Neptune Photo
Everything you need to go from your first camera to your first developed roll, written by the team at our Garden City, NY camera store and film lab. Start at the top and work down — or jump to the question you have right now.
Pick the right first camera — film or digital, new or used — without overpaying.
You don't need an expensive or exotic camera to learn film photography — you need one that's reliable, easy to meter with, and cheap to feed. These are the cameras we recommend to first-time film shooters.
The Canon AE-1 changed everything when it launched in 1976 — and 50 years later it's still the go-to recommendation for anyone picking up a film camera for the first time.
Mirrorless cameras get all the new technology, but used DSLRs have never been a better value. Here's an honest breakdown of how they differ and which one fits how you actually shoot.
A used camera can be the best value in photography or a very pretty paperweight. Here's the exact checklist to run through — shutter, lens, meter, seals — before you hand over your money.
Film stocks, formats, and ISO — what to load for the light you’re shooting in.
ISO is the single most important decision you make when choosing a film stock. Get it right and your shots will be sharp, clean, and properly exposed. Get it wrong and you're fighting the light all day.
Kodak Gold 200 is one of the most forgiving and versatile 35mm films available today — here's everything you need to know to get the most out of every roll.
They're both film, but they're very different experiences: 35mm is cheap, forgiving, and everywhere; 120 gives you negatives several times larger with detail that's hard to believe. Here's how to choose.
Shooting film after dark is absolutely doable — you just need the right stock. From Portra 800 to Cinestill 800T to pushed HP5, here's what to load when the light runs out.
What happens after you finish a roll — processing, scanning, and prints.
Neptune Photo Lab
C-41, black & white, and E-6 processing with scanning, done in-house in Garden City, NY — ready in 3–5 business days.
