Film photography is as popular as ever—and with it comes a growing curiosity about the different types of film cameras available today. Whether you’re a beginner looking to dip your toes into analog, a digital shooter exploring film for the first time, or a seasoned photographer wanting to expand your toolkit, understanding the strengths and limitations of each camera type is key. From easy-to-use disposable cameras to high-end medium format systems, each option offers a unique shooting experience, distinct image quality, and a different level of creative control. In this guide, we’ll break down the main types of film cameras, highlight some recommended models, and help you choose the right one for your style, budget, and goals.

Types of Film Cameras

Disposable Cameras

Disposable cameras, often called single-use cameras, come preloaded with film and are ready to go right out of the box. They’re typically inexpensive and incredibly easy to use—no settings or technical knowledge required. This makes them a great option for casual use, events, parties, or travel.

However, they do have some downsides:

• Fixed settings offer very little control.
• Lower image quality.
• Built-in flash can be inconsistent.
• Not environmentally friendly, since they’re single-use.

Best for: Casual fun, one-time use, or party snapshots.

120 Film (Medium Format)

Medium format cameras, which use 120 film, offer significantly higher image quality than 35mm or disposable options. They’re known for their:

• Shallow depth of field
• Beautiful tonal range
• Incredible detail

These cameras are bulkier, more expensive, and offer fewer exposures per roll—usually 8 to 16, depending on the camera. Developing costs are also higher. Medium format photography comes with a steeper learning curve, so they’re not ideal for complete beginners.

Best for: Professional work, portraits, fine art, and landscapes.

35mm Film

35mm film is a favorite among photographers for good reason. It’s widely available, relatively affordable, and easy to use. Most rolls offer 24 or 36 exposures, and there’s a camera out there for everyone—whether you prefer manual or automatic controls.

While the image resolution is lower than medium format and higher ISO film tends to produce more grain, it strikes a great balance between quality and convenience.

Best for: Everyday shooting, travel, and beginners looking to get into film photography.

Recommended Film Cameras

Canon AE-1

The Canon AE-1 is a classic and user-friendly 35mm camera. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned photographer, it’s a reliable choice with:

• Manual controls for creative flexibility
• Interchangeable lenses
• Durable and compact build

Its easy-to-use features and solid performance make it one of the most beloved film cameras ever made.

Pentax K1000

The Pentax K1000 is ideal for those wanting to learn the fundamentals. It eliminates unnecessary automation and helps you focus on the essentials—shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.

Features include:

• Clear viewfinder
• Simple, intuitive light meter
• Fully manual operation

A great learning tool and a favorite among photography students.

Canon EOS 1V

The EOS 1V is Canon’s last professional 35mm film SLR—and they went all out. It features:

• Rugged, high-performance build
• Fast autofocus
• High-speed continuous shooting (up to 10 frames per second)
• Compatibility with Canon EF lenses (great for digital + film shooters)
• Full-frame 35mm format
• 9 exposure modes and intuitive controls

An excellent choice for advanced film photographers or professionals who want the best of both film and digital systems.

Understanding Film ISO

Film ISO refers to the film’s sensitivity to light. Just like in digital photography, ISO affects exposure and image quality.

• Lower ISO (100–200): Less sensitive to light. Ideal for bright conditions. Produces sharp images with minimal grain.
• Higher ISO (800–3200): More sensitive to light. Great for low-light scenes but introduces more grain.

Each roll of film has a set ISO, so choose based on the lighting conditions and mood you want to achieve.

Quick ISO Guide:

• • ISO 100: Minimal grain, best for bright daylight, snow, or studio lighting.
  • ISO 200: Slightly more sensitive, great for overcast days or shade.
  • ISO 400: Versatile, moderate grain, perfect for indoor natural light, golden hour, or cloudy weather.
  • ISO 800: High sensitivity, noticeable grain—ideal for low light, concerts, or indoor shots.

Film Types

Kodak Gold: A nostalgic film stock that is popular amongst photographers at any level. One of the more budget-friendly color films, Kodak Gold has a distinct warm color palette. Giving off. vintage, 90s nostalgia to your photos. Kodak Gold is designed for bright and natural light scenarios and has a forgiving sensitivity to light.

