The Right Film for
Your Next Adventure

Planning your next trip with a film camera?

Choosing the right film for travel photography can make a big difference to the way your photos look. Different film stocks react differently to bright sunshine, cloudy skies, low light, colourful streets and changing weather, so taking the right film with you can help you get the most from every situation.

Whether you're heading somewhere warm and sunny, exploring a busy city, photographing snowy landscapes or wandering through rainy streets, there’s a film stock that can suit the way you like to shoot.

One of the best things about travelling with film is that you never quite know what you're going to capture. A roll of film can take you from a bright beach in the afternoon to a dimly lit street in the evening, and each film stock will give those moments its own character.

So, if you're wondering what film to take on holiday, which 35mm film is best for travel photography, or simply want to build a small collection of films for your next adventure, here’s our travel film guide.

1. Candido 800

One of Our Recommended Films for Dark and Low-Light Travel Photography

When you're travelling, the light doesn't always cooperate.

You might find yourself exploring narrow streets in the evening, photographing inside cafés, wandering through markets or taking photos just as the sun starts to disappear. This is where a higher-speed film like Candido 800 can really come into its own.

While many film photographers naturally reach for popular choices like Kodak Portra 800, Candido 800 is another option worth considering if you're looking for a film to use when the light gets low. It's a great recommendation from us at J&A Studio for photographers who want to experiment with a different look while keeping the flexibility of an ISO 800 film.

With an ISO of 800, Candido 800 gives you more flexibility when the light gets low. Instead of putting your camera away when the evening arrives, you can keep shooting and capture the atmosphere around you.

It also has a distinctive, moody character that works particularly well for travel photography. Low-light scenes, evening streets and indoor moments can take on a more atmospheric look, while still retaining plenty of detail.

If you enjoy photographs that feel a little more cinematic and less polished, Candido 800 is a great film to have in your travel bag.

It's especially useful for:

• Evening street photography
• Indoor cafés and restaurants
• Night-time travel photography
• Overcast days
• Low-light situations
• Moody and atmospheric photographs

Why we love it

• ISO 800 is useful when the light gets low
• Great for evening travel photography
• Creates a distinctive, atmospheric look
• Lets you keep shooting later into the day
• A great choice for photographers who enjoy moodier images

If you're planning on exploring somewhere from morning until late at night, having a roll of Candido 800 with you could be a very good idea.

The images were shot on Candido 800 - 35mm film.
Photos taken by @jandastudiosheffield.

2. Lomography 100

The Best Film for Sunny Days and Beach Photography

Few things go together better than film photography and a sunny holiday.

Bright beaches, blue skies, colourful buildings and warm sunlight are perfect conditions for Lomography 100.

With its ISO 100 speed, this film is particularly well suited to bright daylight. It produces crisp, colourful images with fine grain and a natural-looking character that works beautifully when you're travelling somewhere sunny.

Think beach days, coastal walks, colourful streets and sightseeing in bright afternoon light.

The slower ISO also makes it a great option when you want clean, detailed photographs in strong daylight. If you're travelling somewhere where you expect plenty of sunshine, this is a film worth packing.

It's particularly good for:

• Beach photography
• Sunny holidays
• Coastal landscapes
• Bright daylight
• Travel landscapes
• Colourful buildings and streets

Why we love it

• Fine grain
• Crisp, detailed images
• Beautiful colour
• Excellent for bright sunlight
• Great for beaches and coastal photography
• Natural-looking results

Lomography 100 is the kind of film that works beautifully when the sun is out and you're simply enjoying the day. Load it into your camera before heading to the beach and let the light do the rest.

The images were shot on Lomography 100 - 35mm film.
Photos taken by @dianas_vibes.

3. Kodak Ultramax 400

The Best Film for Snowy Days and Changing Light

Snow can be surprisingly difficult to photograph.

Even when everything around you looks bright, snowy days can often come with soft, overcast light. If you're travelling somewhere cold, a film with a little more speed can give you more flexibility.

Kodak Ultramax 400 is a great choice for snowy travel photography because its ISO 400 speed gives you more room to work with when the light isn't particularly strong.

