Professional vs. consumer films

Film manufacturers' many offerings can be baffling. High-end camera shops offer a wide range of consumer films as well as professional films. What's the difference? Aside from a higher price, professional films offer subtle variations in color and contrast that pro photographers need for certain assignments. Most everyday photo occasions do not require pro film. It's pricey and unnecessary if you only use a point-and-shoot camera.

Professional print films

Consumer print films can be under- or over-exposed and still produce a useful photo. Many users intentionally overexpose these films to capture richer colors. Few automatic cameras let you adjust for overexposure; use a single-lens reflex camera if you want more control.

But, beware: faster 400 and 800-speed color print films can exhibit a grainy quality in enlargements. If you want decent 5 x 7- or 8 x 10-inch prints, take your negatives to a reputable photo lab that will take time to inspect its work.

Semi-pro choices

A good option for photographers are "pro-sumer" films. They offer pro-film features at a price comparable to everyday films. Fuji Reala and Kodak Select series films are a great value when shooting more than birthday parties; you get deep color saturation and less grain. Remember, though, that there's less latitude for under or over-exposure.

For the most saturation, don't forget slide or transparency films. They give sharper images because a slide is the first-generation image captured on film, not a print made from a negative. But, slide films are unforgiving of under- or over-exposure and more complicated and expensive to print. A single-lens reflex camera is a must if you want to get the most from slide film.

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