Astro Films

Wading through the ocean of photographic films to find the perfect choice for astrophotography may seem daunting. It really isn't. The most important feature is speed. You want a fast film that will record a lot of stars in an exposure lasting a few minutes. The speed of a film is represented by an ISO number. The larger the number the faster the film.

The Moon is second only to the Sun in apparent brightness. Since it is illuminated by the Sun, you can use normal "daylight" speed films and exposures. ISO 100 and 200 films work well when shooting the Moon. The exposure times will be short, too. An exposure of 1/500-second will record the full Moon at f/4.5 on 200 speed film. Films ranging from ISO 400 to 800 are good for general photography of the constellations. Films as fast as ISO 1600 and 3200 work well for comets and other extended, faint objects.

Here's the approach I use. First, I determine the film speed needed for the subject. Then, I go to the local discount retailer and buy whatever is on sale. Over time, I have come to like the Fujinon Superia color print film. You can go as high as ISO 800 and still get good sharpness. Faster films tend to look too grainy for my taste.

You may want to experiment with slide films. The advantage of slide film is that the processing can't be botched. What you've shot is what will appear on the slide. Some photographers swear by slide films as the only way to go. Fujinon Provia is my slide film of choice. However, more often than not, I use color print film. Prints are easier to show off to friends and, should one of my photos miraculously turn out to be good, it's easier to have copies made from print negatives than from slides. However, digital imaging technology and consumer scanners are quickly making this a non-issue.

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Revised: February 11, 2002 [WDF]