Originally when I started to take photos again with film, I only used the one film I could get hold of cheaply, a Kodak ISO 200 film. But as I got to know more about different films and where to find them, I started using more and more varieties, and now my film list is about 20-25, which is pretty exciting. This is a break down of all the films that I've used. I've tried to organise it into categories that make sense, so I hope you enjoy looking through them.
{Click on the photograph or name of each film to see posts featuring more photos}
- - Colour Negative C41 film - -
Basically your normal colour films, developed with C41 chemicals. These are easy to find and often much easier to get developed too, so they are the film that I've tried the most of.
A simple colour negative film that I buy in bulk whenever I see it in Poundland. It’s the first film I tend to use in my cameras, as it is so cheap and I’m always happy with the results. My holga loves this film, whilst my diana mini, not so much.
This is one of my new favourite films, the colours are beautiful, with warm tones as well as gorgeous blues. I love the grain too. Definitely a film that I'll be using as much as I can.
- Lomography Colour Negative ISO 400 -
This film has an ISO rating of 400 so is more sensitive to light than the Kodak 200 film. I really like the results from this film in all the cameras I’ve tried it in, and my Diana Mini likes it too which I like. It also captures yellow extremely well, hurray.
I found this film in a bargain box and decided to try it out. The colours seems a little bit softer than my usual Kodak film, but I really like the results again, I'll be keeping an eye out for it and buying it again for sure.
Another pound shop find and perhaps the steal of the decade! I have used this film a lot nod and I adore the warm results this film has, it loves the light and reacts beautifully in most situations. It can have a green shift when scanning but thats easily fixed.
- Lomography Colour Negative ISO 800 -
I’ve only used this film acouple of times and both of those with my actiontracker but I think its the perfect film for multilens cameras due to the tiny aperture of the lenses and the sensitivity of the ISO 800 rating of this film.
I actually picked this film up in a bargain bin and I had no idea what it was called until I got it developed. Another film that I'll definitely pick up if I see (especially if its in a bargain bucket!
This film is a dream. I’d heard so many good things about it before I used it and it turns out they were all true. The grain is fine, the colours are soft and gentle and it is happy with a SLR or a toy camera which makes me happy. A wonderful film.
Another reliable colour film that although I've only used once, I really like. The tones are lovely, with natural soft tones and great contrasts, I'll definitely be trying to use it more.
Expired film is a bit of a risk but I love using it and so far my results have been beautiful, very soft with subtle colours and tones. Older films can have much more extreme results whilst the films I've used seem to be quite soft in comparison.
Like the NC version of this film, it is a dream. The colours are definitely more vivid in comparison but the grain is still perfect and the quality of the results is wonderful. Another amazing film, although personally I do prefer the NC version.
- - Black and White C41 film - -
Due to the processing of true black and white film being different from colour negative films, it took me years to finally use true black and white film. Due to this the two 'black and white films' that I have used are both developed using C41 developing (so I can just take it to my usual place) and so far I've been really happy with the ones I've used.
This film is the black and white love of my life and I’m honestly still so upset that it’s been discontinued. In comparison to the Ilford C41 B&W, this film is much darker and sharper I think, having a more refined look rather than dreamy. Again the contrasts and tones are stunning, with dark blacks and bright whites, creating dynamic photos that are as exciting as they are beautiful. Another film I would definitely recommend.
I have to admit, this is one of y all time favourite films, it was the first black and white film that I used and even though it is C41, I love the results. The tones are soft, yet there are strong contrasts when you need them and combined with my diana mini, this film is truly artistic. A really great film!
- - Black and White film - -
Compared to the C41 films above, these are black and white films developed using black and white film chemicals. After the discontinuation of Kodak BW400CN (above), I’ve been on a look out for a new favourite black and white film - and the following are some of the contenders.
Like Kodak’s BW400CN this film has a delightful contrast ratio and I think captures light just wonderful making it a versatile film for any subject. I particularly love how this film captures rougher textures which I think is fairly important for B&W film as the textures and gradients create the depth
This film claims to be “The sharpest, finest-grained 400-speed black-and-white film in the world” and I think its save to say that it does indeed have a lovely grain. Another film I really like! In fact it would be hard to choose between this and the Tri-X!
