a little bit of mystery and makes the moment you receive your film back a little more sweet. 

Another thing I’ve loved about my film journey is the fact that it’s brought me closer with people. Not only do you have a whole new film community to connect with but you also can connect with people at parties, those you’re shooting and many more. Film cameras are always known as cool things and can be great talking points! I know personally, when I bring my film camera to a gathering, my friends always love to get their photo taken and when I send them the photos, they are never disappointed! So if you need one last reason to start your film journey, here it is: you can help keep film alive! 

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