Sheet Film
Many amateur photographers prefer to use the standard 35mm film. With this type of film format, you can get fine, quality photographs from a regular, point and shoot camera, which works well for amateur photography purposes. A 35mm film camera is also great to use for a single lens reflex (SLR) camera as well. However, serious and professional photographers want something more sophisticated. More often than not, professional photography requires professional cameras, which also require a special type of film. Medium format and large format cameras are the two most popular types of professional cameras, which do not take just any kind of film. In order to use these types of cameras, you will need a sheet film. A sheet film is a special kind of film that produces superb quality pictures and allows the photographer to take more control when processing photos.
Medium format and large format cameras are generally designed for taking larger pictures of any kind. This is why, a sheet film is also used for these kinds of cameras – precisely because a sheet film is larger and thus allows you to take larger pictures with it. The sheet film normally starts out at the appropriate size where you want your actual picture to be. This spares you from the hassle and inconvenience of enlarging an image with a smaller frame, which may distort the final photo. A sheet film comes in a number of sizes, with 4x5 as the most popular size. The 8x10 sheet film is also widely available as well as the 20x25 sheet film poster size. Magnification degree is higher when a sheet film is used with a good medium or large format camera that would result to brighter, crisper and sharper photos. Two of the most popular brands of sheet film are Rollei sheet film and Ilford sheet film. The sheet film is considered as a specialty type of film so you may want to visit a specialty camera store if you want to buy it. Also, you can purchase a sheet film over the Internet as well. Moreover, keep in mind that a sheet film is so delicate so you should get some expert advice on sheet film handling and storage especially if you have not used it before.
Instead of the usual roll, a sheet film is supplied on individual film sheets made of acetate or polyester. Initially, it was produced as an alternative to glass plates. To use the sheet film, put a sheet with the emulsion side out into a film holder in darkness and then close the dark slide over the loaded film. Then, exposure is done, the dark slide being replaced, and removing the film holder from the camera. There are some 4×5 inch sheet films that come in pre-loaded, disposable envelopes that may be conveniently loaded into a film holder during daylight. Kodak’s system is known as Readyload while Fuji's is called Quickload. Every manufacturer develops a film holder for their system’s envelopes.
Most photographers who use a sheet film process the film by themselves. There are also some photo-processing labs that develop color positive and negative sheet film, although most photographic labs do not really cater to sheet film processing. Moreover, there are different ways that can be applied when processing sheet film namely, tank processing, tray processing and rotary tube processing.
Even with the wide popularity of digital imaging, the sheet film still remains popular in the market today. Film manufacturers such as Fujifilm and Eastman Kodak produce black and white, color transparency and color negative sheet films. The brands Ilford, Rollei, Arista, Bergger, Efke and Forte are still widely available in black and white negative sheet films, while Polaroid still continues to produce both color and black-and-white sheet films, available in 4×5 and 8×10 format sizes.