One of the first questions people ask when getting into film photography is: what's the difference between 35mm and 120 film? Both are widely available in Australia, both produce beautiful results — but they suit different cameras, different workflows, and different budgets. Here's everything a beginner needs to know.

35mm Film

35mm is the standard format for film photography and the best starting point for most beginners. It comes in a small metal or plastic canister and loads into a huge range of cameras — from affordable point-and-shoots like the Nana Camera to classic SLRs and rangefinders. If you've just picked up your first film camera in Australia, it almost certainly takes 35mm.

A standard 35mm roll gives you 24 or 36 exposures — though some specialist rolls offer different counts. The negative size (24x36mm) gives you roughly the equivalent of a 16 megapixel digital image in terms of resolution, which is more than enough for prints, scans, and social sharing. 35mm is also the easiest format to get developed: every film lab in Australia processes it, including our Melbourne lab, where you can mail in from anywhere in the country.

For film stock options, 35mm has the widest selection — from everyday stocks like Kodak Portra 400 and Ilford HP5 Plus to our own house-brand SORA 200 and UMI 800. It's the format we recommend for anyone starting out in film photography in Australia.

120 Film (Medium Format)

120 film is a larger format — commonly called "medium format" — that produces bigger negatives with more detail, smoother grain, and a depth of field that's hard to replicate in 35mm. If 35mm is roughly 16MP equivalent, 120 is closer to 50MP depending on the aspect ratio you shoot.

Unlike 35mm, 120 film doesn't come in a canister — it's wound on a spool with a paper backing that protects it from light leaks during loading. In the camera, the film transfers from one spool to another as you advance frames. Because the negative is larger, you get fewer exposures per roll: typically 8, 10, 12, or 16 depending on your camera's format (6x9, 6x7, 6x6, or 6x4.5 respectively).

Medium format cameras — like Mamiya, Pentax 645, Hasselblad, or the beloved Holga — tend to be larger and slower to shoot than 35mm cameras. This is actually part of the appeal for many photographers: fewer frames means more intention behind each shot. Wedding photographers, portrait shooters, and landscape photographers often reach for 120 film for its tonal richness and fine detail in large prints.

We stock a range of 120 film in our online store, including Kodak Portra 400, Kodak Ektar 100, Ilford HP5 Plus, and more. And yes, we develop 120 at our Melbourne lab — C-41 colour and B&W processed in-house, E-6 slide available too.

Which Format Should You Start With?

For most beginners in Australia, 35mm is the right call. Cameras are easier to find, film is cheaper, you get more exposures to practise with, and developing is straightforward at any lab. Once you've shot a few rolls and you're hooked, 120 opens up a whole new world of image quality and creative control.

Not sure which film to load in your first roll? Read our guide on Colour, Slides, or Black & White to help you decide.