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How many photos can you get out of your 35mm film?
Typically, you’d expect 36 frames. But that’s just an estimate: depending on how you load your camera and its width, you may get anywhere between 34 and 42 frames out of a 36exp. roll.
Cameras with motorized film transport usually wind/“burn” a few frames to ensure it’s loaded securely. Wide cameras will require you to stretch a long leader out of the canister, which will cost you more frames than shorter, manually loaded cameras like the Rollei 35S (analog.cafe/r/rollei-35s-c…).
Manufacturers don’t want complaints about missing frames, thus 36exp. is a safe estimate on their side.
But then there’s the 27exp., which you may see on new films like Amber T800 (analog.cafe/r/amber-t800-f…). Though it sounds almost as long as 36exp., it’s virtually the same length as 24exp. film with (maybe) a little extra, or about 33% less film than 36exp.
12exp. films may also be sold at a store near you. There’s a lot less film here but it can be useful to test lenses and cameras on film. This makes sense if you develop your own film at home.
Chad had recently posted on Mastodon (mastodon.art/@ChadHillPhot…) about rolls of 8exp., which sold for as much as a typical 36exp. film — now that’s a bad deal!
One more thing to watch out for: the labs will typically charge you same price, regardless of how many frames your roll of film has.
