How many rolls to take (on holiday?)

c41 · Sep 19, 2016

Just putting it out there since I'm packing for 26 days of travel (plus flights) and the universe can never have enough how much film to take threads right?

I'm off to California and then the UK (from Australia) on a family holiday (with 2 kids.)
I expect it'll be several years at least before this holiday is paid for and I get to leave Australia again.

I'm taking a couple of 35mm cameras and probably 4 lenses (no other cameras.)

It's a family holiday, (which I'll want to capture on film) plus I'll make some time to have a bit of a wander when time allows. I'm sure I'll have a camera to hand for the majority of the time.

I've got a stockpile of C41 (ISO 100, 160, 400) and B&W (ISO 400) to select from. (I forced myself not to stock up on E6 as well, got to have some limits!) I also spared you all the 'What equipment should I take?" and decided not to bother with 6x6, or the SLR, and to just take my two identical rangefinder bodies and a limited spread of focal lengths. No tripod or filters etc. either.

Of course they sell film in California and the UK but I already have film here and getting to specific retailers mightn't be so easy once I'm on the move.

My original instinct was 2 rolls per day = 52 rolls.
60% of it C41 ISO400 as the main film for all settings (Portra 400 FWIW), then some faster C41 - for sunny days, landscape opportunities, and some B&W for the rest.

But now it's getting closer to actually packing I'm starting to appreciate how the size of even 35mm film stacks up and wondering if this is too much (or not enough!) Anyone got any thoughts, any tips?
Thanks.

NedL · Sep 19, 2016

Welcome to APUG!
I don't know how much film you should bring but I hope you enjoy your travels.

Svenedin · Sep 19, 2016

I'd take a yellow filter for your B+W but not bother with any others. No guarantee of good weather in the UK but in California you may have blue skies. ISO 400 good for UK in Autumn. I just had a 12 day hiking trip in the Alps and used 19 rolls but this was a mixture of 120 (6x7, 10 exp) and 35mm (36 exp). I used considerably less than one roll of 35mm per day but across both formats approximately 30 shots per day. It just depends how much you tend to bracket exposures and what you are likely to be seeing. 2 rolls a day may be what's right for you.

I would also suggest you use your phone to take a snap of each location. It is very handy to help you remember when and where you took each film photo when you come to organising your negatives.

c41 · Sep 19, 2016

Thank you both, great to get some feedback, hiking in the Alps sounds awesome (as does 6x7 )

It'll be primarily people/life in general over landscapes for this trip for me. I'm prepared to burn through shots a bit more than normal given the less controlled subject matter.
There will be a few landscapes, Snowdonia being the main one if the weather's right and I can be in the right place/right time.

I will definitely bring my yellow filter, and the phone/location is a great tip thanks.

Colonel Blimp · Sep 19, 2016

Here's my subjective reply to your subjective question.

In August I went to Italy with my wife and two kids. Three weeks in a country where there's always something worth being photographed around the corner (or right in front of you). I took 30 rolls of 35mm (mainly slide film) with me, but I "only" used 14. In my opinion, those 14 rolls were more than enough to capture the family holidays.

Enjoy your trip.

Cycler · Sep 19, 2016

Don't forget the charger; UK standard is 230vac/50 cycles using 13amp 3 pin plug/socket. (They have square cut rectangular pins). If you need more film High Street pharmacy Boots often stock C41 ISO 400 often Fuji & a few Kodak. A polariser may be useful in Snowdonia, if you ever see the sun. Snowdon has a rack railway to the summit from Llangollen ( Being a welsh name double 'L's often have a degree of "Ff" in them, it gets worse - some places names are all consonants - no vowels) So can be real tongue twisters. And not all signs are dual language, less important ones are all in Welsh!

howardpan · Sep 19, 2016

I think you should simply order your film online from a place like BH Photo (or Adorama) and have it delivered to California. Shipping is free if you order more than $49 and you avoid paying sales tax. If I am correct, film is much cheaper in the US than the UK or Australia so it would make sense for you buy more and to bring the excess back home.

