Best 35mm Film for Beginners (UK Guide)

Choosing your first roll of 35mm film can feel surprisingly complicated. Walk into any film shop – or browse ours – and you'll see dozens of names, speeds and formats. The good news is that a few dependable films will cover almost everything a beginner wants to shoot, from summer holidays to dull British winter afternoons. This guide explains what actually matters when picking film and suggests some easy starting points.

First, the basics: what the numbers mean

Every film has an ISO (sometimes shown as ASA) rating. This is its sensitivity to light. Lower numbers such as ISO 100 or 200 need more light but give finer grain; higher numbers such as ISO 400 or 800 cope better in dim conditions but look a little grainier. If your camera has a fixed shutter speed and aperture – as most reusable and single-use cameras do – the ISO you choose makes a big difference to whether your pictures come out well exposed.

You'll also see the number of exposures (usually 24 or 36 shots per roll) and the type of film:

• Colour negative – the most common and most forgiving type. It's developed using the standard C-41 process, which almost every lab offers.
• Black & white – classic and moody. Most black & white films need dedicated B&W processing, although some (such as Ilford XP2) are designed for C-41.
• Slide (reversal) – produces positive transparencies with rich colour, but has very little tolerance for exposure mistakes. Best saved for later.

Why ISO 400 is a great place to start in the UK

If you're using a simple point-and-shoot, a reusable camera like the Kodak M35 or M38, or you simply don't want to think too hard about exposure, an ISO 400 colour negative film is the safest bet. The UK has plenty of overcast days, and from autumn to spring the light fades early. ISO 400 gives you more room to work in those conditions, and colour negative film handles overexposure well, so bright days rarely ruin a shot.

ISO 200 films are lovely in sunshine and give slightly finer grain, but they need more light. In a fixed-setting camera they work best outdoors on bright days or with flash.

Good first colour films

Kodak UltraMax 400

A versatile all-rounder with punchy colour and enough speed for most everyday situations. If you only buy one film to learn on, this is a sensible choice. Find it in our Kodak film collection.

Kodak Gold 200

Known for its warm, slightly nostalgic colour. It shines on sunny days, at the beach and outdoors in summer. Indoors or in winter light you'll want flash or a camera that lets you adjust exposure. We compare it with UltraMax in our article Kodak Gold 200 vs UltraMax 400.

Kodak ColorPlus 200

A budget-friendly ISO 200 colour film that's popular for experimenting while you learn. Like Gold, it prefers good light.

Fujifilm 200 and 400

Fujifilm's everyday colour negative films give natural colour and are a reliable alternative to Kodak. Browse them in our Fujifilm film collection.

Good first black & white films

Black & white is a brilliant way to learn about light and composition, because you're not distracted by colour.

• Ilford XP2 Super – a chromogenic black & white film developed in standard C-41 chemistry, so any colour lab can process it. It's also available pre-loaded in a single-use camera.
• Ilford Delta 400 Professional – a fast, sharp black & white film that copes with a wide range of light.
• Fomapan Classic 100 and Creative 200 – affordable black & white films that look great in daylight. Find them in our Fomapan collection.

Remember that most black & white films (apart from XP2) need black & white processing. Our film lab offers both C-41 and B&W developing.

What about Portra, Ektar and specialist films?

Professional films such as Kodak Portra and Ektar are fantastic, but they cost more per roll. Many photographers find it more rewarding to learn on consumer films first and move up once they understand exposure and what they like. Special-effect films from brands like Revolog and Lomography are fun once you know what a "normal" roll looks like from your camera.

Matching film to your camera

• Reusable and toy cameras (fixed shutter, fixed aperture): choose ISO 400, and use the flash indoors and in shade.
• Automatic point-and-shoots: most read the film's DX code and set the ISO automatically. ISO 200 or 400 both work well.
• Manual SLRs and rangefinders: you set the ISO yourself on the camera or light meter. Any speed works, so you can choose based on the light you expect.
• Half-frame cameras such as the Kodak Ektar H35: these give roughly twice as many pictures per roll, so a 36-exposure film goes a long way.

Simple tips for your first roll

1. Load in the shade. Avoid loading or unloading film in direct sunlight.
2. Keep the sun behind you with simple cameras, and get reasonably close to your subject.
3. Use flash indoors. Even ISO 400 film needs more light than you might think inside a house or pub.
4. Don't worry about bright days. Colour negative film tolerates overexposure far better than underexposure.
5. Take notes. Jotting down conditions for a few shots helps you understand your results.
6. Get it developed promptly. Latent images slowly degrade over time, especially in heat.

Our quick recommendations

• Just want great results in any weather? Kodak UltraMax 400.
• Shooting mostly outdoors in summer? Kodak Gold 200 or Fujifilm 200.
• Want black & white that any lab can develop? Ilford XP2.
• Learning black & white on a budget? Fomapan 100 or 200 in daylight.

Browse every roll we stock in our 35mm film collection, or see what other customers buy most in best-selling film. We offer free UK delivery on orders over £60, and when you've finished shooting, our London film lab can develop and scan your roll. If you're unsure which film suits your camera, get in touch – we're always happy to help.