Film

For those who use film cameras, choosing the right film can make all the difference in the results that you want to achieve. Here are a few tips that can help you get the best results possible.

Make sure that you know the lighting conditions that you will be shooting in. If you are planning to shoot outdoors and in the sun, you will need to take that into consideration. By that same token, if you need to shoot in darker conditions, you need to get the film that is designed for that.

Your next decision is to decide if you will be shooting in black and white or if you wish to shoot in color. You may find it harder than you think to find black and white film these days, so plan for that as well if you want your results in black and white. You may have to order online or visit your local photo store to get your film.

Many people wonder which brand of film is best. The truth is that most popular brands are of good quality these days. If you stick with the name brands, you will be fine. Of course, if you have a favorite brand or if you have special needs, you will want to make sure that you get the brand that fits your desires.

The next thing to decide is on the speed of the film. Select slow (25-64 ISO), medium (100-200 ISO), fast (400-1000 ISO) or ultra fast (1600-3200 ISO) film based on the lighting.

You should use slow film if you are shooting outside or if you have the proper lighting in your studio. Medium film is a very good choice for most indoor and outdoor shooting. This can be thought of as the "average" type of film for most photography. Use the fast type of film if you plan to capture action shots. And use the ultra fast film if you want to shoot in dark areas or at night.

You should keep in mind that fast film will produce grainy prints in many cases. This is important to know if you want to shoot landscapes or portrait type pictures. For those you should consider using slow film.

However, if you want to capture action shots, slow film often produce a blurring effect, so use the faster films for those types of pictures.

It all sounds a bit confusing, but with a little experimentation you will soon find the proper film for all of your shots.