In the US, almost all airports will check your film by hand. In the U.K., they will not. However, I haven't seen any damages due to the U.K. X-Ray machines.

When I go to the US later this October, I'm bringing film and photo paper back home with me.

etn · Sep 19, 2016

I'm afraid the amount one shoots is very personal... for instance, during my last vacation (2 1/2 weeks) I shot 8 rolls Velvia and 7 rolls Trix
while my girlfriend shot only 2 rolls of 6x6 120 = 24 pics... (and 2000 d*g*t*l pictures lol).

If you go to places where film is available, take perhaps a dozen rolls to have a buffer, you can always order more as needed.
If you want to carry all the film you'll need with you, a good way to estimate the needed quantity is: how many rolls do you shoot per day
on a typical vacation day and/or on a dedicated photo day? then extrapolate over the length of your trip. Add 20-30% reserve.
I think it's always better to buy and take more rolls than needed, as you can always use them later - preferably "at home" (or on trips
not involving air travel) if they have been X-rayed several times over the course of your travels.
(Although I have never had a problem with airport X-ray machines, I prefer to buy fresh film stock for each airplane trip
to avoid too many X-ray exposures. Also keep your film in your hand luggage.)

Hope this helps!

mnemosyne · Sep 19, 2016

Half a roll (18 frames) and one camera (two lenses max) per day works for me. YMMV. I don't like to take several cameras/film types etc. on a holiday. I find that keeping it simple contributes to enjoyable holidays. I just came back from a week of mountain hiking/trekking in the Lepontine Alps. My trusted Rollei 35S and four rolls of Gold 200 were all it took to make me a happy photographer.

Paul Howell · Sep 19, 2016

I always take more film that I anticipate I will need. I am going to France for a couple of weeks and will take 40 rolls of B&W and a couple of rolls Kodacolor 400 for an all weather point and shoot. I usually take a polorizer, yellow and orange filter, small flash, and monopod. I put the monopod and 1/2 the film in a X ray shield bag in luggage and carry cameras, lens and rest of kit in carry on.

narsuitus · Sep 19, 2016

When I travel on holiday as a tourist, I usually pack enough film to shoot at least two-dozen photos per day because that is the average I normally shoot.

For a two-week vacation trip with a 35mm camera, I normally take a brick (a 20-roll pack of 35mm film). However, based on my average shooting record, I only use about one roll per day.

I also carry my film in lead-lined storage containers to protect the film from the X-rays used by airports and cruise ships for security purposes.

Film Case by Narsuitus, on Flickr

blockend · Sep 19, 2016

I recently took a three week family holiday and reckoned on two films per day. Some days I took 24 frames or so, which gave surplus shots for the splurge days. Unless you're backpacking or continually on the move film can be left at your accommodation, and you can take three rolls out with you in case you hit the motherlode. You can always take some home. If you're getting close to your limit, slow down a little.
I took an SLR and a 50mm and left the rest - didn't regret it.

Gerald C Koch · Sep 19, 2016

Remember that if you bring your own film rather than buying on location that this film will be subjected to twice the amount of x-rays. Also with a large amount of unexposed film you may run afoul of customs who may think you are importing film. Check to see just how much you can bring without paying duty. You may not think that 50 rolls is a lot but Australian or UK customs might not agree. They would prefer that you purchase film in their country. Years ago I had trouble with Canadian customs for only 20 rolls.

Ko.Fe. · Sep 19, 2016

In the past days of no digital presence, we would take one camera with one roll of film in it on family vacation. It was giving enough frames for everything for one week of vacation, with some frames left.
It depends what you are into on this long vacation. Clearing overstock of film by taking of almost everything or taking shots which are absolutely worth it.

