What are the different photographic film formats?
The three main types of film format are 35 mm, medium format and large format. More unusual formats also exist such as 110 and 127.
When we talk about film formats what we’re really referring to is the size of the negative. As a general rule, the larger the negative, the finer the grain and more detail you will get in the final print.
35 mm (or 135 format)
35 mm (or 135 format) is the size most people are familiar with. It’s the kind of film your parents/grandparents would have regularly used. It is the most common and the cheapest type of film. One roll of 35 mm film gives you 24 or 36 exposures.
35 mm film is used in cameras like the LC-A+ , Sprocket Rocket, Fisheye No.2, and Lomography Simple Use Reloadable Film Cameras.
Medium format (or 120 film)
Medium format (or 120 film) is 6 cm wide and different medium format cameras shoot different variations of frame length including 6×4.5, 6×6 and 6×7. Depending on these frame lengths, medium format will give you between 8 – 16 shots per roll.
6×4.5 camera = 16 exposures
6×6 camera = 12 exposures
6×7 camera = 10 exposures
6×8 camera = 9 exposures
6×9 camera = 8 exposures
Medium format is used in cameras like the Diana F+, and the Lomo LC-A 120.
Large format
Large format (also known as sheet film) is the oldest type of film still widely used and is composed of individual sheets. Most common sizes are 4×5 and 8×10. Due to the expense of sheet film, and cumbersome cameras, large format is much less commonly used than 35 mm and medium format.
110 film
110 film (also known as pocket film) has a negative that is half the size of 35 mm film. 110 film also has a different loading system. It comes in a sealed unit with two separate containers for exposed and unexposed film, so unlike 35 mm does not require rewinding.
Although it’s not as well known as other film sizes, at Lomography 110 format is alive and thriving with our Diana Baby 110 and range of 110 film. Today, we are the only manufacturer of 110 film.
127 film
127 film is 46 mm wide, placing it between 35 mm and medium format films in size. These days it’s rare, however 127 film can still be found and used in vintage cameras such as The Kodak Brownie Reflex Synchro, and the The Rolleiflex 4×4 (Gray Baby).
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Learn More
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What is a half-frame film camera?
Half-frame cameras shoot 18×24 mm photographs on 35 mm film. This means you can take up to 72 images on one single roll and save a lot of film!
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Where to get film developed
There are a lot of places that can process and develop your 35 mm color negative film such as local drugstores or one-hour photo labs.
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What is the processing method for Redscale and LomoChrome films?
All Lomography color films are processed using C-41 chemicals. This includes Lomography RedScale XR and our popular range of color-shifting LomoChrome films – LomoChrome Purple, LomoChrome Metropolis and LomoChrome Turquoise
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What is cross processing?
Cross processing (or “X-pro”) is the procedure of deliberately processing film in a chemical solution intended for a different type of film. As each chemical mixture is optimized for a specific kind of film, you will get unpredictable results when combining them differently.
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What is B&W slide film?
Slide film, (also known as “positive“, “transparency“ and “reversal“ film) is a type of film that produces a positive image straight onto the emulsion. Unlike negative film, the light and dark areas appear on the film as they do in reality.
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What is B&W negative film?
This is by far the most common type of black and white film, and it works in much the same way as color negative film. Essentially, all the areas that appear lightest on the negative will be dark on the final print and all dark areas of the negative will show light on the print.
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What is slide film and E-6 processing?
Slide film has many other names, including “positive“, “transparency“, “reversal“ and “E-6” film. Unlike the more common color negative film, slide film produces a positive image straight onto the film. The light and dark areas appear as they do in reality. When mounted on card stock, these images are the slides that you’d put in a slide projector, or the slides that your grandparents have in boxes in the attic.
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What is color negative film and C-41 processing?
Color negative film is the most common and widely used type of color film. One of the main features of color negative film is its flexible exposure latitude. This means that it is very forgiving of incorrect exposure, particularly overexposure. Missing the correct exposure by 1 or 2 stops is no big deal with color negative film as you will usually still get decent results.
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What is the difference between color negative and slide / positive film?
Color negative and slide film both produce color images, however the difference is in how the image is made.
