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Everything you need to know before you start film photography

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So, you want to start film photography. I completely understand you: it’s a beautiful process, and the wait before you see the images is incredibly exciting! But alas, if you’re new to film, it may feel overwhelming. I mean, where do you even start? Don’t worry, Isaac Abner‘s got you covered. In his recent video, he shares everything you need to know before you start film photography.

In the video, Isaac discusses everything from film formats, film choices, camera options, and the development process. He also shares some valuable tips for anyone considering exploring this medium.

You should probably stop buying film from Amazon

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I’ve probably got enough stocked up already to last the rest of my life. So, having never bought film from Amazon this isn’t something I’d even considered before. It seems that Amazon might not be storing film properly.

According to Stephen Swett from Coastal Film Lab, however, that is exactly what’s happening. He says that customers are consistently getting poor results with new and in date film they’ve purchased from Amazon.

The ND 6×17 ultra-panoramic 3D printed camera uses your phone as a viewfinder

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There are a lot of 3D-printed film camera designs out there now. We’ve featured quite a lot of them here on DIYP. This one, though, is a little bit special. It shoots massive, ultrawide panoramic 17:6 aspect ratio on 120 format film.

It’s called the ND 6×17 (buy here), and the folks at Marques Brownlee’s The Studio managed to get their hands on one to put it through its paces. It’s certainly an interesting camera, and it’s definitely not like the 3D prints you make at home.

Pentax offers a sneak peek of new film camera prototype at Japan exhibition

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It’s no secret that Pentax is working on a film camera. They’ve actually made quite a big deal of it, with the launch of a video series documenting some of its development. At least, the parts of its development they’re currently prepared to post publicly. The first announcement that Pentax is pursuing film again came in December 2022. In May of this year, we saw an update that suggested the first film camera would be some form of compact.

Now, although there’s no new video yet, Pentax is showing off a prototype of the new camera at an exhibition in Japan. The PENTAX Film Project Exhibition, which runs til the end of July, is being run by Ricoh themselves. As with the videos, though, they’re not showing off all the details just yet. It’s encased in an acrylic display stand, with the winding lever and part of the grip being the only visible parts.

What were “Press” cameras and what made them different?

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With the resurgence in film, the term “press camera” pops up a lot these days. It comes up often in online auctions and marketplaces. The term has also evolved over the years, too. Initially, they were medium and large format cameras often used by the press. As 35mm took over, press cameras were modified standard bodies that were specifically advantageous for press use.

But what exactly is a press camera, and what makes them different from the regular cameras that regular people used at the time? And why don’t they make them anymore? This excellent video from Japan Vintage Camera takes us on a journey through history to show us why they were so special.

This is how Kodak film gets from the factory to camera store shelves

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It’s been a while since we last saw an update on Destin Sandlin’s visit to the Kodak factory in Rochester, New York. Part One was posted way back in March of last year. It looked into how Kodak produces the actual film onto which the chemicals are placed. Part Two arrived a few months later in July, going over the chemical processes involved in making it light-sensitive and how they’re applied to that film base.

Now, we’ve finally got Part Three, where Kodak takes us from those big drums of sensitised film to cutting it up, adding the sprocket holes, making and filling the canisters, popping those into film cases and finally, retail packaging. Let the adventure continue!

Pentax Update #2 reveals their first new film camera will be a compact camera

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In December, Pentax announced they were developing a new film camera. At the time, there was no real information on exactly what type of film camera it would be. In fact, it wasn’t even revealed whether it would use 35mm film or medium format. And while many hoped for a modern-day update to the Pentax 67 or a fully mechanical 35mm SLR, it seems that the first new Pentax film camera will be a compact camera.

The information comes in the second video update for the Pentax “Film Project”, where they expressed gratitude for the overwhelming feedback they’ve received. Given that feedback, it seems that Pentax may be planning to do a range of cameras in the future and that this isn’t just a one-off.

Fujifilm ‘pauses’ sales of color film in Japan

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Fujifilm announced that they are no longer accepting orders for a variety of film stocks in Japan. The announcement includes color negative 35mm film and reversal film in both 35mm and 120 formats. The reason given is due to a short supply of raw materials needed for manufacturing.

In total, nine different types of film are affected, and it’s likely that stocks in Japan will begin to get low as production ceases. However, the films should still be available from overseas supplies, at least while stocks last.

Sorry film shooters, Kodak film is set to price jump by up to 40%

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Buckle up film shooters because things are about to get a whole lot more expensive. Or at least, they will if you insist on using Kodak film. And you live in Japan. According to National Photo in Japan, both 35mm and 120 films will see a price increase by as much as 40% in some instances.

The price increase is set for January 16th, and as Digital Camera World puts it, even though the increases are happening in Japan, it’s highly likely they will roll out similarly in the rest of the world.

This is how 100-year-old film is restored back to its original glory for future generations to enjoy

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Although there are still a few exceptions and holdouts, the vast majority of movies, cartoons and other cinema and broadcast content today is shot digitally. In the 20th century, though, digital wasn’t really much of a thing. At least, not until we got right to the very end of the century. Most movies and even cartoons back then were created on film or later recorded to film for use in movie theatres.

The problem with film, though, is that it degrades over time. Depending on the material the film’s made of, that degradation can happen quite quickly, too, causing many films to become quite rare. In this video, Norm from Tested takes a visit to see Steve Stanchfield at Blackhawk Films to see how old films – in this case, cartoons by Max Fleischer, animator of Superman, Popeye, Betty Boop and more – are cleaned and restored.

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