Films

Films refer to photographic or camera films, which are basically emulsion-coated plastic sheets with varied sized silver halide salt crystals determining its sensitivity and resolution. The exposure of these emulsions to light leads to the formation of invisible image, which are later developed into visible ones through chemical procedures.

Since 1876, Hurter and Driffield were known to be the pioneers in the field of the light sensitive films. However, films were unknown to earlier daguerreotype photography, until development of first photographic film in 1885 by Eastman Kodak. With the production of the first transparent nitrocellulose films in 1889, the photographic world underwent a substantial revolution, which was followed by the further productions of nitrate film, cellulose acetate and X-ray films in 1920, 1933 and 1951 respectively.

Black-and-white photographic films have single layers of silver salts, while there are a minimum of three such layers in Color Films. On the development of Black-and-white camera films, the salts of silver are converted into metallic silvers and appear as the black portion of the negative. Color film development follows the same process with the exception that the by-products of silver salts turning into metallic silver form the colored dyes of the pictures.

Film speed means its high sensitivity to light. The common speed of camera films has several variations, including ISO 25, 50, 64, 100, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200. In case of consumer print films, the speeds usually vary between ISO 100 to ISO 800 ranges.

The recent development in the field of photographic films is the special film popularly called Polaroid or instant photography. This particular type of image uses specialized cameras and films which captures and develops the images without the help of any chemical processes. Unlike regular films, the development of Polaroid Photograph is done immediately after exposure to light, without any harm caused to it.

Different Types of Camera Films:

Black and White Negative and Reversal Films

Super 8mm Films

Color Negative Films

Color Reversal Films

New Black and White Films

Films for the Aaton A-Minima Camera

Discontinued Film Products

35 mm Films

Popular camera films:

Kodak T-max p3200

Kodak Technical Pan

Kodak Kodachrome

Fuji Velvia

Ilford Delta3200

Notable photographic film manufacturers:

Kodak

Konica

Lucky Maco

ORWO Perutz

Polaroid

ProClick

Solaris (Ferrania)

Svema

Tasma

Tura

Agfa-Gevaert

Bergger

Efke

Foma

Forte

Ferrania

Fujifilm Ilford

Imation

The development of films has revolutionized the entire photographic industry. They are in fact, indispensable parts of a imaging process, without which no photographic shooting is possible.