Although many amateur and professional photographers have made the switch to digital, some still prefer to use 35mm film cameras. If you fall into this category and are wondering how to choose a camera film, this guide will introduce you to the basics.

Although many amateur and professional photographers have made the switch to digital, some still prefer to use 35mm film cameras. If you fall into this category and are wondering how to choose a camera film, this guide will introduce you to the basics.

• Although digital cameras now outsell 35mm film cameras, some photographers still prefer to use the latter. Unless you have a high-end digital SLR camera, most 35mm film cameras allow the photographer greater control over shutter speed and light exposure and generally create higher-quality photographs than most digital cameras.

• Most film cameras still in use take 35mm film. However, if you have a Polaroid or Advanced Photo System camera, you will have to purchase film specific to your camera type.

• When choosing 35mm film, you have three basic options regarding film type:

1. Color film
2. Black and white film
3. Chrome or slide projector film

• Since 35mm color film is the most commonly used, this guide will focus on choosing this type of film.

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  (Creative Commons photo by Matt Browne)

• 35mm color films are differentiated by their ASA (American Standards Association) or ISO (International Standards Organization) ratings. These two rating scales are identical, so whether a film is rated according to the ISO or ASA, the numbers associated with the rating mean the same thing.

• The ISO/ASA number refers to the film's speed. A faster film, or one with a higher ISO/ASA number, is more sensitive to light. Therefore, faster films work better in low-light or high motion situations. However, faster films also have an increased chance of producing grainy pictures, especially if the photos are enlarged beyond the common 4x6 size.

• When choosing your film, be aware of the trade-off between light sensitivity and graininess and avoid choosing faster films unless you will be taking photographs of fast moving objects or in excessively low light and without a flash. Also be aware that extremely slow films (those with very low ISO/ASA numbers) will produce blurry photographs unless the camera is kept completely still as the photograph is being taken. Slow film speeds will produce photographs with vibrant colors and minimal graininess, but are best used when photographing using a tripod.

• What speed film you choose to use in your 35mm camera is ultimately your choice and experimenting with different speed films in various conditions may produce unique and interesting results.
• Below is a list of general recommendations detailing what speed of film tends to work best under certain conditions.

1. Less than 100 ISO/ASA: For portrait photography and landscapes. To avoid blurriness, use a tripod
2. 100 ISO/ASA: For outdoor photography in bright sunlight of stationary or slow-moving subjects
3. 200 ISO/ASA: For outdoor photography in mostly sunny conditions or for photographing indoors using a flash. 200 ISO/ASA is a good choice for non-professional photographers who may be taking pictures in a variety of everyday situations
4. 400 ISO/ASA: For action shots, such as those taken during sporting events, or for indoor shots taken without a flash
5. 800 ISO/ASA: For photographing extremely fast moving objects or photos taken in extremely low light; for example, fireworks shows and night photography

• Introduction
• Step 1: Film Types
• Step 2: Understanding ISO/ASA Numbers
• Step 3: Choosing a Film
• Step 4: Film Recommendations