Guides

Buying guides

Short, opinionated guides that pick specific film stocks and cameras and explain why, with links straight to the full dossiers.

The film market in 68 stocks

Every stock in the database counted by type, speed, grain and price tier — and where the premium actually is.

Five films that flatter skin tones, from the professional standard to a warm budget favourite.

The B&W stocks worth loading, from fine-grain ISO 100 to grainy ISO 3200.

Cheap rolls that still look good, and what you give up at the bottom of the price list.

Five films for fast handheld work, chosen for contrast, speed and grain.

Fine grain and saturated colour, from Ektar to Velvia and Acros II.

High-speed colour and black and white for after dark, and when to push.

Affordable, reliable bodies that are easy to learn on and cheap to repair.

Pocket compacts with good lenses, from cult classics to hidden value.

6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x7 systems worth the weight, and the lenses that justify them.