Going back to film...

Jonny69 · 21-12-2011, 18:23

Has anyone gone back to film? I've been thinking about this for quite a while now. I've been both amazed and disappointed with my DSLR, but I think the straw that broke the camel's back was I saw someone thumbing through a thick wad of photos in a Starbucks the other week. Now, it didn't click at the time, but it must be a clear ten years since I saw someone in public with a pack of photos.

So I was thinking sinceI've had a lot of practice I might go completely manual, but I've got no idea where you'd get stuff like light meters from these days. I also quite fancy a 110 SLR, but it looks like there is no new film any more and what is out there is long-expired. There seems to be 35mm film in date, but where does one get it processed? I doubt Boots do it any more...

petemc · 21-12-2011, 19:56

Boots will do C41 colour and black and white film, in 1 hour.

I have more film cameras than digital. Digital is for work. Film is for play.

The thing you have to remember is that film is romantic. There's a lovely feeling to sitting down with an album and browsing prints but it'll cost. Film isn't cheap. Development isn't cheap. Can you afford to waste shots? By that I mean each shot will cost you money. Each bad shot costs you money. Can you afford that?

Jonny69 · 21-12-2011, 23:07

I'll probably stick to digital for putting things online, like my projects and cooking and stuff. Keep film for the holiday and family shots. But yeah, essentially, I shot on film for years and it was never a problem. I think the only thing I'll miss is being able to set the white balance, but I can probably get around that by shooting in B&W

Cool, I didn't know Boots still processed film. What about buying it in the first place? I see you can get 200 ISO 36 shot film for about £2 on eBay with a year or so left on the date. Do you get yours online or do places still sell it? Come to think of it, there's a camera shop on the high-street near work and I bet they still sell film and process it.

Joe 90 · 22-12-2011, 09:08

I wish my old Zenith EM still worked (shutter is stuck) as I really enjoyed shooting with that.

Recently though I have been tempted by a Lomo fisheye because they're £40, which is better than a fisheye for the DSLR!

petemc · 22-12-2011, 16:26

Jacobs sells film. Probably cheaper online. If you want to shoot b&w that Boots will process then buy Ilford XP2 ISO400 film.

21-12-2011, 18:23	#1
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Going back to film... Has anyone gone back to film? I've been thinking about this for quite a while now. I've been both amazed and disappointed with my DSLR, but I think the straw that broke the camel's back was I saw someone thumbing through a thick wad of photos in a Starbucks the other week. Now, it didn't click at the time, but it must be a clear ten years since I saw someone in public with a pack of photos. So I was thinking sinceI've had a lot of practice I might go completely manual, but I've got no idea where you'd get stuff like light meters from these days. I also quite fancy a 110 SLR, but it looks like there is no new film any more and what is out there is long-expired. There seems to be 35mm film in date, but where does one get it processed? I doubt Boots do it any more... __________________

21-12-2011, 19:56	#2
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Boots will do C41 colour and black and white film, in 1 hour. I have more film cameras than digital. Digital is for work. Film is for play. The thing you have to remember is that film is romantic. There's a lovely feeling to sitting down with an album and browsing prints but it'll cost. Film isn't cheap. Development isn't cheap. Can you afford to waste shots? By that I mean each shot will cost you money. Each bad shot costs you money. Can you afford that? __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

21-12-2011, 23:07	#3
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	I'll probably stick to digital for putting things online, like my projects and cooking and stuff. Keep film for the holiday and family shots. But yeah, essentially, I shot on film for years and it was never a problem. I think the only thing I'll miss is being able to set the white balance, but I can probably get around that by shooting in B&W Cool, I didn't know Boots still processed film. What about buying it in the first place? I see you can get 200 ISO 36 shot film for about £2 on eBay with a year or so left on the date. Do you get yours online or do places still sell it? Come to think of it, there's a camera shop on the high-street near work and I bet they still sell film and process it. __________________

22-12-2011, 09:08	#4
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	I wish my old Zenith EM still worked (shutter is stuck) as I really enjoyed shooting with that. Recently though I have been tempted by a Lomo fisheye because they're £40, which is better than a fisheye for the DSLR! __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter

22-12-2011, 16:26	#5
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Jacobs sells film. Probably cheaper online. If you want to shoot b&w that Boots will process then buy Ilford XP2 ISO400 film. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!