John A. Lind |
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Ron,
APS stands for "Advanced Photo System." 35mm refers to the film size used. APS was created for consumers and the cameras made for the film are consumer grade. If you want to develop film in a home darkroom, it would be much easier with 35mm size film (see remarks about film availability). Following are the major differences between the two:Film Size:
This is the major difference between the two. APS uses 24mm film which is the entire width of the film strip from edge to edge. The actual frame size is 16.7mm x 30.2mm. By comparison, 35mm film refers to the width of the film strip from edge to edge. Its actual frame size is 24mm x 36mm. This makes a difference in how large a print can be made from the film. A 35mm camera with an excellent lens and very fine grain, slower speed film can easily produce high quality 11x16 or 11x14 prints. An APS can produce up to 8x12 or 8x10 prints. You can ask for larger ones, but either grain will begin to show, or they will start to look a little soft since you are past the resolving power of even the finest lenses with that much enlargement. Film Availability:
For film availability, very, very nearly all still camera film is available in 135 size (the number size for 35mm film), both consumer and professional. This includes black/white and color in both negative (print) and transparency (slide). By comparison, the only films available for APS are consumer color negative. The B/W for APS is actually a "chromogenic" film, exactly like color negative, except it renders in shades of gray, which is entirely different from true B/W film. The easiest film to develop and print in a home darkroom is B/W negative. It is possible to set up a home darkroom for color, and some do, but the setup will be more expensive. Controlling both time in various process steps, and temperatures of chemical baths is much more critical with color films. Camera Bodies and Lenses:
Very nearly all APS cameras are "Point and Shoot" viewfinder type with auto-focus and "program mode" (only) auto-exposure. These cameras have relatively weak built-in flashes (very short range) and cannot mount or fire a more powerful external flash. Lens speed is comparatively "slow" (how much light the lens admits) and they do not have as much range in shutter speeds. This forces the use of faster films with larger grain structure. The couple of SLR's made for APS have extremely limited lens selections. All that applies to APS "P&S" cameras also applies to 35mm consumer "P&S" cameras. OTOH, 35mm SLR's span a huge range from introductory consumer grade to very high end professional grade. In some systems, such as Canon EOS, Nikon (AF and AIS), and Olympus OM, the same lenses can be used on any of the system bodies, from the lowest price consumer one to the premier professional grade "flagship." Within the 35mm SLR systems, the user can grow a comprehensive system over time, including upgrading both bodies and lenses without losing compatibility at any point. My recommendations:
If you're looking for a simple camera that doesn't require any special knowledge to use, and you don't plan on making much more than color print "snapshots" (Kodak's term, not mine) then an APS P&S can be ideal for it. If you are looking for a more advanced camera system for "serious," specialized and/or professional photography, with an extremely wide range of film choices (to match your type of photography and style), then a 35mm SLR is the better choice. -- John
September 05, 2001
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