It's also a colourful and versatile film, making it a good match for snowy landscapes, winter streets and colourful details against a white background.

Whether you're photographing snow-covered mountains, a winter town or simply enjoying a snowy holiday, Kodak Ultramax 400 can help you capture those moments without needing perfect sunshine.

It's a great choice for:

• Snow photography
• Winter holidays
• Overcast days
• Mountain landscapes
• Winter street photography
• Changing daylight

Why we love it

• ISO 400 gives you more flexibility
• Great for softer winter light
• Colourful and versatile
• Well suited to snowy landscapes
• Good for both landscapes and everyday travel photos
• A useful film for unpredictable weather

If you're travelling somewhere snowy, we'd definitely consider packing a roll of Kodak Ultramax 400. Winter weather can change quickly, and having a 400-speed film gives you a little more freedom to keep shooting.

The images were shot on Kodak Ultramax 400 .
Photos taken by @jandastudiosheffield.

4. Kodak Gold 200

The Best All-Round Film for Travel Photography

If you only want to take one film on your trip, Kodak Gold 200 is a fantastic place to start.

It's a classic choice for everyday film photography and works particularly well for travel because it's versatile, easy to use and gives photographs that warm, familiar film look.

With its ISO 200 speed, Kodak Gold 200 is well suited to good daylight. It's ideal for those everyday travel moments that you don't necessarily plan.

A photograph of your breakfast. A market you discover while walking around. Your friends sitting outside a café. A colourful building you notice while exploring.

These are often the photographs that end up meaning the most when you get home.

Kodak Gold 200 gives these moments warm colours, pleasing grain and a classic analogue character without making the images feel overly dramatic.

It's particularly good for:

• Everyday travel photography
• Holidays and city breaks
• Street photography
• Landscapes
• Family and friends
• Daytime photography

Why we love it

• Warm, pleasing colours
• Classic film character
• Fine, pleasing grain
• Great for everyday photography
• Easy to use
• A brilliant all-round travel film

If you're unsure what film to take on holiday, Kodak Gold 200 is one of those films that is difficult to go wrong with.

It's dependable, versatile and gives your holiday photographs that classic film look.

The images were shot on Kodak Gold 200.
Photos taken by @dianas_vibes.

5. Kodak Colour 200

The Best Film for City Breaks and Street Photography

City breaks are perfect for film photography.

There is always something to photograph - interesting buildings, busy streets, cafés, signs, architecture, people and all the little details you notice while walking around somewhere new.

Kodak Colour 200 is a great choice for this kind of photography.

Its natural colours and fine grain make it well suited to capturing everyday city scenes without making everything look overly saturated. It's a particularly nice option if you want your photographs to feel natural while still having that unmistakable analogue character.

It's also a great film for walking around with your camera and photographing whatever catches your eye.

You don't need to plan every photograph. Just take your camera, load a roll and explore.

It's ideal for:

• City breaks
• Street photography
• Architecture
• Travel snapshots
• Cafés and restaurants
• Everyday moments

Why we love it

• Natural-looking colours
• Fine grain
• Great for architecture
• Excellent for street photography
• Versatile for everyday travel
• Easy to carry as an everyday travel film

For a city trip, we'd happily keep Kodak Colour 200 in the camera. It's versatile enough for sightseeing during the day while giving your photographs a consistent and natural look.

The images were shot on Kodak Colour 200.
Photos taken by @jandastudiosheffield.

6. Ilford HP5 Plus 400

The Best Film for Rainy Days and Atmospheric Travel Photography

Not every great travel photograph needs sunshine.

Some of the most memorable photographs can happen when the weather changes. Rainy streets, reflections on pavements, misty landscapes and people rushing through a city can create incredible photographic opportunities.

This is where Ilford HP5 Plus 400 comes in.

A classic black and white film, Ilford HP5 Plus 400 is known for its flexibility and distinctive grain. Instead of relying on colour to make a photograph interesting, it puts the focus on light, texture, contrast and atmosphere.

Rain can actually make black and white film photography even more interesting.

Wet streets create reflections. Clouds create dramatic skies. Buildings become more graphic. People with umbrellas suddenly become part of the composition.

