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How Does a Film Camera See Color?
Checking out the chemistry behind color film exposure.
I have shot digital photography professionaly for about 6 years now, and only recently did I start to pick up film photography. I am still a HUGE newbie in this side of photography, so I thought this article could be a great opportunity for us to learn together!
Let’s dive into the *sometimes* intimidating world of 35mm film, exploring its historical roots and unraveling the technical wonders that allow it to capture and reproduce colors in all their glory. At the end I’ll also compare the way that color film and a digital sensors see color.
Historical Origins of Film
The story of 35mm film began in the late 19th century when motion pictures were in their infancy. Inventors and pioneers like Thomas Edison and the Lumière brothers were experimenting with ways to record images. In 1889, George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, introduced a new format called 70mm film, which was wide and provided excellent image quality. However, it was expensive and cumbersome, making it challenging to use for everyday photography.
Jump ahead to the 1930s, a pivotal time for photography. Leica, a German optics company, revolutionized the world by introducing the Leica I, the first practical 35mm…
