Indeed in the photography and in the making of films, size of the films is very important in creating the quality of the images, to handle as well as the development process of the images. Today, digital camera has a lion share of the market share but film photography has not faded away as it provides an aesthetic experience that users still find engaging and creative. Indeed, one of the questions that a beginner choosing film photography often asks is whether the size of the film plays a significant role in the development process. The short answer is yes, it does matter and it can influence a number of parameters, the appearance of the final image, as well as the process of development.
In this post, I will write about how the size of the film affects development process, the quality of images, and the entire photographing process.
Understanding Film Formats
It is useful to first discuss the variety of film sizes with reference to which films are larger and which are smaller since this will be important when considering how development differs between the two types. The size of the film is the physical size of the film and these size differ with the type of camera and purpose of the photography. Here are the most common film sizes:
- 35mm Film: The most used format especially among the beginners and the professionals in photography. It has dimensions of 36mm by 24mm per frame and is available in rolls that enable a number of exposure.
- Medium Format Film: Still larger than 35mm, medium format film can be 120 or 220 films with different dimensions, such as 6×6, 6×7 and so on. This format is preferred by the professional due to high quality of the image that is produced.
- Large Format Film: The biggest film size which is usually 4×5 inches or larger in size. Large format film is used for commercial work, landscapes, and fine art photographs because there is nothing that can beat the quality and resolution of large format film.
Each of these formats offers a different experience in terms of handling, image quality, and of course, the development process.
How Film Size Affects Image Quality
Perhaps the most important aspect of selecting one or another film size is its effect on the quality of the picture. Large format films have superior image resolution, sharper image detail, and tonal range than small format films.
- 35mm Film: 35mm is easy to work with and very universal but it is not as sharp as a bigger format, such as 16mm. It has a closer grain pattern, which determines how far the film can be printed and not have a loss in quality of the image. However, the current motion pictures and development technologies have provided a higher possible resolution for 35mm film; it is still less than medium and large formats.
- Medium Format Film: This is due to the fact that medium format has a larger surface area hence capturing more detail. Since each picture is much larger, there is less grain and every part of the picture is more detailed. This makes it perfect for use in portrait and studio photography since sharpness, as well as minor details, matter.
- Large Format Film: Large format film is of the highest quality possible because of the huge surface area that it has. The level of detail, depth, and DR that can be obtained on large format film is incomparable to that of digital or any other type of photography and that’s why photographers who want to print their pictures at large formats and get the highest possible resolution turn to large format film.
From the developmental point of view, larger film formats are more sensitive and therefore take more time and money in the process.
Impact on Film Development Process
The size of the film influences how the film is processed in a big way. Super 8 is a larger format than 35mm which means that various methods, apparatus and quite frequently – more means are needed to work with this format.
- 35mm Film Development: This is the most common format and can be developed in most labs with no special equipment needed The 35mm film is normally processed in small tanks and can be processed shortly. Some of them even process the 35mm films in their own small kits that are easily available in the market.
- Medium Format Development: Medium format film requires larger tanks or drums for development, and because of its increased size, it also demands more chemicals. Some labs may charge more for developing medium format film due to the additional resources required.
- Large Format Development: The biggest challenge and most time consuming is the development of large format film. In addition, the large size of the film complicates the handling process and it has to be placed on special trays or tanks which accommodate its size. Furthermore, the cost of the large format film is much higher than the small one because the amount of chemicals used and the accuracy needed to work with this material without damaging it.
That is why, for instance, despite the fact that the basic process of film development includes three stages – developing, stopping, and fixing – large films require finer handling and special equipment which add time to complete the process.
Costs and Resources Involved
- The size of the film defines the amount of resources required during development, the larger the size of the film the larger the resources required. This has a direct correlation with the cost of film photography.
- Cost of Film: It is well understood that larger films are more expensive per roll or sheet than the small format ones. The production of medium and large format films is much less than that of 35mm films and the cost of the materials used in the larger formats is higher.
- Development Costs: It becomes apparent that the cost of development rises as the film size enlarges. Most of the film labs tend to charge extra for developing medium and large format films because they take more time, chemicals and equipment. For instance, roll of 120 film development costs more than a roll of 35mm film and the large format sheets costs more than the two.
- Storage and Handling: Large picture films also need special care during processing as well as before and after development than the small ones. They are more likely to be damaged due to their large size and you will have to store more negatives.
For photographers, the cost factor is an important consideration when choosing a film format, especially for those working on tight budgets.
Print Size and Enlarging Capabilities
They also influence the final output with regard to print size and quality of the film. This is especially good news for photographers who plan to make large prints for their pictures as the larger films can be enlarged without the loss of quality.
- 35mm Film Prints: It is possible to get good prints from 35mm film and still enlarge it to standard sizes (8 x 10 inches, 11 x 14 inches) and such other standard sizes but beyond these sizes, the grain and detail may become apparent.
- Medium Format Prints: The problem is that medium format film does not deteriorate as quickly as 35mm, and so it can be enlarged much larger with little grain and loss of resolution.
- Large Format Prints: It is also important to note that with large format film even large prints are very sharp and clear. This format is ideal for fine art photography, billboards, galleries or any other place where large print or high quality is needed.
Selecting the final film size is all in the practical application of the photographs needed by the photographer—whether it is for small, fast prints or large and detailed enlargements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, one can conclude that size has a great impact in the developmental process, quality of images and the total cost of film photography. 35m film is good for general use, portability and cost. It is regarded as professional because it combines greater image quality together with more moderate development procedures as compared to large format films. Large format film affords the greatest resolution and depth of field but at the same time poses higher development challenge and expense.
In conclusion, the size of the film to be used depends with the intended use of photography, cost and the intended finish. Such as, if you are looking at the quality of the image and the fine details then shooting larger film formats is well worth the time and money. Nevertheless, if you want an easy to handle and cheaper material to work with, 35mm film is a good and all around option. Even in its more limited capacities, film photography remains an enjoyable and even artistic endeavor that provides an experience that digital photography can’t recreate.