• Affordable
• Warm, nostalgic tones
• Best used in daylight
• Pleasant grain
• Beginner Friendly
• Best for everyday shooting, travel, casual portraits

Portra: One of the most popular film stocks in the world, Portra is well loved for its beautiful skin tones, smooth tonal gradation and a pastel-like color profile. It’s loved by both analog purists and hybrid shooters (film + digital workflow) for its scannability and editing potential.

• Natural and flattering skin tones
• Soft, cinematic and pastel color profile
• Very forgiving exposure latitude
• Multiple ISO options
• Best for portraits, weddings, lifestyle and travel

Tri-x: Tri-X 400 is one of the most iconic black-and-white film stocks of all time. It delivers a bold, gritty, high-contrast black-and-white aesthetic that many people associate with vintage photography and old-school photography. It is perfect for creating cinematic, emotionally powerful images.

• Bold contrast, timeless black-and-white tones with cinematic grit
• ISO 400 – flexible for most lighting scenario
• Easy to shoot
• Great for evoking a raw, emotional feeling

My Favorite Film Stocks

• Color:
  • Portra 400 – My go-to for its beautiful, warm tones, accurate skin tones, and timeless aesthetic.
  • Portra 160 – A great alternative if Portra 400 isn’t available.
• Black & White:
  • Kodak Tri-X 400 – I love its gritty, cinematic feel. It has a classic, nostalgic look with just the right amount of texture.

Camera Settings + Light Metering

A light meter measures the amount of light in a scene and tells you the correct settings to properly expose your image.

• Built-in light meters – Found in most film cameras (like the Canon AE-1 or Pentax K1000).

• Handheld light meters – External devices for more precise readings (used often in studio or professional settings).

There are three exposure settings that you control. It is also referred to as the exposure triangle: ISO, Aperture (f-stop), and shutter speed. 

• ISO controls film’s light sensitivity and is set by the film roll (e.g., ISO 400)
• Aperture(f-stop) controls your depth of field, whether you want sharp or blurred images and light. The lower the aperture the more light and blurred background you have.
• Shutter speed is how fast or slow the light hits your film. A faster shutter speed slows motion when a slower shutter speed captures motion blur.

How to Use Your Camera’s Built-in Light Meter

Step-by-step:

1. 1. Load your film – The ISO on your film roll (e.g., ISO 200 or 400) sets the baseline. You’ll often set this manually on the camera’s ISO dial.

   2. Set your aperture OR shutter speed – Choose one based on creative preference.

      • Want blurry background? Use a low aperture like f/2.8.

      • Want to freeze motion? Use a fast shutter speed like 1/500s.

   3. Look through the viewfinder – You’ll see your light meter scale inside.

   4. Adjust your other setting until the meter indicates proper exposure.

      • The needle or LED should center at “0” or the middle point.

      • If it’s too far to “+”, your image will be overexposed.

      • Too far to “-” means underexposed.

Other Notes:

• Always double check your settings before each shot—film isn’t forgiving.

• Bracketing can help—take the same photo at different exposures.

• If you’re unsure, it’s usually safer to slightly overexpose color film and slightly underexpose black & white film.

Where to develop Film

Indie Film Lab is an Alabama based film lab. Known for its individually tailored film and scanning services, you will be spoiled with quality scans or prints that showcase your unique style.  Order online, ship your film and wait for the magic to happen! 

What settings to choose for developing Film

Let the lab know what kind of film you’re submitting:

• Black & White (B&W) – traditional B&W or C-41 B&W like Ilford XP2

• Color Negative – C-41 process (e.g., Kodak Portra, Gold, Ultramax)

• Color Positive (Slide Film) – E-6 process (e.g., Fujifilm Provia, Velvia)

Most labs process C-41 by default, so be sure to mark B&W or E-6 clearly.

Scanning Options

Option	Description
No Scans	You’ll get negatives only
Low-Res Scan	Good for online sharing (~2–6 MP)
Med-Res Scan	Best for general use (~10–18 MP)
High-Res Scan	For printing or archiving (~20+ MP)

Do You Want Prints?

Some labs offer:

• 4×6″ prints from each frame

• Contact sheet

• Enlargements of selected frames

Let them know if you want prints, scans only, or dev-only.

Push or Pull Processing?

If you rated your film at a different ISO than box speed, ask for:

• Push processing: e.g., pushed 1 stop (shot 400 film at 800)

• Pull processing: e.g., pulled 1 stop (shot 400 film at 200)

This affects how long the film is developed and impacts contrast and grain.

*No push/pull? Just say “Develop at box speed.”

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