By now, most people have traded in their film cameras and upgraded to digital. For point and shoot photography, digital can't be beat. You can take as many pictures as you want without any real investment in how they turn out.
But if you're interested in photography for artistic purposes or as a hobby, you've probably found that a DSLR is your best choice for high resolution photos with manual settings you can have full control over. A DSLR is a big investment though, especially if you're not sure if photography is a hobby you want to stick with. Instead, reconsider film photography, which is not as archaic or money-draining as you might expect.
Picking a Camera
If you're lucky, you might have a film camera lying around if you took photo in high school or college. If not, see what older relatives have; chances are they have a camera that they think is obsolete. If you have to buy a camera, check out what vendors like B & H have in terms of film SLR cameras. A camera from the Canon AE series (pictured above) is a good example of what you should look for; a basic 35mm with manual focus and the ability to adjust shutter speed and aperture. Most models like this will also come with a built in light meter; this will help you out if you're rusty on how to use these settings.
If you're looking to find a camera on the cheap, also try eBay, pawn shops, and garage or estate sales. These are also great places to pick up additional lenses and accessories. Most camera shops that still sell film photography equipment will usually have "student" cameras too, and are a great resource for learning about your equipment.
Film and Processing
Having to buy film is one of the downsides of analog photography compared to digital. Buying a camera that takes 35mm film is key; more unusual formats are more expensive, harder to find, and usually have fewer exposures on a roll. To save on film, consider buying in bulk, or at least in packs, as opposed to individual rolls. Some camera shops also sell expired film for less, just don't buy too old! I buy most of my film at the 99 cent store, if you are so lucky to find it there, it's a great deal.
As for processing your film, the cheapest route is to have your film developed at a drugstore or department store like CVS or Target. It costs about $3 to develop film at Target; sometimes less if you choose one day processing instead of one hour. Camera aficionados will tell you this is no good; if you're concerned about quality of processing, shop around online. Many places will develop your film by mail order, which may be cheaper than taking film to a local camera shop.
If you know you're in photography for the long haul, consider investing in a developing set-up for home. This is recommended for those who shoot in black and white only; home color developing is more complicated and involves a different type of processing. You don't need a dark room to develop your film; just a light sensitive bag like this one from Adorama. You'll also need a developing tank you can spool your film into. You'll also need funnels, a thermometer, non-food measuring cups, and lidded containers to keep your chemicals in.
Check out this tutorial from Steve's Digicams to learn how to process your film. Here's a quick list of the chemicals you'll need to get started:
B&W Developer
B&W Fixer
B&W Hypo
Printing and Presentation
A lot of the cost of film processing is in making prints. Instead of getting everything printed, ask to have the film developed only. This won't just cut down your cost, it will also save on wasted paper and money from pictures that didn't turn out quite right. The easiest way to get your photos is to have your developer make a disc of the pictures; most processing centers will have film scanners available. However, this adds to the developing cost; if you're sure you want to stick with film photography, consider investing in a negative scanner, which isn't just great for scanning your new photos, it's also great for preserving precious family photos that are probably sitting around in boxes. Upload your photos to a hosting service like Shutterfly and share them with friends and family.
Film photography is a satisfying hobby; it's fun to not be able to see your pictures immediately after you take them! Plus, getting to know how to properly use settings will help you improve your digital skills too.
