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I’ve always been the person to pick up the most random hobbies and this has been the story of my life since I could remember but as quickly as I become interested in them, I ultimately become disinterested…It’s definitely not one of my finer qualities in life. So when I ultimately picked up film photography my senior year of High school I honestly thought it would be the same story repeated all over again. I don’t know if it was the nostalgia that seeing my film picture brought, it being the pandemic and me trying to stay busy, or just that I genuinely thought it was cool but pretty soon I knew that film photography was different. Film was just so much more exciting to me than any other digital photography, the warmth, grain, and just emotion that was captured was unlike anything else and the excitement to share my developed photos was just the best feeling.
Starting definitely wasn’t the issue especially now that disposable cameras and film, in general, is more but here are some tips in tricks if you're interested in starting to take film pictures- and disclaimer I am in no way a professional- I literally just do this for fun to capture mems and post my photos on my Film Instagram (heheheheh). The camera: Though Disposable cameras are a great and accessible option, I think The Lomography simple-use camera is the best option to begin your film journey. It’s basically the same body as a disposable camera, so it’s extremely user-friendly, and price wise it’s about $5-7 more expensive than the average disposable camera. What I love about this camera is that you get used to the basics of a film like loading and choosing your film, learning when to use flash, and just getting comfortable with film in general (also it's more environmentally friendly). Because it’s so similar to a disposable camera it doesn’t feel like too big of an investment- because you would now only need to worry about the cost of getting film and more often than not you get more exposures on a roll of film than a disposable so all in all the price balances out in my opinion. This was personally the camera I got after I decided I wanted to take a film a bit more seriously and could not recommend it more. It was a great way to finally take that jump. Another solid option is the target Heyday 35 mm film camera. It's basically the same as the Lomography simple use camera, just slightly more expensive but more easily accessible because it’s found at most if not all targets. I think either option is great to start off the journey and for it to be your “practice” camera if you’re worried about committing to a point-and-shoot. Now if you’re kind, just ready to throw yourself into film, or don’t really like the two previous options I would highly recommend looking into any film point-and-shoot! The camera I use now to take all my film pictures is the Nikon Zoom Touch 470 Af and I absolutely adore my camera. In some cases, it does end up being cheaper than the Lomography simple use or the Heyday 35mm film camera. To get any point in shooting there are a couple of ways to get one. I personally got mine from eBay for about $35 on eBay and it was practically new. Other great options are Facebook marketplace, craigslist, and local thrift stores and many tend to be super affordable. I recommend looking at the description- if buying online- and looking for it to be tested or for sellers to have a return policy, and to be in mint condition or with minimal damage. Because I was a bit more scared to purchase a camera I waited a while before I purchased my point and shoot but I do wish I would have done it sooner. The pros, in my opinion, are that point and shoots are much more durable, have better quality images, and in many cases easier to load film which makes it less likely to ruin a new roll of film. Overall no complaints and would highly recommend, and this would by far be my favorite option. The film: Now as you go on with your film journey you will definitely have more film preferences and learn what you like and dislike but just to begin or have a place to start these are my recommendations. The Fujifilm Superia X-tra 400 is in my experience the roll of film that will give you the most bang for your buck without diminishing the quality of your film. I personally get mine from CVS and it cost me about $20-27 for the pack of 3 each roll gives you 36 exposures so, all in all, you should get about 108 photos. So if I am on a budget, or need some quick film this has always been my go-to and it has never disappointed me. In my experience, I have noticed that Fujifilm gives you more of a cooler tone picture whereas another brand like Kodak will give your photos more of a warm tone (my personal preference). If you're looking to experiment with a different brand or like me and also prefer warm ones in your picture my recommendation for a more affordable option would be the Kodak Ultramax 400. Now it does vary; some will come with 36 exposures per roll while others only have 24. I have recently purchased some at Target and I got mine for about $24ish for 3 rolls and 24 exposures per roll so you would get around 72 photos. Both are great options and it really just depends more so on your personal preference. Developing: Lastly, where can you develop? Most people know about going to CVS or other stores to drop off film and you have to wait 2-4 weeks to see your prints that's what I did at the beginning but now it’s a bit different. My biggest recommendation would be to support small farm indie labs or small businesses that develop film! Most have super quick turnaround times (like 1-5 business days) and are significantly more affordable and you get digital scans of your film and almost always have the option to get back your negatives. My personal favorite is Harvey Film lab (@harveyfilmlab on ig) they have great quality film scans and a super quick turnaround time. And so this was my quick guide to launching your film journey! I hope this was helpful and if you would like to follow mine make sure to follow my Film Instagram page @gelinas.dispos
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