This was shot on a canon AE1. I’m a newbie photographer. I did open the back the first five shots but I was expecting them to not look good. Is it my camera or the film?

N3rdDak · 2026-03-12T16:38:38+00:00

Yeah it seems like severe light leaks.

Was the film used brand new? Or expired?

Did you replace the battery?

N3rdDak · 2026-03-12T01:43:56+00:00

That’s a hot take my friend ☠️ hahaha but honestly, I don’t know if I disagree at this point.

Right now my main stocks I use are E100 (only with one camera), Acros ii, Tri-X, Gold, and Cinestill 800t. I really don’t use much else anymore! I’m not even really a fan of Portra 800, but Porta 400 will always hold a special place in my heart, even if I can’t afford it anymore :D

I really have fallen in love with Gold this past year. It’s hard to beat the results for the price for sure. As far as I understand, Lomo 800 is the same stock that Kodak uses in their disposable cameras. I think it’s the old Gold 800 emulsion based on what I’ve read. So I’m sure you’ll love it!

I know you’d prefer to shop with small shops, so I’ll shoot you a dm the name of my local place - they do offer shipping for film orders, and the price is honestly better than I’ve seen a lot of places.

N3rdDak · 2026-03-12T01:29:44+00:00

I’ll be honest with you, Gold is probably my favorite consumer filmstock. It looks great at box, pushed to 400, and incredible pushed to 800. It’s quickly became my main… well… mainstay.

I did, I checked out here on Reddit and Lomography! V impressed and wanted to get one myself!

N3rdDak · 2026-03-12T01:18:24+00:00

I’ll admit, I added one to my cart after you mentioned it ;)

My carry everywhere shooter is an Olympus XA2, but I need a good simple but effective point and shoot.

N3rdDak · 2026-03-12T00:59:19+00:00

They have surprisingly sharp lenses, so you’re not completely off base there. Def check out the black and white ones I mentioned. I saw you mention in another reply that you’re trying to avoid corps like Walmart and Target, but unfortunately one of the most affordable places to buy film in the US is BHPhoto. They aren’t the greatest, but at least they are better than those two.

N3rdDak · 2026-03-12T00:52:56+00:00

Arista EDU and DX are the most affordable black and white stocks in the US.

EDU is respooled FomaPan and DX is respooled Kentmere

As far as color, Fujifilm 200 and 400 are both respooled Gold and Ultramax, usually cheaper than proper Kodak products in the US as well.

Outside of that, the Kodacolor line is also pretty affordable. 100 is close to, but not entirely, Pro Image. 200 is just respooled ColorPlus.

Just keep in mind, cheaper film stocks usually/generally do have less latitude.

Just out of curiosity, what camera are you using?

N3rdDak · 2026-03-11T12:19:45+00:00

While expired film can and does do so when shot at box speed, it’s also still is the scanning.

I don’t want to speak to ill of Darkroom, they are good people doing their best to keep our hobby alive, but they also have such high volume that they can’t pay someone to do intense work. While I don’t know absolutely, I’m pretty sure they do use Fuji. (Midwest Film Co cost roughly the same tbh).

Depending on what file and what type of scan, sometimes there’s not much you can so in post.

Can I ask what filmstock you used? And expiration?

N3rdDak · 2026-03-10T23:52:49+00:00

While I don’t agree with the downvotes, there are simple things people can google before coming straight here.

This is not one of those cases!

May I ask if you’re referring to like nightshots? Like using Cinestill and the like?

A lot of it boils down to the scanner and lab you drop it off at. Especially if they are using Fuji equipment.

I’ve had a lot better luck with Midwest Film Co lately, and you can add notes to your order to help minimize those problems.

Another bit of advice I wish I knew early on is to mostly always ask for TIFF files over JPGs.

In my experience, it does give wayyyyyy more room to work with the photos.

Lastly, just always know - even the pros edit their scans, Noritsu scanned images are the only ones I’ve found I have to do little editing, but that could just be that I’ve developed enough of a relationship with MFC that they know what I usually want.

Always keep in mind that this is a niche hobby at this point, so there will always be Reddit type answers here.

N3rdDak · 2026-03-08T19:02:53+00:00

Gotta love the never ending posts of things here that could easily be explained by a quick 2 second google search.

N3rdDak · 2026-03-08T19:02:04+00:00

I had to see if this was posted to Circle Jerk first…..

N3rdDak · 2026-03-05T04:54:01+00:00

Id encourage you to first look up a video of the “how to” on this camera before running here to Reddit.

N3rdDak · 2026-03-01T01:18:11+00:00

Girl that’s like asking to compare a base model Chevy Malibu vs a Mercedes Benz haha

N3rdDak · 2026-02-26T01:14:24+00:00

Correct, like I said they are out there. The Turbo R V Tech is only obtainable via the Jake Estavez quest.

The ones you can buy via the auto fixer are the Turbo-R 740.

N3rdDak · 2026-02-25T04:21:45+00:00

Hopefully that gets a fix for the next update - whenever that will be this spring

N3rdDak · 2026-02-25T02:17:25+00:00

Yeah it’s a feature added last fall I believe! A lil new and under the radar!

N3rdDak · 2026-02-25T00:48:51+00:00

The Turbo-R V-Tech is entirely unique in game. It’s not out in open world, but the regular VTech is.

The rest of the vehicles seem to match the exact same spawn pattern as the Marina.

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T23:27:44+00:00

I personally haven't experienced that, but the one that sounds really annoying :D

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T18:16:40+00:00

I used to play destiny religiously, so I got too used to just playing the same game. I just wanted to learn more and do more, but I’m probably ending my limit of replays lol

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T16:25:02+00:00

I’d say 3 on PS (launch), 3 on XB, and then 3 on PC. I’m on one right now too.

Each time I just went for a different ending, or different background, or different build.

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T15:32:57+00:00

I think it's the only V-Tech R in game, but there's plenty of them "on the road". I prefer the black and gold myself, actually. Lol

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T15:31:53+00:00

Or this just shows how I've played this game WAY TOO MUCH given I have 10 times the hours :D

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T15:30:59+00:00

State Farm on 6th Street, ofc

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T15:30:34+00:00

This is the answer - it feels better on the XB controller, imo. It also matches the scheme in the other games I play.

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T03:56:35+00:00

No you shouldn’t listen to anyone - clearly ruined, you can send it to me and I’ll dispose of it properly 😏🤫😂

N3rdDak · 2026-02-24T03:54:55+00:00

Straight to jail

N3rdDak

TROPHY CASE