And because Ilford HP5 Plus 400 is ISO 400, it gives you useful flexibility when the weather is cloudy or the light starts to disappear.

It's perfect for:

• Rainy travel photography
• Street photography
• Cloudy days
• Documentary photography
• Moody landscapes
• Architecture
• Low-light situations

Why we love it

• Classic black and white look
• Beautiful grain
• Flexible ISO 400 speed
• Great for unpredictable weather
• Excellent for street photography
• Creates atmospheric travel photographs

If you're heading somewhere where rain is likely, don't automatically leave your camera at the bottom of your bag.

Take HP5 Plus 400 instead.

Rain can turn an ordinary street into something much more interesting, and black and white film can make those moments feel timeless.

The images were shot on Ilford HP5 Plus 400.
Photos taken by @jandastudiosheffield.

Which Film Should You Take on Your Next Trip?

There isn't one single best film for travel photography.

The right film depends on where you're going, what the weather is likely to be like and the kind of photographs you enjoy taking.

Here's a quick guide:

TRAVEL SITUATION	FILM WE'D RECOMMEND	WHY
Dark / evening	Candido 800	Higher ISO and atmospheric results
Sunny / beach	Lomography 100	Fine grain and colourful daylight images
Snow	Kodak Ultramax 400	More flexibility in softer light
Everyday travel	Kodak Gold 200	Warm colours and classic film character
City breaks	Kodak Colour 200	Natural colours and fine grain
Rain / cloudy weather	Ilford HP5 Plus 400	Flexible black and white film with atmosphere

If you're taking more than one camera or several rolls, we'd recommend thinking about your trip as a whole rather than taking six different films just for the sake of it.

For example, you could take Lomography 100 for sunny daytime photography, Kodak Gold 200 as your everyday film, and Ilford HP5 Plus 400 for cloudy or rainy days.

That gives you plenty of variety without needing to carry your entire film collection around with you.

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More Film Photography Tips & Guides

Planning your next film photography adventure?
You might also enjoy these Blogs from J&A Studio:

Best Film for Autumn Photography: Our Top 3 Film Stocks

Heading out in the autumn? Discover three of our favourite film stocks for capturing rich autumn colours, golden leaves, moody weather and the changing light of the season.

How to Take Better 35mm Film Photos in Harsh Sun: 3 Simple Tips

Shooting film in bright sunshine can be tricky. Learn three simple tips to help you get better exposures, control harsh light and make the most of your 35mm film on sunny days.

Final Thoughts

One of the best things about travelling with a film camera is that it encourages you to slow down.

You can't take hundreds of photographs of the same view. You have a limited number of frames, so you start paying more attention to the light, the people around you and the little moments that make a place feel special.

And that's exactly why choosing the right film can be so much fun.

If you're heading somewhere sunny, Lomography 100 can help you capture bright beaches and colourful landscapes. If you're exploring snowy mountains or dealing with changing light, Kodak Ultramax 400 gives you more flexibility. For an everyday travel film, Kodak Gold 200 is a reliable classic, while Kodak Colour 200 is a great option for city streets and architecture.

And when the weather turns grey, don't put the camera away. Ilford HP5 Plus 400 can turn rainy streets and cloudy skies into some of the most atmospheric photographs of your trip.

For evenings and darker situations, Candido 800 gives you the extra speed you need to keep shooting when the daylight disappears.

Ultimately, the best film for your next trip is the one that suits the way you want to remember it.

So, before you pack your camera, think about where you're going, check the light and weather, choose a few rolls that suit the trip - and leave some room in your bag for the photographs you didn't expect to take.

At J&A Studio, we stock a range of 35mm film, medium format film and black and white film, alongside professional film developing and scanning to help you get the most from every roll.

So grab your film camera, pack a few rolls and start planning your next adventure.

And don't forget to tag @jandastudiosheffield on Instagram - we'd love to see where your film takes you.

All images featured in this blog are produced by J&A Studio - a professional photo studio and film lab. If you're looking for 35mm film developing and scanning, we'd love to help process your next roll.

Follow our Instagram if you love film photography and want to see the latest from our studio.