The Struggles of Using a Film Camera in the Digital Age

I love film photography. If I could exclusively use a film camera for documenting events I attend or whenever I travel, I would. However, in this day and age, it’s not the most practical given the technology that we already have.

I don’t have a love-hate relationship with film photography. I love it but it’s not perfect and I acknowledge that there are few drawbacks of shooting film.

Read: Why I Still Use a Film Camera in the Digital Age

Results are not instant (unless you’re using an Instant film camera)

Obviously, you won’t be able to view the image as soon as you take a photo. With technology giving us the ability to share photos as soon as it happens, using a film photo might not be the best tool for it.

I’m not just talking about social media presence here. Digital cameras and iPhones are perfect for things that require urgent attention such as accidents or natural calamities or things that would be useful in the future such as a photo of a receipt or some sort of frame of reference.

Film processing will cost you

I’ve been trying different films especially because I want to get the chance to compare and choose which one I would like best. Because of that, I’ve been shooting film more these days. I don’t process films myself because I just don’t have space at home for that so I take it to the lab after I shoot a batch. I love the element of surprise and impatiently waiting for it like an Amazon package but film processing (and scanning) is a bit pricey. In my experience it can cost around $5-$13 (really depends where you live or your specifications).

You’re stuck with one film speed (ISO)

ISO = film’s sensitivity to light. In a nutshell:

Unlike with dSLRs, you can’t just switch ISO settings between shots with a film camera. Sometimes it’s not really a problem because you can still manipulate other settings such as the aperture and the shutter speed.

But sometimes, they’re just not enough.

I like taking photos outdoors because I just adore shooting in natural light. Because of that, I tend to use films with lower ISO (100-200). When night comes and I find something interesting to photograph, I don’t have a 100% success rate at doing so. If the ISO is too low and I’m shooting indoors, I would need to use a larger aperture and a slower shutter speed. My hands are shaky and that doesn’t go really well with a slow shutter speed. Photos will most of the time come out a bit blurry.

Overall, I guess the static ISO setting will affect those who use point and shoot cameras (without flash).

Airport X-Rays

Fortunately, I haven’t had any films ruined by airport x-rays but I have heard a lot of film photographers who risked it and regretted it.

Do not put your films in your checked luggage. The equipment used to scan checked in luggages are strong and can ruin or jeopardize your film. If you must bring a film camera (and films) on your trip, make sure you pack your films in your carry on.

Films with low ISOs (100-400) won’t be damaged in your carry on. I’ve traveled with films (200 and 400 ISO) but never had problems with it afterwards. Some airports still have signs stating that their machines are safe for films at xxx ASA/ISO but just to be safe, do not travel with films over 800 ISO.

Read: Tips on Traveling with Film: Don’t Be Naive, X-Ray Scanning Kills Film

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Risky at times

Okay so recently I traveled with my Zorki 4, a Russian rangefinder camera. The camera is a bit tricky and has a bit of a learning curve so when I first used it, my film roll turned out blank. It turned out that I didn’t load the film properly so every time I wound the camera, it never really advanced.

If you’re new to the hobby, you probably got a bit confused with what I just said, right? Okay, here’s a video that kind of explains it.

It happened again quite recently. I attended a friend’s wedding and used my Zorki again exclusively (and a bit of iPhone for Instagram). I was wondering why I was stuck with the roll when I felt that I had been taking a lot of photos. I was fairly confident that I loaded it properly since I’ve already used it with success recently.

Read: Shooting with the Ilford Delta 3200 for the First Time

Apparently, I had done something mid-roll that caused the film to lose its grip from the sprockets. I only found out when I checked it afterwards. It was kind of upsetting especially since this was during an event that would only happen once. All I was left with is one film roll and trigger happy shots on my iPhone.

Too many cameras

I traveled to Australia a few months ago and brought 2 film cameras, 1 digital camera, and an iPhone to document my trip.

When you’re the only “photographer” during a trip, you only have yourself to rely on. I also have my reasons for bringing all of these at that time – because each camera had a purpose to serve.

1. Zorki 4 (film camera) – night shots
2. Minolta 7sii (film) – daytime shots
3. Sony A600 – Vlogs and high-quality tourist photos
4. iPhone XS – Instagram Stories

Switching between these cameras while traveling was a challenge for me. The Sony was out most of the time especially since I was using it to vlog and shoot a few scenes. Then when I see something interesting, I have to put the Sony or the iPhone away, take one of the film cameras out, assess the scene, make sure the settings are right, and then take that photo. It’s quite the process, but of course, it’s totally worth it.

Film photography sometimes pose a challenge especially for those who have the need to switch between digital and analog. But if you are really committed to sticking with the hobby, I’m you will find a way to be able to marry both ideas and learn how to deal with minor obstacles in analog photography.

Trust me, it’s worth it.