5 Unique Films to Try to Make Your Photos More Interesting | 35 mm & 120 Gift Ideas for Film Photographers

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

If you know me, you know I get bored easily when it comes to photography. I’m always trying out new filters, weird films, different cameras and tons of tricks to make my photos more unique. I guess you could say I’m a huge proponent of creativity and I don’t believe in creating the same photo twice. The first time I accidentally shot a double exposure with my Holga camera, it inspired me to keep going and to keep challenging myself to make work that truly stood out. When it comes to film photography, an easy way to push yourself out of your comfort zone is to try a film that’s unique in its own right. So, here are 5 different films that I love for those who want to try something new!

LOMOGRAPHY LOMOCHROME PURPLE

This is my absolute favorite of the bunch. Some photographers like to hate on this film, but I think its just because they’re scared of it. Personally, I think it makes for beautiful, surreal landscapes and whimsical portraits. I probably also love it because purple is my favorite color so its as if this film was created just for me. I love it so much. :) You can find this film in 35mm and 120 formats. It’s somewhat pricey so if you’re new to this film, you might want to start with the 35mm version to get more bang for your buck, since you’ll end up getting more frames per roll over the 120 version.

Purchase:
Lomography LomoChrome Puprle 35mm on Amazon

Lomography LomoChrome Purple 120 film on eBay

Lomography LomoChrome Purple on Adorama

2. LOMOGRAPHY LOMOCHROME TURQUOISE

If you love the LomoChrome Purple, but are looking to expand to something else, the turquoise is another fun option. I don’t love it quite as much as the purple, mostly because I feel that the skin tones are strange when it comes to portraiture with this film. It gives more of an “avatar” vibe, which could be fun if you have a plan! I still love landscapes with this film though. I haven’t used this one quite as much either, so maybe I just need to give it more of a chance. :)

Purchase:

Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise 35mm on eBay

Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise 120 film on eBay

KODAK GOLD 200

If you love warm color tones and sunset hues, you should try out Kodak Gold 200. It’s perfect for any sort of beach or tropical vacation because it adds a nice, golden glow to the images. I always bring a few rolls with me on vacation because it’s flattering on skin tones and great for architecture. It’s also pretty affordable, which is another reason you can always find it in my camera bag. Sometimes, it just makes the most sense simply because of the price point. It’s a very sharp film too with a speed of 200, but might not work as well in low light as some of the other films on this list. However, it is the most subtle on the list, so if you’re trying to branch out but don’t want to get too crazy, this would be a good one to start with!

Purchase on Amazon:

Kodak Gold 200 35mm film

Kodak Gold 200 120 film

Lomography Berlin Kino 400 ISO

I’m sure by now you’re realizing that I love Lomography film. But they offer so many unique options! If you’re looking for a vintage-y, vibe-y black and white film, Lomography has a handful of options that vary in tone, warmth and grain. There’s Earl Grey 120 film or 35 mm film or Lady Grey 120 or 35 mm. For these sample photos, I used Berlin B&W 400, a warm-toned, extra grainy film that really gives that old school film vibe. It’s quite noisy for a 400 film but it adds to the overall aesthetic of the images.

Purchase:

Lomography Earl Grey 120 film on Amazon

Lomography Earl Grey 35 mm film on Amazon

Lomography Lady Grey 120 film on Amazon

Lomography Lady Grey 35 mm on Amazon

Lomography Berlin Kino 400 35mm film on eBay

Lomography Berlin Kino 400 120 film on eBay

LOMOGRAPHY 35MM REDSCALE XR 50-200

Lomography Redscale is definitely a very extreme film to try out. You have to be ready for some crazy results! However, I love how surreal and unusual the images are. I’ve even had some of these photos in art galleries! It’s a great option for getting creative, especially if your client is a musician or artist and are looking for one-of-a-kind photographs.

Purchase on Amazon:

Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 120mm

Purchase on eBay:

Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 35mm film

Or…TRY FILM SOUP!

If you want to get REALLY crazy, you can always try soaking your film in things like vinegar, lemon juice, tea, etc. I have a blog post and YouTube video all about film soup so if this sounds fun to you, check it out here!

I hope these fun and unique films inspired you to step outside the box and try something new! I absolutely love trying out new film because I never know what I’m going to get. Plus, I think it takes my photos to a whole new level. It’s an easy way to make your photos stand out amongst the sea of photographers out there in the world.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to leave any questions and comments below. And don’t forget to check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a lovely day!

<3 Myles Katherine

Canon Rebel G 35mm Camera Review with Sample Photos | Why it's a Great Travel Camera for Beginners (and Professionals too)!

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

The Canon Rebel G was the camera my mom used throughout my childhood to photograph me and my siblings. I always loved the way the photos looked, so when my mom stumbled across her old Rebel G, I begged her to give it to me. I finally took it on a trip to Wilmington, NC to test it out and it didn’t disappoint. It reminds me of my Canon Rebel K2 in a lot of ways, which makes sense because they are both 35mm Canon cameras released around the same time. The Rebel G was first released in 1996 and the K2 was released in 1999. They were both targeted towards entry-level photographers, so they are super approachable and easy to use. However, what I love about them both is that if you decide to dive deeper into all of their functions, there is SO MUCH you can do with these cameras. I also posted a YouTube video about my trip to Wilmington, NC with the Canon Rebel G, so make sure to check that out here!

