Analogue photography is back more than ever. And don’t think this is just a passing fad. Behind this craze lies a genuine desire to slow down and rediscover the pleasure of a photograph that is thought through before it is taken. But faced with shop shelves, online stores and a multitude of choices, you might wonder where exactly to start?
ISO, colour, black and white, 24 or 36 exposures… There are many criteria, and they can quickly become confusing. However, choosing the right film is, above all, about understanding a few simple concepts and adapting them to your own style of photography. This guide is here to help you with that.
The basics of film photography before choosing your film
Before delving into the technical details, it’s best to lay some foundations. Choosing a film is, above all, about knowing what you want to photograph and under what conditions. A few simple questions can already help guide your choice.
What is the appeal of film photography?
One might well ask why complicate things with film, development time and a limited number of exposures?
The answer lies largely in the constraint itself. With 24 or 36 exposures, every shot counts. You observe, you wait, you choose your moment. This relationship with time transforms the way you photograph, and often the resulting photos have a different depth.
There is also a unique quality to the way film renders images. The grain, the slight imperfections, the depth of colour or blacks depending on the film used – all this gives the images a character that is difficult to replicate digitally. Not to mention the tactile pleasure of holding a roll of film, loading it, and waiting for the prints.
Which film camera should you choose to start with?
When you’re starting out with film photography, it’s best not to get bogged down in overly specialised choices. The aim, initially, is to understand how film works and to get to grips with your camera.
For this, a 400 ISO colour film is often the recommended starting point. It offers good versatility, whether outdoors in good weather or in slightly less favourable lighting conditions. It is more forgiving of minor exposure errors, which is obviously helpful when you’re still finding your feet.
If you’re starting out with a compact camera or a reusable film camera such as the AgfaPhoto film camera, a 400 ISO colour film will allow you to achieve good results without having to master all the settings from the outset. Black and white will come naturally later on, once you’re more comfortable with your technique.
How do you know which film to choose?
It all depends on how you use it. Do you mainly take photos outdoors, in bright light? Or indoors, in subdued lighting? Do you like vivid colours, or are you more drawn to black and white? It’s important to know that these answers guide your choice, long before technical specifications.
There are three main criteria to consider. ISO sensitivity, the finish (colour or black and white) and the number of exposures. Sensitivity determines how the film reacts to light. The finish, on the other hand, comes down to personal style. As for the number of exposures, it simply depends on how you take photos; some snap away, others take their time.
Keeping these three points in mind is enough to avoid making the wrong choice.
ISO sensitivity: the key factor for your film
It’s often the first number you see on a film box, and it’s also the one that makes the biggest difference. ISO sensitivity directly determines how your film will react to light. Understanding what this number actually means is half the battle.
Which film to choose, ISO 100 or 400?
ISO sensitivity measures a film’s ability to capture light. The higher the number, the more sensitive the film is and therefore the better it will perform in low-light conditions. On the other hand, the grain will be more pronounced.
A 100 ISO film requires plenty of light. It really comes into its own under bright summer sunshine, outdoors, with well-defined shadows. The result is fine, precise, with little grain. You could say it’s the film for bright days and crisp landscapes. Take, for example, our AgfaPhoto APX100 film, which makes the most of sunny days, with remarkably fine grain that renders every detail with great precision. It’s particularly suited to those who shoot outdoors in good lighting conditions and are looking for a clean, unadorned finish.
On the other hand, a 400 ISO film is much more versatile. It handles direct light just as well as a slightly overcast sky, a well-lit room or a street in the late afternoon. It produces slightly more visible grain, but it is often this grain that gives the images their character.
When should you use 400 ISO film?
In reality, 400 ISO is the film for everyday use. It’s just as suitable for a stroll through town as it is for a meal indoors or a concert in a dimly lit venue. It’s the one you pop into your camera when you don’t know exactly what the day has in store.
In practical terms, imagine a Sunday outing in town in autumn. The light is soft, sometimes changeable. You move from a sunny terrace to a dimly lit café, then onto a shaded street. It has to be said, with ISO 100, some shots would be underexposed. With ISO 400, you can navigate all this without constantly adjusting your settings. We recommend the AgfaPhoto APX400 film, which is perfect for this kind of situation. Its expressive grain and wide exposure latitude make it a reliable black-and-white film, whether the light is plentiful or not.
What happens if you shoot with 400 ISO film at 800 ISO?
This is a practice well known to film photographers: ‘pushing’, or pushing development. It involves shooting film at a higher ISO than its native sensitivity, then compensating during development.
