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BY KELLY PAAL

So you have this great new camera. You’re standing in front of a display of more film than you’ve ever seen in your life. All you want to do is take some great family photos but you don’t know where to start. Here’s short guide to help you get started.

Film speed is a number that represents the film’s sensitivity to light. The higher the number the more sensitive to light, in that the less light is needed to take a well exposed photo. The number is also an indicator of the detail you will receive from the negative. The higher the number the more likely that you’ll see a graininess to the print when enlarged. Film speed goes from 25 to 1600 speed film.

25 to 200 is best for still life and portrait work, in studio conditions where the lighting is controlled. This is not the film for family shots indoors even with a camera mounted flash. You’d really need a complete lighting set up to use this film effectively.

200 speed film is very good for outdoor sunny conditions when you’re trying to get a shot of a beautiful landscape. It offers excellent detail and color saturation.

400 is considered the all-purpose film. Most films touted as all subject or general purpose are really 400 speed film. When in doubt use 400 speed film. This is a good choice for outdoor conditions, and will give you some flexibility in darker conditions such as indoors (although you may still need to use your camera mounted flash on occasion), and when you are trying to capture a moving subject.

800 to 1200 films are made for capturing fast moving subjects in all types of lighting situations. People running, playing ball, etc. This is the film you want if you want to freeze frame the action of a baseball game, for example. This film speed can be used for capturing fast moving wildlife, like birds, but you will see less detail in enlargements above a 16″ by 20″ print.

1600 film is for super high speed shots. Unless you’re shooting a car or boat race, you probably won’t need this film. Don’t use this for nature and landscape images; the lack of detail will be very obvious in enlargements.

Most of the time you’ll only need a 400 speed film for basic snapshots. But it doesn’t hurt to try and use other speeds for special occasions and different circumstances; you’ll notice a difference.

Kelly Paal is a freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting worldwide, and recently started her own business, Kelly Paal Photography. She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art, and enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her Web designs.