16 Years of Shooting Film: What Actually Changed and What Got Worse

Film photography cost less, took longer, and had far fewer options in 2010 than it does today. Els Vanopstal has been shooting film since that year, and the contrast between then and now covers everything from what you pay per roll to how you get your negatives back.

Coming to you from Els Vanopstal, this reflective video traces 16 years of shooting film through the lens of someone who was there before it was cool. Vanopstal started with a roll of Ilford HP5 shot on her then-boyfriend's Mamiya, not out of passion, but curiosity, and came away converted. Back then, a roll of Kodak Portra 400 in 120 format cost around €7, with another €7 for development. Today, she's paying around €20 per roll in France, which is a large part of why she's shifted toward more affordable options like Kodak Gold. The price shift has changed the way she chooses what to shoot.

One of the more striking parts of the video is Vanopstal's account of discontinued film stocks. Fuji Superior, a film she shot heavily in 35mm, is no longer available fresh in most markets. Fujifilm FP-100C instant film, which she used with a Polaroid back on her Mamiya RZ67, was discontinued, and she bought every box she could find the day she heard the news at €18 each. She's now down to her last box and admits the temptation to sell it at today's prices is real, but she's holding on. She also mentions regretting that she didn't experiment more with different stocks when she had the chance, something worth keeping in mind if you're shooting film now.

On the scanning side, Vanopstal's workflow has evolved considerably. She started by scanning prints on an all-in-one home printer scanner, then moved to a dedicated Epson V700, which she still uses. The contrast with what's available now is stark: labs send scans directly to your inbox, and DSLR scanning has become a legitimate and accessible option. She and her partner have also started developing their own film at home to cut costs. The infrastructure around film, from labs to chemicals to online communities, has grown considerably since 2010, which she sees as genuinely encouraging. There are also new cameras entering the market, including the Lomography LomoChrome line, the Pentax 17, and the revived Wide Lux, giving buyers options beyond aging secondhand gear.

Check out the video above for the full rundown from Vanopstal, including her take on new film stocks and where she thinks the analog resurgence is actually headed.