- - Redscale Film - -
Redscale film is a colour negative film that has been exposed on the back side of the film, rather than on the front. You can make your own redscale film from a colour negative film, however, Lomography do have pre-loaded film so I've never tried that myself. I think it may be worth trying though one day.
I’m a little undecided about this film. I love how dramatic it is with the bright yellows and the deep reds… but it does look a little creepy at times.
- Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 -
I will admit that I love this redscale film more than the 100 redscale film. So much more. The tones are just beautiful and it works well in all weather conditions and I have had the best results with it in my Superheadz Wide and Slim camera.
- - Colour Reversal/Slide film - -
Colour reversal/slide film is a film that produces a positive image on a transparent base, designed to be used with projectors. This type of film is normally developed using E6 chemicals, but I have only ever had these cross processed, which means that is developed in the wrong kind of chemicals - usually C41 - to create a more interesting and often quite different result to C41 negative film. You can also cross process colour negative films by developing them with E6 chemicals I believe, but I have never done that.
I find that some of these types of films, I really love, especially the ones with the blue colour shifts, but the more extreme colour tones, such as the bright greens and purples, I find a little harder to like. These are definitely films worth experimenting with though as they can be extremely fun and artistic.
This was the first ever cross processed slide film that I tried and in a word it is gorgeous. Seriously, just gorgeous. The colours are deep, the tones are dark and sultry and the colour shift is subtle with beautiful blues and richer reds. I absolutely adore this film and I'm glad that I stocked up on some as I'm not sure they'll sell it again, due to it being a Kodak slide film.
This film has quite a strong colour shift and it is unpredictable with its results but so far I've enjoyed experimenting with it - I especially like the results with yellows and reds. I still have a couple of rolls to use, so I can imagine that it will grow on me more as I use it.
- Kodak Elite Chrome ISO 100 -
This film is actually the film that Lomography use for their Xpro Chrome film. So due to Kodak stopping production of their slide films, both the Lomo Xpro Chrome and the Kodak Elite Chrome are hard to find and I'm so sad about that as I've always loved the results especially with my LC-A. If you see any - buy it! (2019 Update: You can buy Kodak Ektachrome, but I haven’t tried it)
After trying the Xpro Chrome I was very excited about trying other cross processed films but I’m still not convinced with this film as its very green. However, the colour shift with sunsets is impressive and the distortions are much stronger in comparison to the Xpro Chrome.
- - Instant Films - -
I've tried a variety of different films for different cameras and overall I love using them. I've had more success with some than others but they are always great fun to experiment and play with and when you get them right, the results really are amazing.
This was the first instant film that I really used and I have the biggest soft spot for it, the colours are lovely and bright but soft too with a dreamy film and its so reliable too, I've only had a couple of issues with all the times I've used it. Definitely my go to instant camera and film.
This is a Fuji pack film for Polaroid Land cameras and I will admit, I just love it. Even though the speed is so fast and I often over expose it, this film is so rewarding, the tones are beautiful and the film is so quick to develop too which gives much more consistent results.
I've tried a few of the Impossible Project films and although I do think that the project is amazing, I haven't got the results yet that I'm happy with, which is a shame. I'm looking forward to seeing where this film goes though and I really love seeing other peoples much better results with it.
I was incredibly excited about using this camera and film, especially as I found the camera for £4, but I've found it much harder to get on with than the mini so I haven't used it anywhere near as much which is a shame. The actual film is as lovely as the mini, the camera is just huge!
Another Fuji pack film for Polaroid Land cameras. Compared to the 3000, I find this film quite a challenge, the speed and the developing time is much slower so I often ruin the results through impatience. Unfortunately both film pack films are now discontinued! Booo.
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So there is the round up of the films I’ve used so far. It was much more than I thought but I can still think of others that I want to try. If you have any recommendations, definitely let me know.
p.s. I was going to make this a page but you can’t comment on them and I like comments, especially if we’re discussing film, so let me know if you have any recommendations, tips or questions and I'll get back to you :)