I have to go on two weeks trip very soon and also going to take two RF bodies, but two lenses, if not one camera, lens. I'm planing to keep my taking pictures practice same way as I do on recent trips and practice in street photography, candid for several hours per day and take some portraits. I'm trying to take it only if it is worth of printing (by myself). My average is between one roll a day and two rolls per two days. No double-triple on same spot, no exposure variations shots. Just one frame per one happening which is worth to be printed... Like in old days where film and prints were expensive.

RattyMouse · Sep 19, 2016

Gerald C Koch said:
Remember that if you bring your own film rather than buying on location that this film will be subjected to twice the amount of x-rays. Also with a large amount of unexposed film you may run afoul of customs who may think you are importing film. Check to see just how much you can bring without paying duty. You may not think that 50 rolls is a lot but Australian or UK customs might not agree. They would prefer that you purchase film in their country. Years ago I had trouble with Canadian customs for only 20 rolls.

X Rays are a non factor today. I have had film x rayed over 12 times showing not the slightest problem.

Frank53 · Sep 19, 2016

2 films a day sounds more than enough for a family holiday. What worries me is the number of different films. I would advise only one iso, probably 400, otherwise you will always end up with the "wrong" film in your camera. You could even decide for only color(or bw) because you will spend too much time changing lenses.
Best is, believe me I'm 63 and it took me almost 50 years to find this out, best is 1 film, 2 camera's each with a different lens, than you have a lot of time to look around and enjoy yourself. It's no fun deciding what film and what lens all the time. Keep it simple and have fun.
As said before, Snowdonia is beautifull and don't forget to take the train up.
Regards,
Frank

TheRook · Sep 19, 2016

Assuming most of the rolls are 36 frames, I think two rolls a day may be a bit too much, especially with a family in tow. There are going to be rainy days you won't be shooting much. And you won't be shooting a great deal during travel from one location to another, be it on train, plane or while driving. On average, you may get about five hours of shooting time per day. Averaging 72 frames every five hours over a month period is... well, a rather ambitious goal.

mooseontheloose · Sep 19, 2016

I travel a lot and on average I try to bring 2 rolls of film per day of shooting. Even if I don't shoot that much, it will cover me for different film speeds/stocks. However, it depends what the purpose of the trip is for. Some trips I know that I'll be photographing a lot (up to 20 rolls a day - 6x6) and other trips it works out to an average of about a roll a day. Last year I spent 5 weeks in Europe and shot 111 rolls of film (70/30 for 120/135) - I had underprepared (I did bring 100 rolls of film but brought too much colour (slide) and not enough black and white) so ended up wasting time trying to find places where I could buy film. This year I spent 3 weeks in Northern Europe and shot less than 20 rolls (also a mix). I ended up bringing back more unexposed rolls than exposed, a first for me.

As you've already mentioned, the space (and weight) of film is also a consideration. You could pare it back to about 30-40 rolls, and purchase more if and when you need it, as you'll be travelling to locations where film is definitely available, although I understand not wanting to waste time getting some once you are on the move. Personally, I'd rather have too much than not enough, and as long as it all fits in your camera/carry-on bag (and/or can be split amongst your family members' carry on bags), why not bring it?

thuggins · Sep 19, 2016

My general rule of thumb is one roll per day; I just got back from the UK and that worked out to be exactly right. The only time I've done more than this is at the Grand Canyon, and even then it was not much more.

I shoot slides and occasionally bracket (but not much as I shoot with OM's) and I take a lot of landscape shots. With negative film there will be no need to bracket, and keeping track of the family will cut into a lot of photography time. More than one roll a day will be quite ungainly.

Also, don't worry about the Xrays (at least the carry-on ones). I shot two rolls of Provia 400 at 1600 and they came out as well as the 100 ASA Ektachrome.

c41 · Sep 19, 2016

Thanks everyone, that's a wealth of great information, really really helpful as I get to actually packing and not planning.

It's a great point about taking less shots pre-digital. One roll for the holiday, those were the days!
I took one roll on my (2 weeks in Portugal) honeymoon, seems crazy now but holidays meant disposable 110 cameras and feeling i'd gone the extra mile by getting 'matte finish' prints from the chemist for me then.