MAIN FEATURES OF THE CANON REBEL G

FULL AUTO SETTING

One of the greatest features of the Canon Rebel G is that it has a full auto setting, including autofocus, which is great for photographers of any level. If you don’t feel like switching between settings or learning about aperture and shutter speed, you can just turn the main dial to the green auto setting and shoot away! This makes it a great travel film camera because you can get the fun vintage vibe of film photography without worrying about wasting money screwing up your film photos.

EF LENS MOUNT

It’s also compatible with Canon’s EF line of lenses, which really expands the options for professional photographers. Canon has a lot of incredible lenses in the EF line so you can get that beautiful sharpness of the EF lenses while shooting film. I haven’t tried this out yet with the Canon Rebel G, but it’s on my to-do list! I’ll be sure to update this blog post once I do. :)

FLASH

One of the main features I look for in a travel camera specifically is a pop-up flash. I hate carrying around external flashes. Plus, they’re big and embarrassing. I prefer to be an inconspicuous photographer so I can get those street photography shots without calling too much attention to myself. I don’t use the flash often, but if I’m traveling and I’m inside a dark restaurant or in an underground tunnel or dungeon (you never know!), then I like having the option. If you have the camera on the full auto setting, the flash will pop up whenever the camera decides the environment is a little too dark. You can also force the flash on or off, depending on your needs.

MULTIPLE EXPOSURES

This is one of my absolute favorite features of this camera. You guys know I’m always on the hunt for cameras with a multiple exposure option, and honestly, this is why I love Canon cameras so much. I run my mutiple exposure button into the ground with my cameras. In fact, I’d say I shoot more multiple exposures than single exposures. I just enjoy the challenge of creating an image that’s never been done before. They aren’t for everyone, but I’ve included a few examples below so you can get the gist. I’m obsessed, TBH. I don’t know what I’d do in life without multiple exposures!

AUTOMATIC FILM ADVANCE

This is another great feature that makes the Canon Rebel G a perfect travel camera. When I’m on the road, it’s hard to find the time to sit down and load film into my cameras. The Canon Rebel G has a motorized film advance system, so it’s incredibly easy to load the film. And once you’re finished shooting the roll, the camera will automatically wind the film back for you. So you can just pop open the back and remove the roll, pop another one in, and keep shooting!

LIGHTWEIGHT BODY

Camera weight is a huge priority for me when I’m traveling because I like to take so many cameras with me on my trips. The Rebel G is extremely light and unnoticeable. However, keep in mind that if you add on an EF lens, it will affect the weight significantly. I just have the kit lens on the camera (the 28-90mm f/3.5 lens) so it only weighs about 1 lb 8 oz.

ENDLESS SHOOTING SETTINGS

One of the best things about cameras like the Canon Rebel G and the Canon Rebel K2 is that you have a million creative settings to choose from if you want to experiment. Some of the settings include: portrait, landscape, macro, sports mode and night mode. And then of course, aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual if you want to challenge yourself as a photographer. Personally, I’m an aperture priority kind of girl, so I tend to stick on that setting for the most part. There’s also red-eye reduction, a self-timer and film-rewind options. Honestly, it has pretty much every single function you can think of in a camera.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While the Canon Rebel G isn’t the fanciest camera in the land, you get a serious bang for your buck with this camera. It runs about $50-150 depending on the condition of the camera. The images aren’t the sharpest with the kit lens, but if you use a low ISO film, such as Kodak Gold 200 or Lomography Color 100 film (which I used for the photos in this post), you can kind of trick people into thinking you’ve got a super sharp lens. :) Or if you already have an EF mount Canon lens, definitely try that out! You won’t get the quality of images that you might find with a Canon AE-1 Program or Nikon FE2, but if you’re a beginner film photographer looking to learn the ropes before investing in a more expensive camera, this is a great option. Plus, both of those cameras don’t have autofocus, so I don’t typically recommend them for people who are just getting into film photography. I tend to recommend cameras like the Canon Rebel G, Canon Rebel K2 or Minolta Maxxum STsi for beginners.

If you’ve stumbled upon the Canon Rebel G in a thrift store or at a yard sale, consider yourself lucky! It’s a super fun camera and might even just become your favorite. It’s so versatile and straightforward that it’s kind of impossible to hate it. The fact that my mom was able to use it throughout my childhood without any photography knowledge, proves that. Some of the photos she took with this camera are our most treasured family photos! So yes, maybe I’m biased towards this camera just a little. :)

I’ve included sample photos below, so make sure to scroll down!

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON REBEL G:

Amazon

eBay

KEH Camera

35MM FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

Kodak Gold 200

Lomography Color 400

Lomography Color 100

Kodak Portra 160

Kodak Portra 400

Kodak Colorplus 200

If this review helped you in any way, I’d love for you to consider subscribing to my YouTube channel or signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you can get access to unreleased photographs that I don’t share anywhere else, as well as early access to my YouTube videos. And depending on which tier you choose, you can receive seasonal prints and other fun surprises!

Thanks so much for stopping by! And don’t forget to stop by my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)

<3 Myles Katherine

(By using the links and/or codes above it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

(click photos to enlarge)