Best Camera Film | 2024

We’re cheering on the continuing great film revival as we round up the best film you can buy for your camera right now. Analogue photography has been going from strength to strength in recent years as more and more photographers discover the alchemical joys of shooting on film formats. Whether you want to explore the pastel tones of Kodak Portra or embrace the high-contrast monochrome drama of Ilford XP2, we’re here to help you find your next film. Or, indeed, your first.

We’ve covered two main types of film in this guide: 35mm and 120. These are the most common film formats – 35mm frames measure 24mm x 36mm (the same as a full-frame digital sensor). Larger 120 films, meanwhile, vary in specifics, but will measure somewhere between 6cm x 4cm and 6cm x 7cm. 

Neither is necessarily ‘better’ – 35mm is cheaper, easier to handle, compatible with lighter cameras and gives you more shots per roll. However, 120 film gives you much more resolution and detail, and produces images with a gorgeous, almost three-dimensional ‘depth’ that’s impossible to replicate.

We’ve covered films in both colour and black and white formats. The only other thing you need to be aware of is the film ISO speed, which is different for each stock. The higher a film’s speed, the more sensitive it is, meaning it can be used in situations with less available light and still produce acceptable images. However, more sensitivity generally comes with more grain, so it’s up to you which you prefer.

Enough prevaricating – let’s get started and count off the best camera film to buy in 2024…

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Best colour 35mm film

Colour 35mm film is immense fun to shoot. The ecosystem of cameras that shoot 35mm is broad and varied, with everything from point-and-shoot compacts to fully manual SLRs. There are colour films with low ISO speeds that are great for shooting pin-sharp images full of detail and clarity, and there are also great films with higher speeds that function well in low light. 

While for years Kodak and Fujifilm have been the only games in town when it comes to colour film, recently we’ve seen other manufacturers enter the space with new stocks, like Lomography and more recently Harman. There’s plenty of variety, lots to experiment with, and a huge amount of fun to be had when it comes to 35mm colour film. Here we’ve picked out a few of our absolute favourites.

Pros:

• Sublime colour palette
• Produces full-colour slides
• Excellent sharpness with fine grain

 Cons:

• Requires E6 processing
• Low ISO and limited exposure latitude

You could practically hear the cheer that went up around the analogue photography community when Kodak announced it was reviving its famous Ektachrome E100. A professional slide film beloved by press photographers throughout the 20th Century, Ektachrome produces sumptuously vibrant colours and an incredibly fine grain for peerless sharpness and detail. 

As mentioned, Ektachrome E100 is a slide film, and this comes with both advantages and drawbacks for the modern analogue photographer. On the one hand, once slide film is developed, you get a strip of gorgeous, colour-accurate honest-to-goodness slides as opposed to negatives. However, this development requires E6 processing, which is difficult to do at home and isn’t offered by as many film labs. Also, it’s a lot less tolerant to over/underexposing than other films, so you really do need to be careful with that 100 box speed. It’s a film that likes plenty of light.

Best black and white 35mm film

Many people’s first ever experience shooting film will likely be with black and white 35mm. This is because the cheapest film cameras tend to shoot 35mm, and the cheapest film stocks tend to be black and white! And there’s nothing wrong with that – shooting monochrome is a great way to pare back to the essentials and think only about light, shadow and composition without having to worry about the interplay of colour. It suits the retro charm that film already has in spades.

Ilford is the biggest name when it comes to black and white film, producing a range of fantastic stocks at a variety of ISO speeds. Pleasingly, many of their films are very affordable, and if you just want to stock up on film so you have something to practise shooting with, Ilford black and white film is a terrific choice. Here are a few of our favourites. 

Pros:

• High sensitivity is excellent for low light
• Extreme exposure latitude
• Stylish grain

Cons:

• Can be vulnerable to fogging from X-rays
• Can cause overconfidence in the photographer

If you’re shooting film in low light, a high-sensitivity stock like Ilford Delta 3200 is going to be your best friend. The name is a little misleading – it’s actually a 1000 speed film, however like many Ilford stocks, it has extremely broad exposure latitude that means it can comfortably be shot at 3200 and beyond. It’s terrific for gigs, for night-walks, for indoor shoots – really for anything where the light levels are a little lacking. It’s grainier than the lower-sensitivity films of course, but many photographers enjoy this for the retro style and texture it gives to an image.

There are things to be cautious about with high-sensitivity films. For one, if you’re planning on travelling with Delta 3200, it can be vulnerable to fogging from scanning machines such as the ones used in airport security. Ask security staff for a hand inspection of the film if possible.