Conversely, it's also helpful about breaking it down to hours per day available.

I'm taking two cameras for two films - fast/slow or c41/b&w - rather than for two lenses. A typical day is one camera, two lenses (these are RF lenses, so tiny to carry)
I really want to take B&W so I can take shots 'for me' and print some of them when I get home but I have to take C41 since there's an expectation from everyone else that family memories will be in colour.
But it's an excellent point about too much variety - I might just limit it too 400 speed, Portra and HP5 (perhaps just a couple of rolls of Ektar as a treat.)

I agree that choice can be a burden but I've not reached that one camera, one lens, one roll, one shot (!!bring the 8x10!!) state of nirvana just yet!

I already have the film so would rather bring it if possible. (I'd totally forgotten about Boots in the UK.)
I can't control radiation so will just go with it, dodging X-rays wherever possible.

Llangollen - railway -> summit, consider it done! Come rain or sleet, mizzle, mist etc, it's a definite!

I'll try out 40-50 rolls tonight for a practice pack, see how it looks. I am trying to treat 35mm film with a little disdain for this holiday I guess, something to be burnt through in the hope it encourages me to capture more of me and my family and where/who we were at this moment in time. (No digital for this trip.)

In normal use with 35mm I never look at a contact sheet of mine and feel I got too many of the same thing, I'm not one for multiple takes or bracketing etc.

Thanks again all! Feel free to keep any thoughts coming, not only for me but for anyone else reading this at a later date or also planning that big trip.

summicron1 · Sep 19, 2016

think carefully about how many you can reasonably shoot in a day -- two or three? -- multiply that by the number of days of the trip, then double that.

You don't carry all the film on any particular day, of course, but the same rules apply.

Wallendo · Sep 19, 2016

If you are traveling to southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego) I would seriously recommend an ISO 100 film, unless you plan to shoot everything at f16 1/500s.

My general rule for taking film on a trip is one roll per camera used per day. I like to start each day with a fresh roll of film in the camera to minimize that likelihood of changing rolls in the field.

I would probably pack 26 rolls and pick up additional film as you travel. C41 is readily available almost everywhere in the US that has a Wal-Mart or CVS (usually in 24 exposure rolls). I would pack all the B&W film you would anticipate using as this is more difficult to find, unless you want to make a pilgrimage to FreeStyle Photo while in California.

Scotch · Sep 19, 2016

Hi I am from California, if you are in the Hollywood/ Los Angeles area, you can always buy from Freestyle Photography supplies 800-292-6137. They are nearby 101 off Sunset Blvd. Or Samy's Camera in Santa Barbara area. Having just travel to Washington DC last week, I found 3 rolls a day works for me with just one Camera.

benjiboy · Sep 20, 2016

Relax, California and the U.K are'nt the third world, they do sell film there.

Agulliver · Sep 20, 2016

Where will you be staying/travelling in the UK. Most towns of any size have a branch of Boots (chemist/pharmacist) and they usually have HP5+ and FP4+ on the shelves as well as some Fuji C41 material. Proper camera shops are also still relatively common, where I live in Luton we still have one with a "wall of film" behind the counter.

As for x-rays, I've only ever had an issue packing film in the checked (hold) baggage. The x-ray machines used for checked bags are much more powerful than the ones used for hand baggage, plus if they detect a lead case they will automatically zap it with more radiation in an attempt to find out what you are concealing.

With hand baggage, I am not sure you could take as much film as you want. I've had films go through more than 10 airports (including Delta 3200) and show no issues whereas one airport in the checked baggage and a slow film can get fogged.

Pack your cameras well with something soft to protect them....airlines in the USA can be pretty violent with bags, I've personally had a hard Samsonite case utterly destroyed, with a video camera inside smashed. Most times when I travel to the states, the bag is useless after. Travelling around Europe one bag can last many trips.

How many rolls to take (on holiday?)

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