Starting your journey into analog photography is exciting—but the variety of film stocks can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry—we’re here to guide you through your first film roll choice so you can shoot with confidence and joy.
What Type of Photography Are You Interested In?
Ask yourself what kind of scenes you want to shoot. Landscapes? Street life? Portraits? Film stocks have personalities—and choosing one depends on your vibe.
For everyday use: go with a versatile film like Kodak Gold 200 or Ilford HP5+ 400.
For moody portraits: try something with softer tones like Kodak Portra 400.
For city and contrast: CineStill 800T or Foma 400 add character.
Color or Black & White?
Both are beautiful—but offer different experiences.
Color film captures vibrant tones and mood shifts, great for travel and daily life.
Black & white lets you focus on light, shadows, and emotion. It’s also cheaper to develop and perfect for learning.
👉 Try this: If you want the cheapest way to experiment, start with a roll of Fomapan 100 or 400 and go black and white.
Understand ISO – It’s Not as Complicated as It Sounds
ISO tells you how sensitive your film is to light. Lower ISO = finer grain, more light needed. Higher ISO = more grain, works better in low light.
ISO 100–200 → Bright days, outdoor shooting
ISO 400 → All-around, indoor/outdoor, great starter choice
ISO 800+ → Night or very low light (but more expensive)
🎯 Our recommendation for a first roll: Kodak ColorPlus 200 or Ilford HP5+ 400 — easy to find, affordable, and forgiving.
35mm or 120 Format?
If you’re using a point-and-shoot or SLR, you’re shooting 35mm. Medium format cameras use 120 film, which gives higher resolution but is more expensive.
As a beginner, stick with 35mm—cheaper, more frames per roll, and more forgiving.
What to Avoid as a Beginner
Don’t use expired film for your first roll (it can give weird results).
Avoid niche or special-effect films like redscale or infrared—save them for later.
Skip very low ISO like 25 or very high ISO unless you know what you’re doing.
Final Tip: Let Us Help You In-Person!
Still unsure? Pass by Berlin Photo Studio in Wedding—we’ll guide you through the best options for your camera, budget, and vision. You can even get your film developed and scanned with us later!
