Words and Graphics by Nadine Bufi Photos by Nadine Bufi and Cody Bundoc Something about shooting on film makes everything seem more magical— maybe it’s that you can’t guarantee whether it was a good shot right after taking it, or the happy surprises you stumble upon once you get your roll back. Magic feeling aside, it […]

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Words and Graphics by Nadine Bufi

Photos by Nadine Bufi and Cody Bundoc

Something about shooting on film makes everything seem more magical— maybe it’s that you can’t guarantee whether it was a good shot right after taking it, or the happy surprises you stumble upon once you get your roll back. Magic feeling aside, it also takes a whole lot of commitment and definitely a bit of cash.

With that aside, here is checklist once you do begin on your analog journey!

Finding a Camera

film camera - A Filipino’s Guide To First Time Film Photography

1. Lomomanila Marketplace

Lomomanila is a Facebook buy and sell group headed by Manila’s many film photographers. There are daily posts on all kinds of cameras—whether it’s a point and shoot, rangefinders, or SLRs. There are tons of choices here but it is important to be wary of the people you purchase from (especially since Facebook doesn’t have strict selling rules).

lomo manila - A Filipino’s Guide To First Time Film Photography

Image from LomoManila Marketplace

2. Film4Ever

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SOLD Nikon TW2D with Nikon 35/70mm Macro lens All settings working Flash working Lens has no haze, no fungus Body shows signs of wear Takes a CRP2 battery Php 3,000 FREE SHIPPING

A post shared by film4ever (@film4ever) on Jun 27, 2019 at 7:21pm PDT

Film4Ever is an instagram shop dedicated to finding a camera for you. They do meetups in Katipunan, Project 4, and Cubao but also ship nationwide. The prices at pages like this tend to go higher for similar cameras but you can guarantee the quality as compared to Facebook groups.

3. Film Folk / Satchmi

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Another versatile B&W disposable cam. Very very easy to use! Available now at film-folk.com, also available in any Satchmi branches. #filmisnotdead

A post shared by FILM FOLK (@filmfolk_) on Jun 27, 2019 at 3:01am PDT

If you want to try the feel and aesthetic of film but can’t quite commit to a full camera yet, try a disposable one! They sell a range of them in Satchmi (UP Town Center and SM Megamall). Some of the disposable film cams you can score here are the Fujifilm Simple Ace, Ilford’s B&W disposables, the Japanese Streetpan Kassha, and the Lomo Simple Use camera.

Film Finds

film - A Filipino’s Guide To First Time Film Photography

1. Film Folk / Satchmi

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Here's another film that's back in stock!! Our Kodak Colorplus has always been a bestselling colored film not only for the vibrant colors, but the affordable price as well. Get it now at http://film-folk.com and our outlets at Satchmi, SM Megamall and UP Town!

A post shared by FILM FOLK (@filmfolk_) on Feb 17, 2019 at 2:30am PST

Satchmi x Filmfolk is back on the list! Kodacolor and Fuj is a pretty basic film stock that is good to start with because of the low price point. This leaves room for mistakes and you won’t be too broken-hearted if some of the photos don’t turn out well.

2. Wonder Photo

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1st year Anniversary! #FestivalMall #photoshop #photoshoot #photobooks

A post shared by Wonder Photo Shop Festival (@wonderphotoshopfestival) on Jan 21, 2019 at 10:05pm PST

Wonderphoto regularly stocks their Fujicolor 200 and is also a budget-friendly first film. It retails at P215, the cheapest out of the other film stocks on the list.

3. Film_Finds

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Aaaand it’s baaackkk!! Kodak ColorPlus 200 is one of the cheapest color negative films by Kodak nowadays. It can be compared to Fuji C200 or Agfa Vista 200. Perfect for beginners and casual shooters. Stocks are running out fast so hurry and order yours now!! #filmfindsph #filmphotography #lomomanila #filmfindsonhand

A post shared by Film Finds (@film_finds) on Feb 11, 2019 at 5:54am PST

Kodak ColorPlus 200 is at the price range as Fujicolor 200! As the name states, I personally believe that this particular film has more saturated colors than it’s Fuji equivalent.

Develop + Scan

*Prices included are for C41 / colored film

dev and scan - A Filipino’s Guide To First Time Film Photography

1. Sunny 16 Lab

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We look to the past to understand the present and to prepare for the future. It is the journey, more than the destination. The Experience Matters. #shootfilm #filmphotography #cameraporn #film #analogphotography #analogrenaissance #rolleiflex #ilford #kodakalaris #fujifilm #japancamerahunter #sunny16lab #sharethelab #120mm #mediumformatfilm #filmphotographyphilippines

A post shared by Sunny16 Lab (@sunny16lab) on Sep 19, 2018 at 4:57pm PDT

Sunny 16 Lab named Asia’s premiere Film + Digital processing lab currently has 3 locations for drop-offs in Metro Manila and a 4th on the way.

DROP OFF SITES

Satchmi, UP Town Center
Satchmi, SM Megamall Fashion Hall
20b East Maya Dr, Philam Homes (Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm)

Sunny 16 offers various packages for different film types.

Type C41 (Color)

Develop/ Scan Rate Php 200/ roll

Turnaround time 3-5 days

2. Fotofabrik

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During 20th Anniversary of @fotofabrik.ff. @zorkikat_jayjavier @visconnection @makazores @son_bisnar @heavyhandsbarbershop

A post shared by Fotofabrik + Online Warehouse (@fotofabrik.ff) on Apr 15, 2019 at 5:56am PDT