Summary
- From the origins of analog to modern film
- Evolution of cameras and film formats
- Analog film, from development to rebirth
- Frequently Asked Questions
Analog photography has gone through nearly two centuries of technical evolution before experiencing the renewed interest it enjoys today. Here are the key milestones to understand what makes this practice unique.
From the origins of analog to modern film
To understand what analog photography truly is, it's best to go back to its beginnings. The history of photography doesn't start with modern cameras, but with a simple question: how to permanently capture light to obtain a stable image on a sensitive medium.
Niépce and Daguerre, at the origins of analog photography
The history of analog photography took a decisive turn in 1826 with Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. He then created the first image fixed on a pewter plate covered with bitumen of Judea, after a long exposure to sunlight.
A few years later, Daguerre developed the daguerreotype, the first photographic process widely distributed. The image is revealed on a silver plate using mercury vapors. This system produces very detailed images, but without a negative, thus without the possibility of multiple prints.
Why is it called analog photography?
The term "analog" comes from the Latin argentum, meaning silver. It refers to the use of silver salts in the photosensitive emulsion of analog film. This chemical principle allows light to be recorded and then a negative to be formed after development. The expression really gained traction in the early 2000s to distinguish analog photography from digital practice.
From paper negative to film
In parallel with the daguerreotype, William Henry Fox Talbot developed a negative-positive process on paper. This advance changed a lot: from the same negative, multiple images could be reproduced.
In 1851, Frederick Scott Archer further improved shooting with wet collodion on glass. The medium gained in precision and exposure times decreased, making the process more efficient for professional use.
Later, the arrival of flexible film transformed the practice. It simplified camera use, accelerated the spread of analog film, and paved the way for color photography.
- 1826, Heliography: Nicéphore Niépce captured the first known image in the history of photography on a pewter plate with bitumen of Judea.
- 1839, Daguerreotype: Daguerre released the first photographic process accessible to the public.
- 1851, Wet collodion: glass negatives brought more precision and reduced exposure times, improving shooting.
- 1903, Autochrome Lumière: the first industrial color photography process, based on a potato starch-based color filter.
If you wish to connect this history with the equipment that continued it, you can discover analog camera lenses. And to see how this evolution extends into a landmark camera body, consult our article on the history of the Canon A-1, an important model in the transition to modern electronic SLRs.
Evolution of cameras and film formats
The evolution of analog cameras is inseparable from that of sensitive media. As film and roll film progressed, camera bodies became easier to use, more reliable, and better suited to various uses, from amateur photography to professional work.
From view camera to 35mm SLR
The history of the analog camera begins with the view camera, inherited from the camera obscura. From 1839, it worked with glass plates. These devices were heavy, slow to set up, and reserved for experienced practitioners.
A turning point came in the 1880s. George Eastman introduced flexible roll film and paved the way for a more direct practice. In 1888, Kodak marketed a camera preloaded with 100 exposures: after shooting, the camera was returned to the factory for development. This process considerably lightened the technique and made analog photography accessible to a much wider public.
| Era | Camera Type | Medium | Target Audience |
| 1839-1880 | View Camera | Glass / Tin Plates | Professionals |
| 1880-1920 | Roll-film Camera | Flexible Film | General Public |
| 1925-1959 | 35mm Rangefinders | 35mm Cartridge (24×36 mm) | Amateurs & Reporters |
| 1960-1990 | SLR Cameras | 35mm / 120 | All Levels |
The analog SLR, a mechanical culmination
With the standardization of 35mm, SLRs became dominant in the 1960s. Their principle is simple and very effective: a movable mirror reflects the image to the viewfinder, allowing framing as close as possible to what the lens will record on the negative.
The Canon A-1, launched in the late 1970s, is a good example. It offered full electronic exposure control with five modes, including a program mode and semi-automatic modes. Its metal construction and shutter speed range from 30s to 1/1000s show how mature analog camera bodies of this period had become.
Film formats and their impact on the image
The film format directly influences the final rendering. The larger the negative, the more details and nuances it retains in the analog print.
- 35mm format (135): 24×36 mm negative, 36 exposures per cartridge. This is the most common format in analog photography, often chosen for its flexibility and the variety of analog cameras available.
- Medium format (120): negatives from 6×6 cm to 6×7 cm, about 4 to 5 times larger than 35mm, with a level of detail often compared to 60-120 megapixels in digital.
- Large format: 4×5 or 8×10 inch sheet films, used with a view camera. This format offers very high definition, potentially reaching an equivalent of 1,200 megapixels, and is suitable for very large prints.
- Instant Polaroid: launched in 1972 with the SX-70, it allows visible development in a few minutes without a darkroom.
The arrival of color marked another important step. Kodachrome, launched in 1935, opened this possibility to the general public. Subsequently, color analog techniques were structured around processes like C-41 for color negative and E-6 for slides, still known today.
Analog film, from development to rebirth
Understanding how an analog film goes from exposure to the final image helps to better grasp the logic of analog photography. The principle remains simple, even if chemical development requires precision.
How film development works
At the moment of exposure, light strikes the film's emulsion. Silver halide crystals react and form a latent image, invisible at this stage. It is then the developer that makes this trace visible by transforming the exposed silver salts into metallic silver. The image then appears on the negative.
- Developer: generally diluted in water, it is applied at a controlled temperature for a precise time depending on the film used.
- Stop bath: it stops the action of the developer to maintain control over the final rendering.
- Fixer: it removes unexposed salts and stabilizes the negative so that it no longer reacts to light.
In color, the C-41 process is based on the same principle, but with several layers sensitive to different wavelengths. Each produces a dye during processing. This is what makes it possible to obtain a color image from a single film.
Mastering analog film exposure
Analog photo development cannot correct a poorly conceived shot. Mastering exposure therefore remains central. With film, you choose an ISO sensitivity from the start, then adjust the aperture and shutter speed. These three settings form the exposure triangle.
An ISO 100 film will work well in bright light and will often give a finer grain. An ISO 800 will be more suitable for dark scenes, with a more pronounced texture. This choice is made before loading the film and influences the entire roll.
Why analog photography is still appealing today
The renewed interest in analog photography is not just due to nostalgia. Many photographers return to it for the texture of the image, the way light is rendered, the presence of grain, and the unique rendering of the negative, then the print or scan. Analog film produces an image that retains a physical trace of the recorded scene.
Another important point: the constraint changes the way one photographs. A film means a limited number of shots, no immediate control, and a real cost with each click. For many, this makes the practice more mindful, more coherent, and often more satisfying.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did analog photography appear?
Analog photography was born in the 19th century. In 1826, Nicéphore Niépce created the first permanently fixed image using heliography. Then, in 1839, the daguerreotype marked a decisive step by making the process public and commercial. The word "argentique" (analog) itself is much more recent: it really gained traction in the early 2000s to distinguish film photography from digital photography.
What is the difference between 35mm and medium format analog?
35mm produces a 24 × 36 mm negative and generally allows for 36 exposures per roll of film. Medium format, on the other hand, most often uses 120 film and produces much larger images, depending on the camera, from 6 × 6 cm to 6 × 7 cm. This significantly increases the sensitive surface, providing more detail and a more comfortable image for large prints. In digital equivalent, this often corresponds to a definition between 60 and 120 megapixels. Conversely, the number of exposures is more limited.
Why is it called analog photography?
It's called analog photography because the film contains silver salts in its photosensitive emulsion. The word comes from the Latin argentum, which means "silver." During exposure and then development, these salts react to light and form the image materially on the medium. This process also allows for a negative to be obtained before printing or scanning.