APS Film – True Versatility, or Just Another Gimmick?

In the 1990s Kodak developed a new film format called the Advanced Photo System, or APS. This was a 24 mm wide film that was rolled into a cartridge that could be dropped into the camera and automatically loaded. It was marketed as the most versatile film system, because it shot three image formats, a classic format that printed 4 x 6, a "High Definition" format that printed 4 x 7, and a panoramic format that printed 4 x 12. The film was smaller than 35 mm film, and that made it possible for the cameras to be smaller as well. In fact, prior to the advent and growing popularity of digital cameras, APS film cameras were the smallest on the market.

How the Three Formats Worked

APS film did not actually capture three different image sizes. When a photograph was taken with this film, the camera would record the entire frame (high definition format). Then, it would record into the magnetic strip the setting the user chose on the camera. The developer would read the magnetic strip and print the chosen size. This made it possible to print another image size if desired at a later date.

Benefits of APS Film

There were a few benefits to this new film format. Because of the cartridge, it was difficult to damage the film or the resulting negatives, which were also stored in the cartridge. Also, the small size of the cameras made it possible to throw them into a pocket or purse for easy access. Some APS cameras were designed to store a caption on the film. If processed in a lab with the right equipment, this caption would be printed on the back of the image. The date and time could also be printed on the image's back, eliminating the unsightly red date on the bottom of the picture.

Drawbacks to APS Film

APS film had several drawbacks. In spite of its benefits, it did not catch on well, so limited types of film were made available. Black and white film and several speeds of color film could be purchased, but slide film was not available, and neither were very low or very high film speeds.

APS film did not appeal to professional photographers because it was a smaller negative size. In fact, the film surface area of APS film is just over half that of 35 mm film. This made it impossible to get quality enlargements past an 8 x 10 size.

The Demise of APS

APS was a versatile film type that could have caught on with amateur photographers, but it was developed at the wrong time. Not long after it was in the market, digital cameras started being marketed to non-professionals. As the price of digital cameras began to sink close to that of film cameras, and the size of the cameras was also shrinking, the void that was filled by APS film was no longer present. People were turning to digital cameras when they wanted small, versatile cameras.

Today, APS film can still be found, but it is getting harder and harder to find. Kodak stopped producing its APS cameras in 2004. Some labs have stopped developing it altogether. The best option for people who still have APS negatives is to consider converting them to a digital format through a negative scanning service.