ACE Index FAQ, APS Cameras versus 35mm Compacts & SLRs

APS cameras versus 35mm compacts and 35mm SLRs

This page is part of the ACE Index FAQ. Information about
camera equipment, photo equipment and digital imaging equipment.

APS Cameras versus 35mm Compacts & SLRs

APS means Advanced Photo System and refers to a new camera format and film size which was introduced to the marketplace a few years ago. The Advanced Photo System is supported by a large consortium of companies including Kodak, Fuji, Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Pentax, Konica and many others.

35mm cameras have a much longer history. Oskar Barnack, an employee of Leitz Camera in Germany, invented the first model in 1914. Eleven years later the first Leica cameras were introduced to the general public. Countless 35mm cameras are being used today, including compact point and shoot styles, rangefinders and single lens reflex (SLR) models.

We are frequently asked to compare APS cameras with 35mm cameras. For the most part, this is like comparing apples and oranges. The correct answer depends on your needs and what you expect to do with your photos. The comparison chart is below.

Ask yourself how you are going to use the camera? If you are simply interested in taking snapshots, an APS camera may fill your needs. Remember this: a 35mm point-and-shoot can do the same thing and captures a much larger negative for those times when you want an enlargement made. Larger Negative = Better Quality Enlargement.

Serious about photography? Most 35mm SLRs will let you explore photography to the limits of your imagination. Look for an SLR model which lets you manually override the automatic settings.

Comparison of Features
APS Cameras	35mm Compacts & SLR Cameras**
1. Slightly smaller and lighter than 35mm compact cameras. Much smaller and lighter than 35mm SLRs.	1. Heavier and larger than APS cameras. Point and shoot models come closest to APS. Many 35mm SLRs from the 70's and early 80's are very heavy. Newer SLRs are much lighter than their predecessors.
2. Film comes in 15, 25, and 40 exposure cartridges.	2. Film comes in 12, 24, and 36 exposure cartridges.
3. APS color print film only. Color slide and true b&w film is not available. Kodak's Advantix 400 chromogenic black and white film is processed in color chemistry. The prints are made on color paper, hence it is not a true b&w film.	3. An extensive range of film is available: color print, color slides, black and white, the choice is yours. Film speeds range from ISO25 all the way to ISO3200.
4. Most models have a built-in fixed focal length lens or a moderate zoom. Nikon's new Pronea S and Canon's new EOS IX are designed to accept interchangeable lenses.	4. Compact point-and-shoot cameras have a built-in lens; on many models a moderate zoom lens allows you to frame the picture exactly as you want it. 35mm SLR users can select from a wide range of lenses, either made by the camera manufacturer or by aftermarket companies like Tamron and Tokina.
5. Most are autofocus, autoexposure, and idiot-proof. They are great for throwing in a coat pocket or purse, taking quick snapshots on demand.	5. Most compact 35mm cameras also have autofocus and autoexposure. Modern 35mm SLRs offer the best of both worlds. Many will focus and expose pictures automatically, or allow you to manually focus and control exposure to emphasize depth-of-field, stop action, or help create whatever your mind imagines.
6. APS film loads by dropping the cartridge through a hatch door. There is no exposed film leader. The camera finishes the loading automatically.	6. 35mm film comes with a protruding film leader which the user must attach to the take up spool. Some people seem to have difficulty learning this skill. (Let someone show you how to do this correctly. It's not hard!)
7. APS cameras are battery dependent. When the battery fails, so does the camera.	7. Most 35mm compacts and modern SLRs are battery dependent. When the battery fails, so does the camera. Older mechanical 35mm cameras only require a battery for the built-in light meter so the camera continues working even if the battery expires.
8. APS cameras automatically set the film speed when you load the film. In most cases you cannot override this.	8. Most 35mm compacts and modern SLRs are able to read the DX coding on the film canister and set the film speed automatically. Full-featured SLRs allow you to manually bypass this setting if you wish to expose film at a different ISO. Older SLRs require the user to manually set the film speed when changing film.
9.. Each APS film cartridge has a unique serial number. A window on one end reveals one of four symbols: Circle = the roll is unexposed Half Circle = half exposed "X" = exposed Square = developed After development, the negatives are stored in the cartridge permanently.	9. 35mm film canisters offer none of these features. Unless you mark or label rolls (or otherwise signify the film has been exposed) you run the risk of either exposing the same roll twice or sending an unexposed roll off to the lab. One suggestion is to wind the film leader entirely into the canister when the roll has been exposed. After processing, 35mm negatives are cut into lengths. Most labs now return negatives in plastic sleeves for protection against dust and scratches.
10. An APS negative is approximately .66 x 1.2 inches (16.7mm x 30.2mm) or only slightly more than half the size of a 35mm negative. This effectively limits you from making quality enlargements greater than 8x10.	10. 35mm negatives are approximately 1x1.5 inches (24mm x 36mm.) A good quality negative or slide can easily yield a 16x20 enlargement. Use slow, fine grained film and a tripod for best results.
11. APS film has an invisible magnetic coating on the backside. The camera can write data to this magnetic film in the same way a computer writes to a floppy disk. Depending on the camera, some of the information recorded includes date and time, type of print wanted (see #12), exposure settings, whether flash was used and more.	11. No such technology exists for 35mm users. Some 35mm cameras can print the date and time on the face of your prints.
12. APS film's magnetic coating allows a user to instruct the photo lab to print each frame in one of three formats: HDTV - 4"x7" prints Classic - 4"x6" prints Panorama - 4"x12" prints Prints come back from the lab with the roll's ID number, frame number, and other optional information such as the date and time imprinted on the back.	12. Machine prints come in two sizes only: 3-1/2"x5-1/4" (machine cropped) 4"x6" (full frame prints) Some labs print the frame number and the month processed on the back of each print. There are an infinite number of ways to crop the image on a 35mm negative to get the enlargement you want. Take the negative to a custom lab for best results.
13. APS film processing includes an Index Print, a master 4"x7" print with tiny thumbnail images of each frame. An Index Print includes the roll's ID number and frame numbers, making it easy to order reprints.	13. The closest equivalent to the APS Index Print is to have a custom lab make a contact sheet from your 35mm negatives. Yes, this is more expensive, but a contact sheet and an 8x loupe will tell you instantly whether any images are worth printing or enlarging.
** Note: "35mm compacts" and "35mm point-and-shoot cameras" are interchangeable terms. Although we did not include 35mm rangefinder cameras in this chart because of their declining numbers, photographers need to be aware of this option, one classic example of a 35mm rangefinder is Leica's M System cameras and lenses.