How It Works

1. Pick your vibe. Bright and sunny, moody and cinematic, classic black and white, soft portraits, gritty street, or wildcards. Whatever speaks to you today.
2. Tap “Deal me a film.” We’ll match that mood with a curated 35mm film stock and a sample image.
3. Learn what makes it special. Every recommendation includes vibe tags, a mini-review, and a link to learn more about the film.

Why Photographers Love It

• It’s fast, fun, and kind of addictive in the best way.
• It nudges you toward films you might never have tried otherwise.
• It builds visual literacy — you start to notice what makes each film unique.
• It’s curated by real humans at Looking Glass Photo, not an anonymous algorithm.
• It works whether you’re brand new to film or a long-time analog nerd.
• It supports a local Bay Area photo community that’s been around since 1971.

Explore 35mm Film by Shooting Style

Best 35mm Film for Portraits

Portrait film is all about skin tones, softness, and how gracefully it handles light. These stocks are the classics for a reason:

Kodak Portra 400

Beloved for its natural skin tones, wide dynamic range, and incredible flexibility. Ideal for outdoor portraits, families, weddings, and lifestyle work.

Kodak Portra 160

Lower contrast, finer grain, and beautiful tonal smoothness. Great for controlled light, studio portraits, fashion, and soft editorial looks.

Fujifilm 200

Warm, nostalgic, and budget-friendly. Perfect for candid portraits, travel, and beginners learning how color responds to light.

Ilford Delta 100 (B&W)

Fine grain, creamy midtones, and gorgeous rolloff — classic black & white portraiture at its best.

Best 35mm Film for Low-Light & Night Photography

For late-night color, neon signs, dim interiors, and atmospheric scenes, you want films that hold up without falling apart.

Cinestill 800T

The iconic tungsten-balanced night film. Halation, neon glow, deep shadows, and a cinematic palette perfect for urban nights and gas-station Americana.

Ilford Delta 3200 (B&W)

A moody, atmospheric black & white option with beautiful grain. Great for live music, street scenes, and portraits in very low light.

Kodak T-Max 400

Modern, clean contrast that pushes beautifully to 1600 for night shooting without losing detail.

Kodak Ektar 100 (for long exposures)

Surprisingly surreal and vibrant when shot at night — especially around water, headlights, and city light trails.

Best 35mm Film for Street Photography

Street film needs flexibility, strong character, and the ability to handle light inconsistencies quickly. These are the standouts:

Kodak Tri-X 400

The documentary legend. Punchy midtones, deep blacks, and a flexible grain structure that defines the genre.

Ilford HP5 Plus 400

Forgiving, classic, and incredibly pushable. Perfect for everyday street shooting in any city, in any weather.

Kentmere 400

Affordable, contrasty, and ideal for practicing or shooting heavily without financial stress.

Cinestill 400D

Cinematic color with halo highlights — excellent for expressive, people-driven street scenes.

Best 35mm Film for Landscapes & Travel

These films excel at color, detail, and rendering outdoor light beautifully.

Kodak Ektar 100

Ultra-saturated color, crisp detail, and incredible blues and reds. Perfect for big views, desert landscapes, coastal scenes, and travel photography.

Cinestill 50D

A daylight-balanced film with soft, cinematic color and gentle contrast. Gorgeous for beaches, road trips, and slow, intentional shooting.

Kodak Gold 200

Warm, nostalgic, and forgiving. A great all-around travel film for cities, nature, and everyday adventure.

Ilford FP4 Plus 125 (B&W)

Elegant tonal range and fine grain make this a beautiful black & white choice for landscapes and architecture.

Best 35mm Film for Beginners

The best beginner films are forgiving, affordable, and consistent no matter the camera.

Kodak Ultramax 400

Bright, flexible, and great in mixed lighting — the perfect first roll for learning exposure.

Kodak Gold 200

Reliable, warm, and beginner-friendly. Ideal for sunny days and everyday practice.

Kentmere 400

Low cost, high flexibility, and perfect for learning black & white shooting fundamentals.

Fujifilm 200

Soft, approachable color and gentle contrast — an easy stock for new shooters.

Best Experimental & Creative 35mm Film

These films embrace unpredictability, bold tones, and artistic exploration.

HARMAN Phoenix 200

Wild saturation, unexpected shifts, and bold color. No two rolls look alike — perfect for playful experimentation.

dubblefilm Bubblegum 200

Dreamy pink tones and candy-colored shifts that transform everyday scenes into something surreal.

Flic Film Elektra 100

Cinematic palette, soft halation, and retro-inspired tones with creative unpredictability.

Flic Film Chrome 100

Slide-inspired color with crisp detail and luminous highlights — great for vibrant, expressive shooting.

Ready to load your next roll?

Explore our full 35mm film selection, try a Film Sampler, or plug into the Photo Friends community to shoot, learn, and experiment in good company.