TIPS & TRICKS – HOW TO DEVELOP FILM SERIES – PART 1

One of the most popular questions I get sent through both Instagram and via the Photo BaseCamp contact us page is asking about how we develop and scan our film. Unsurprisingly, there are all ready a lot of articles out there about this topic already, but I like (and hope) to think it’s because people like the results we are achieving.

This is honestly also how I learnt to develop and scan film – by seeking out examples that really spoke to and stood out to me, and contacting the photographer to find out more. It’s something I have mentioned before in other articles with the promised ‘coming soon’ tagline – a series of articles describing our process.

So, where to begin… well, why do I shoot film in the first place?

Like many photographers that are old enough (sadly, I am), I was very quick to ditch my dated film cameras for the immediate and much less ongoing cost of the new kid on the block, digital cameras. I embraced digital completely, shooting mostly Canon DSLR’s and point and shoots along the way (Canon G12 was also a favorite), then more recently, the wonderful Fujifilm’s with the X100 series and now Leica’s.

Sadly, almost three years ago my Grandfather, who was a keen photographer throughout his life, passed away. He left me his Canon FTb and a few lenses that he had been shooting with for the better part of 40 years. A wonderful, simple little camera with a built in light meter and some great lenses.

This camera reopened a forgotten world to me. The shooting experience, the total lack of instant feedback and confirmation, and the final results with the beautiful grain and unique colors and look. I feel like this is the main reason people rediscover or search out film film the first time – its the hunt for something different. Not just in what it looks like, but the process in getting there too.

What do you need?

Well, the first thing is a film camera. There are sooooo many options to choose from both in brand name but also in format it can get quite daunting. To break it down simply:

35mm:

The standard film that you probably already know, possibly shoot with before (or at least your parents did). A great place to begin – excellent cameras can be picked up quite cheaply in good working order and film is not overly expensive when you get between 24-36 shots per roll, allowing you to experiment and make mistakes along the way.

Some great 35mm cameras that can be picked up for less than $100 on eBay include the Canon AE-1 with metering through the lens and shutter priority making it a simple step into film at a great price. Other options are the Olympus OM-1, Pentax K1000 or the Nikon F3 (an awesome camera)

Keep in mind – all these cameras are fully manual, including focus – you must set the ISO, shutter speed and aperture and adjust these for the correct exposure.

120 Medium Format:

Medium format film is on average 4-6 times larger than the 35mm frame, this means you get a LOT more detail and finer grain, but also a lot less shots per roll (depending on the size a 6×4.5 will get 16, 6×6 will be 12, 6×7 is 10 or 6×9 is 9 frames per roll).

Bigger film generally means, bigger camera and lens. They tend to be much larger and heavier to carry around and most of these cameras don’t have a built in light meter, meaning you will need an external one to check exposure. There are some great cheaper cameras like the Rolleicord and Minolta Autocord and more slightly more expensive options like the Mamiya RB67 or Pentax 645.

A more expensive, but great smaller option that has autofocus and a built in light meter is the Fuji GA645 – they can be picked up for around $600-$1000 depending on condition. The lens on this camera is fantastic.

Its often said (and based on my experience too!) if you love shooting film, you will end up with a medium format camera in the end!

So which film?

I would suggest starting off with fewer options and really getting to know those before you get tempted (like I did!) and purchase loads of different ones. But limiting it to 1 or 2 black and white and color films, you will be able to learn what works both when shooting the film, but also how to get the best results from developing and scanning.

Black and White:

Some good options here are the Ilford Delta 100 for slower and less grain and then the Ilford HP5+ (400 asa) which is a higher speed film, but is super smooth and very easy to shoot and get great results.

Kodak has similar options with TMAX 100 and TRI-X 400. I love TMAX, its something I shoot with a lot.

Color:

There is one film that should be on everyones list, Kodak Portra. In speeds of 160, 400 and 800, its very easy to shoot, looks amazing with the more vintage pastel colors and scans really well. Check our my Portra 400 review HERE!

A cheaper alternative is Kodak Gold 200 – at around $5.00 a roll its a great film to practice and experiment on.

So grab your camera and some film – go out and shoot and stay tuned for part 2 of the series where I talk about what you need to develop black and white film at home.