And also, while this is arguably more of a personal thing, we’ve definitely found that films like these can lead to a marked overconfidence when you first start using them – an assumption that you can basically shoot at any subject, no matter how poor the light, and still get a useable image. Just remember that high-speed film isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card – you still need to remember your exposure principles and work with the light you have. 

Best colour 120 film

We’ve picked out here some of our favourite colour 120 films. There tends to be a lot of crossover between the two formats when it comes to stocks – all the films we’ve listed here are also sold in 35mm format. However, something you’ll quickly learn if you pursue film photography in earnest is that many of your choices will be dictated by availability. Stocks come and go fast, and sometimes, you just have to go with what’s there.

With that said, these are three colour stocks that we feel really show off what’s great about shooting 120 film. The depth, the detail, that inimitable large-format ‘look’ – with these films, you’ll be able to truly appreciate the wonder of your chosen format. Remember that you don’t get as many shots on 120 as you do on 35mm, so bear that in mind when choosing how many to stock up on.

Pros:

• Very affordable 120 film
• Cool, naturalistic tones

Cons:

• Colours may be too muted for some

If you’re looking to stock up on something different for your 120 film, we’d definitely recommend looking at Lomography Colour Negative 400. It marks itself out from your Gold 200s and your Portra 160s in terms of its tonality – whereas those films are marked by their warm colour tone, Lomography 400 is distinctly quite cool. It produces somewhat muted tones that may not be to everyone’s taste, but are great for urban photography in particular. 

The grain is impressively fine for a 400-speed film. While it obviously looks brilliant in golden sunlight, everything does, and a nice thing about Lomography 400 is that it also performs well on overcast days where the light isn’t too inspiring. This is a good all-purpose film, worth loading up on days where you’re not quite sure what you’re going to be shooting.

Best black and white 120 film

Lastly, we’re rounding out with some of our favourite 120 film stocks for black and white shooting. Whether you want fine grain and pin-sharp detail, or a bit of that retro grainy texture to your images, 120 film stocks cover a broad range of preferences. Once again, Ilford is the dominant name in this space, but there are also some great options from Kodak, and you might find they don’t sell out quite as quickly as their 35mm counterparts. 

Bear in mind that while black and white film is generally cheaper to buy than colour, it also tends to be a little more expensive to develop, so that’s worth bearing in mind when thinking about ongoing costs. Home development can be fun, though it’s best to think of it as more a hobby than a way to save due to the costs of equipment and chemicals needed. 

Pros:

• Great value for money
• Can be developed using colour C41 process
• Forgiving exposure latitude

Cons:

• A little dull in brightly lit scenes (works best with high contrast)

Ilford XP2 Super is an unusual proposition – it’s black and white film that thinks it’s colour! More specifically, it’s a monochrome film that can be developed using a standard C41 colour film process, making it both cheaper and easier to develop than many of its monochrome contemporaries. 

With fine grain and consistently excellent sharpness XP2 Super is a winner in many shooting situations. The 400 ISO makes it flexible in terms of light, and like most Ilford films, it’s tolerant to both overexposure and underexposure. It’s particularly popular for its contrast – blacks are deep and black, highlights are brilliant and bright. Just as they should be. Where we’d say XP2 is weaker is when the light is uniformly bright – on big sunny days, it can come off a little drab and dull. Seek out high-contrast situations and embrace the drama of this exciting, affordable and flexible film. 

FAQs

What is camera film and how does it work?

Camera film is a light-sensitive material used in traditional film photography. It consists of a base coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. When exposed to light through the camera's lens, the emulsion undergoes a chemical reaction, capturing the image. During development, chemicals are used to reveal and stabilise the latent image, producing the final photograph.

What are the different types of camera film are there?

There are several types of camera film, including black and white film, colour negative film, colour reversal (slide) film, and speciality films such as infrared or high-speed film, each serving different photographic purposes. At Wex, we stock 35mm, 120 film and instant film, all of which you can find here.

How do I choose the right camera film for my photography needs?

The choice of film depends on factors such as desired image characteristics, lighting conditions, and personal preference. You need to think about the film speed (ISO), the type (black and white or colour), and any special requirements like high contrast.

What are some tips for storing and handling camera film?

Proper storage and handling are crucial for preserving the quality of camera film. Store film in a cool, dry place away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. Handle film carefully to avoid scratches, fingerprints, and static electricity, and avoid exposing it to X-rays during airport security checks. 

How do I develop and process camera film?

Developing and processing film requires careful attention to detail and specific equipment. You can find a range of specialist darkroom development equipment here, or the easier and perhaps safer option is to go to a developer e.g. Boots or an independent photography shop.