Last Friday, I was out shooting in Shinjuku with my friend Milo.
At one point, we spotted a woman wearing a white dress, and I immediately wanted to ask if I could photograph her.
Shinjuku can be a pretty wild place, so Milo was worried she’d tell me, “F**k you.”
Still, I decided to ask.
I recorded the whole interaction from my POV, so if you’re curious how it went, check out the video below.
The film I used that night was MARIX 400.
What many people don’t know is that it’s actually rebranded Fomapan 400, made in the Czech Republic.
Here’s the interesting part.
In Japan, MARIX is actually cheaper than buying Fomapan.
I bought a 100-foot bulk roll and loaded the film myself, which brought the cost down to just $3.70 USD (about ¥600) per roll.
With film prices these days, being able to shoot for just $3.70 a roll feels pretty amazing.
I shot the entire roll at ISO 800 and developed it at home.
(If you’d like to know my developer, development times, or any other shooting tips, leave a question in the comments on the video.)
Here are some of the photos from that roll.
Personally, I really like the grain this film produces.
Some photographers criticize Fomapan 400 because it has relatively limited tonal latitude and shadows can block up easily. Although it’s labeled as ISO 400, many people believe its true speed is closer to ISO 320.
That doesn’t necessarily have to be a drawback, though.
You can simply give it a bit more exposure or push-process it, depending on the look you’re after.
Of course, the “right” film depends on what you’re trying to create. But for someone like me, who mainly photographs in a documentary style, an affordable film has one huge advantage:
I never hesitate to press the shutter. haha
When every frame costs less, I’m much more willing to keep shooting, experiment, and capture moments I might otherwise miss.
If you’ve ever shot Fomapan 400, I’d love to hear your experience. Share your thoughts, tips, or favorite way to use it in the comments on the video.
See you in the next newsletter!
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