What type of film stock is best for you? Take the quiz to find out...

Ever wondered which film stock you should shoot with?

Choosing film can be a daunting task. With so many options available—different brands, styles, and characteristics—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Perhaps you’re worried about overpacking or blowing your budget on the wrong film. Or maybe you’re keen to try something new but aren’t sure where to start.

Film photography is full of creative possibilities—from embracing grain for a textured, nostalgic vibe to choosing a film with wide tonal range for rich, detailed landscapes. But which one suits you best?

Sure, you could spend hours scrolling through Flickr or Instagram to see examples. But wouldn’t it be easier to take a quick quiz to narrow down your choices? This quiz will help point you to the perfect film stock based on your needs, preferences, and current shoot plans.

What Factors Are Considered in the Quiz?

The quiz considers several key factors to help you pick the perfect film stock:

Personality: Do you prefer experimentation or precision?
Lighting Conditions: Are you shooting outdoors in bright sunlight, or indoors in low light?
Subject Matter: Portraits, landscapes, street photography, or something else?
Camera and Lens: Are you shooting with a point-and-shoot, SLR, or medium format camera?
Final Use: Will your photos be printed, shared online, or displayed as wall art?

By balancing up these factors, the quiz guides you to a category of film stocks most suited to your shoot and preferences.

film canister for Cinestill 800 35mm film

Take the Quiz!

Your results

Once you’ve taken the quiz, you’ll be matched to one of five film stock categories. Explore the recommendations and start planning your next shoot!

Images of analogue camras on a wooden table shot from above

ANALOGUE WOnDERLAND

Analogue Wonderland are a UK-based lab that offer a wide variety of films. Some films sell out fast though, so it’s worth signing up to be notified when it comes back in stock.

They also offer developing for black and white and colour films, as well as specialised developing, such as for souped films.

Link to analogue Wonderland…

Want to see all 5 results?

Curious about 5 types of film stocks and when they might be better for you? Click here to explore all the 5 types—or just refresh the screen and do the quiz again!

CHECK OUT ALL 5 TYPES OF FILM STOCKS

hands holding two slide photography negatives

photo of Christmas tree blurred to show lens bokeh

Film photography glossary: explained in plain English

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the technical terms in film photography, don’t worry—you’re not alone! Let me break down some of the jargon you might have come across in the blog or quiz. Whether you’re new to film or just looking for a refresher, these quick explanations may help.

Jargon	DEfinition
Grain	Grain is the tiny little dots or speckles you see in a film photo. It’s caused by the silver halide crystals in the film emulsion. Some films have very fine, barely noticeable grain, which is great for sharp, clean images. Others have more noticeable grain, which can give photos a gritty or nostalgic vibe. Think of grain as the film equivalent of texture—it’s all about the mood you want to create.
Pulling Film	Pulling film is like telling your film, “Hey, take it easy.” You deliberately rate the film at a lower ISO than it’s designed for (e.g., shooting ISO 400 film at ISO 200) and then adjust the development time. The result? Softer highlights, lower contrast, and a smoother overall look. It’s great for bright conditions or when you want a gentler feel to your photos.
Pushing Film	Pushing film is the opposite of pulling. It’s like telling your film, “Step it up!” You shoot at a higher ISO (e.g., ISO 400 film at ISO 800) and extend the development time. This gives you more contrast, emphasised grain, and makes it easier to shoot in low light. It’s perfect for creating dramatic, bold images—or just rescuing a shot in dim conditions.
Wide Exposure Latitude	Some films are super forgiving when it comes to exposure mistakes. Wide exposure latitude means a film can handle being slightly overexposed or underexposed and still look great. It’s ideal for unpredictable lighting or when you’re still getting the hang of metering. Films like Kodak Portra or Ilford HP5 are famous for this. They’re basically the easy-going friends of the film world.
Tonal Range	Tonal range is all about how much detail a film can capture from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights. A wide tonal range means you get beautiful, balanced details across the whole image. It’s like having a full orchestra of tones working together—great for landscapes or portraits where you want depth and richness.
Colour Reproduction	Different films “see” colours in their own unique way. Some films, like Kodak Portra, are amazing at capturing natural, lifelike colours. Others, like Velvia 50, amp up the saturation for bold, vivid tones that pop. Choosing the right film for your subject is like picking the right paintbrush—it sets the mood and tells the story you want.
Halation	Halation is that dreamy glow you sometimes see around bright lights in a photo. It happens when light bounces around inside the film and creates a halo effect. It’s most noticeable in films like Cinestill 800T and can add a cinematic vibe to your photos. Love it or hate it, halation is definitely a conversation starter!
Contrast	Dynamic range measures how much light a film can capture from highlights to shadows without losing detail. A high dynamic range means your photos will look well-balanced, even in tricky lighting. Films like Kodak Portra are known for this, making them a safe bet for unpredictable conditions.
Cross-Processing	Feeling adventurous? Cross-processing is when you develop a film in chemicals meant for a different type of film. For example, developing slide film in C-41 chemicals (standard for colour negative film). The results are wild and unpredictable, with funky colours and extra contrast. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a lot of fun to experiment with.
Bokeh	Bokeh is that dreamy, blurred background effect that makes your subject stand out. While it’s more about your lens than your film, certain films complement bokeh beautifully. For example, films with subtle tones or fine grain can enhance that soft, ethereal look in portraits.

Which terms are most important?

Some terms, like grain, contrast, and latitude, are things you’ll notice right away when shooting or looking at your photos. Others, like pushing and pulling film, come into play when you’re experimenting or trying to adapt to tricky lighting. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced shooter, understanding these basics will help you choose the right film for your style and needs.