Film

When you think of film, several things may come to mind. For instance, you might think of cameras into which you will load 35mm or similar film and take snapshots of memories. You may think of going to the movies and watching a film. You may even think of the instant prints you get at the mall in the picture booth. In truth, these are all forms of film. What do you really know about film and exposure?

Film has come a long way since its invention. Size availability and quality have improved immensely since the first cameras were invented. Originally, all cameras used sheet film, and most did not have the capacity to use several different sizes. Medium and large format film cameras were the order of the times, with no room for compromise. Also, the exposure took long hours to develop, and color film was not available for decades after the original invention.

As time progressed, Kodak and Polaroid were pioneers in the creation of color film, and roll film began to overtake the popularity of sheet film, especially as cameras became objects that could be household items and were small and light enough to be portable. Film became a huge market, and several companies were vying for a market share, with Kodak and Fuji eventually taking over the majority of the industry. Of course, in terms of instant print production, Polaroid became the brand of choice, with this company all but ignoring the roll film industry. The invention of various film speeds has led the average consumer to be able to plan for the right type of film for any event, whether low level lighting is involved or there will be a lot of motion and there is a need to reduce blur.

In terms of motion picture film, the greatest advancements have been seen in two particular leaps. First, the invention of the movie with sound became a phenomenon. The general public had already become accustomed to taking a trip to the theatre to see a motion picture, but now there was a sound track to accompany it, making it even more realistic and exciting. The next great advancement came with the 70-millimeter film, creating letterbox viewing for a more panoramic picture. That has since been revised to wide screen, accommodating HD production and viewing on widescreen televisions at home without modification to the film format. Film continues to advance further, in both motion pictures and still format, heading toward a future of even greater brilliance.