If you were to compare my experience in film with that of a growing child, I would still be a baby. I have had an interest in film ever since I started shooting with a camera, but was always afraid to jump into that part of photography. After years of digital shooting, I am finally working with film more and more.
I have shot with 35mm film and I like the results. But, to be honest, I would just rather shoot digital if I am going to stick with a smaller format.
What type of film do I shoot with?
Medium format is great. I like it better than 35mm because the large "sensor size" is, well, larger. Larger film size will make the shallow depth of field more exaggerated over 35mm film. It may be subjective and you can go with even larger film formats, but I have no experience with Large Format cameras. I shoot 6x4.5 and 6x6. I have a Pentax 645 and a Mamiya C3. The Pentax shoots just like any 35mm SLR...albeit much larger and heavier. The Mamiya C3 is a completely different beast. It has a waist level viewfinder and shoots in a square format. Shooting with this camera is an experience all on its own. Sometimes I just walk around my backyard just looking through the viewfinder for an hour and not shoot a single frame. It is clearly my favorite medium format camera to shoot with.
And that's the thing, I shoot film because I like the experience. If you were to twist my arm and tell me to only pick one type of film to shoot for the rest of my life, I would have to go with Instant Film. There is something about the magic of watching a film develop in your hands. It is a fantastic format to share with people. I have yet to meet a person that didn't like an instant film print. The instant film formats I use the most are Fujifilm Instax Mini and Wide.
Fujifilm Instax Mini
Fujifilm Instax Wide
Fujifilm Instax has that retro feel of shooting an old Polaroid. When I shoot with this camera, everyone calls the prints a polaroid even though it is technically not. But it has that old school vibe and you have a tangible picture in your hands that is 100% unique. The prints find their way to a photo album, framed, or hung up on a cork board. It won't just get lost on a hard drive like most of my digital work does. Even if the image doesn't come out perfect, it still has such a beautiful aesthetic to it.
Digital will probably always be king in my workflow, but it is always special to go back to photography's roots and shoot film. I love slowing down, really thinking about my shot, and seeing the results later down the road. I love having the ability to instantly get my pictures from my digital cameras and post them to Instagram, but shooting a roll and waiting for it to come back from the film lab is like counting down to Christmas. I always feels special and hand crafted. I will continue to shoot with film for as long as I possibly can.