With a 400 ISO film pushed to 800 ISO, the film is deliberately underexposed. The lab or amateur developer then extends the development time to recover detail in the dark areas. The grain becomes more pronounced, contrasts are accentuated and blacks become deeper.
Please note, this is not a mistake, it is a technique. Many photographers use it precisely to accentuate the dramatic aspect of their images, particularly in portraits or night-time street photography. However, you must inform your lab when dropping off the film, otherwise it will be developed normally and the images will be too dark.
What is the best ISO for film photography?
There is no perfect answer, and that is precisely what makes film photography so exciting. The “best” ISO depends entirely on your shooting conditions and the look you’re aiming for.
It’s true, as we’ve mentioned, that for most situations, ISO 400 offers the best balance between versatility and image quality. It’s the setting many photographers naturally gravitate towards, whether they’re beginners or experienced.
That said, if you shoot exclusively outdoors in good weather and image sharpness is your top priority, ISO 100 will give you exceptionally sharp results. Conversely, for low-light environments or when you’re seeking a grainy effect, films rated at ISO 800 or higher are the way to go.
If you wish to shoot in colour, we recommend the AgfaPhoto Colour 400 film, which has a sensitivity of 400 ISO in colour, offering natural tones and excellent depth of rendering. This option covers a wide range of situations without sacrificing colour richness.
Colour or black and white, format and number of exposures: refine your choice
Once you’ve chosen the ISO sensitivity, there are two decisions left to make: the visual result you want to achieve, and the number of exposures you need. These are choices that may seem trivial, but they really do influence the way you take photos.
Colour or black-and-white film: how to choose?
It’s often a matter of personal preference rather than a technical one. Some are immediately drawn to black and white, whilst others swear by colour. But of course, a few practical considerations can help you decide.
Colour film captures the world as we perceive it. It is particularly suited to portraits in natural light, landscapes, travel scenes or everyday moments where colour is part of the message. A Provençal market, a painted façade, a sunset over the sea – there’s no doubt that colour conveys part of the emotion. If you identify with this type of photography, you might opt for the GT24FILM, which offers bold, luminous colours. With a vibrant look that suits outdoor shoots and lively everyday scenes.
Black and white, on the other hand, works differently. By removing colour, it forces the eye to focus on other elements: shapes, volumes, light and contrasts. It sometimes reveals details that colour hides. It’s a look that requires a bit more understanding of light, but offers a unique depth.
24 or 36 exposures – which film format suits your style?
The number of exposures makes more of a difference than you might think. It’s not just a question of the quantity of photos; it’s also a question of pace and commitment.
With 24 exposures, you’re quickly at the end of the roll. This forces you to be selective from the start, clearly not to snap away carelessly. For someone just starting out or who doesn’t get out much, this format suits occasional use well. You load the film, take the photos, and get them developed fairly quickly.
With 36 exposures, you inevitably have more leeway. You can afford to try things out, photograph the same scene from different angles, and experiment without holding back. It’s often the preferred format for those who photograph regularly or who are going away for several days.
There’s no right or wrong choice. It all depends on how often you photograph and how you like to work.
How can you store and use your film in the best possible conditions?
It’s important to remember that photographic film is a sensitive product. If stored incorrectly, it can lose quality well before its expiry date. A few simple habits can help you avoid unpleasant surprises.
Heat and humidity are the two main enemies. Film stored in a hot, humid place will age prematurely, with colours fading and grain deteriorating. Ideally, store it in a cool, dry place, away from light. Many photographers simply keep it at the bottom of their fridge, in its original packaging.
Also remember to take your film out of the fridge about an hour before using it. This time to allow the film to warm up prevents condensation inside your camera, which could damage the film.
Finally, once exposed, don’t leave your film lying around for too long before getting it developed. The longer you wait, the more the latent images degrade. A few weeks is reasonable. Several months, and it starts to affect the quality of the final result.
Choosing your film is the first step in taking photographs
There is no such thing as the ‘ideal’ film in absolute terms. It exists for you, depending on your lighting, your subject and what you want to convey. A 100 ISO in bright sunlight, a 400 ISO for everyday life, colour for life as it is, black and white for life as we feel it.
Film photography requires a bit of thought before you press the shutter. That is precisely what makes it such a rewarding practice. Every technical choice becomes a creative choice, and every roll of film loaded into the camera is already an intention.
So if you’re still hesitating, just get started. Load a roll of film, go out, take photos. The rest will follow naturally.
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