The darkroom guide
Your first film camera, explained
Formats, grades, what we test, which lens fits, which film to load and how develop and scan works. Keep it open while you choose.
Format guide
35mm or medium format?
Both use the same light and the same chemistry. The difference is the size of each frame, and how many you get on a roll.
35mm
The small, light format most film cameras use. Cheaper per shot, quick to load and easy to carry every day.
Frame size
24 × 36 mm
Shots per roll
24 or 36
Film
35mm cassette
Good for
Travel, street, everyday
Medium format
Bigger frames on 120 roll film: more detail, smoother tones and a slower, more careful way of shooting.
Frame size
6 × 4.5 to 6 × 9 cm
Shots per roll
8 to 16
Film
120 roll
Good for
Portraits, landscape, studio
Frame sizes are nominal; the exact image area differs a little from camera to camera (sample guide).
Condition grading
Three grades, described honestly
Grades describe how a camera looks, never how it works: every grade passes the same test sheet. Each listing shows photos of the camera you will get.
01A
A
Barely used
Grade A: near mint
- Faint marks only, seen up close
- Clear, bright viewfinder
- Lens glass clean, no haze
Full price · the reference grade (sample)
02A
B
Light wear
Grade B: well kept
- Light scuffs and brassing on edges
- Small specks in the viewfinder
- Lens may show faint cleaning marks
About 15% less than grade A (sample)
03A
C
Visible wear
Grade C: user camera
- Dents, worn covering or missing paint
- Dust in the viewfinder
- Lens marks that do not show in photos
About 30% less than grade A (sample)
A sample grading scale for the demo store. Every grade works the same; only the looks differ.
Tested checklist
Nothing ships before the test sheet is signed
Every body goes through the same twelve checks on the bench, then shoots a test roll that we develop and look at on the light table.
09A ▸
Test sheet
Body no. 0417 · sample
Mechanics
- Shutter fires at every speed
- Slow speeds timed on a tester
- Film advance and frame counter
- Rewind, back door and latch
- Self-timer and flash sync, where fitted
- Light seals replaced or checked
Optics and light
- Viewfinder and screen cleaned
- Focus checked at infinity
- Aperture blades dry and snappy
- Lens checked for haze, fungus and scratches
- Light meter compared with a reference
- Test roll shot and checked
Test roll: we shoot and develop a roll in every camera body and keep the negatives on file (sample).
Sample checklist. Lenses get their own six-point check: glass, aperture, focus, mount, caps and a test roll.
Lens mount compatibility
Which lens fits which body?
A lens has to match the camera’s mount. This sample table shows the mounts we stock and what each one fits.
| Lens mount (sample) | 35mm SLR | 35mm rangefinder | Medium format SLR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M42 screw | Fits screw-mount bodies | No | No | Stop-down metering on most bodies |
| Bayonet A | Fits | No | No | The mount of our SLR kits (sample) |
| Bayonet B | With adapter | No | No | An adapter may lose infinity focus |
| 39 mm screw | No | Fits | No | Check the rangefinder coupling |
| Medium format bayonet | No | No | Fits | Sold with the 6 × 7 body (sample) |
Key
Fits: mounts directly
With adapter: needs an adapter ring
No: does not fit
Film stock picker
Pick a film for the light you shoot in
Four everyday stocks in 35mm and 120. Choose by format, colour or black and white, and how much light you expect.
Format
All
35mm
120
Type
All
Colour negative
Black & white
Speed
All
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
The film stocks are unbranded samples for the demo store. Keep film cool and develop it soon after shooting.
Develop and scan
Send us your rolls, get scans by email
Colour negative and black and white film, 35mm and 120. Post your rolls or drop them at the counter.
01 · Order and post
Buy the service here and post the rolls with your order number.
02 · We develop
Fresh chemistry, developed by hand in small batches.
03 · Scans by email
A download link in about five working days (sample time).
04 · Negatives back
Cut, sleeved and posted back to you.
| Service | 35mm | 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Develop only | $8 | $9 |
| Develop + standard scan | $14 | $16 |
| Develop + large scan | $20 | $22 |
| Push or pull, per stop | + $3 | + $3 |
| Contact sheet print | + $6 | + $6 |
Warranty explainer
Six months of warranty on every camera
Old cameras are mechanical. If something we tested stops working in normal use, we put it right.
What it covers
Shutter, film transport, meter and lens faults that appear in normal use (sample terms).
What it does not
Drops, water and sand, batteries, and the wear you would expect on an old camera.
How to claim
Email us what happened and, if you can, a scan from the roll that shows the fault.
Repair, swap or refund
We repair it, swap it for a camera of the same grade or refund it (sample policy).
Sample warranty for the demo store, not a legal promise. Your own terms replace it; local consumer rights still apply.
Guide questions
Film camera questions
Short answers to what people ask before their first roll.
What does ISO mean on film?
How sensitive the film is to light. ISO 100 for bright light and a tripod, ISO 400 for cloudy days and indoors.
Can I use any lens on my camera?
Only lenses with the same mount, or with the right adapter. See the sample mount table above.
Why shoot a test roll?
It is the only way to see light leaks, focus errors and shutter faults on real film.
How should I store film?
Cool and dry, away from sunlight. Develop exposed film within a few weeks (sample guidance).