Advanced Photo System (APS) versus 35 mm Film Format

APS vs 35-mm Photography

APS (IX240) 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 IX240 refers to Information Exchange and film size). 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.

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.

APS negatives measure 16.7 mm x 30.2 mm compared to 24 mm by 36 mm for 35-mm (135) film. Since the negative is smaller (less than 60% of a 35-mm negative) it must be magnified more in order to produce enlargements. For standard prints (e.g., about 4"x 6") this difference is not noticeable. APS systems allow for photographs to be printed in one of three formats: "H" (full negative in a 9:16 HDTV aspect ratio), "C" in the same 2:3 aspect ratio as a 35-mm negative, and "P" or Panorama. The intended aspect ratio is recorded on the film at the time the photograph is taken. This magnetically recorded choice then instructs the developer what to do with the negative. As you can see below, the negative is cropped in the case of the "C" and "P" formats.


35-mm negative measures 24 x 36 mm	APS negative measures 16.7 x 30.2 mm (9:16 HDTV aspect ratio) "H" format	APS taken in "C" format has same 2:3 aspect ratio as 35-mm negative but measures only 16.7 x 25 mm	APS taken in "P" or Panorama aspect ratio measures only 10 x 30.2 mm
	This APS photo covers the same horizontal landscape as the 35-mm photo at the right, but it does not include as much vertical photo data	Cropped into a 2:3 format this negative is only 48% of the size of the 35-mm negative

Notice that the 35-mm photograph of the Cooper Library includes more content (i..e, sky, trees, patio) than the APS photographs. Focal lengths of lenses used with APS cameras differ from 35-mm because the image is being focused on a smaller area. Multiply an APS focal length by 1.25 to get the 35-mm equivalent.

	wideangle		standard		telephoto
	landscapes		general purpose	portraits		sports wildlife	wildlife
APS	22	28	40	85	100	160	320
35-mm	28	35	50	106	125	200	400

A lens with a focal length of about 35 to 40-mm is more or less a standard lens when used with an APS camera.

Some of APS's interesting features are summarized below.

Mid-Roll film Change (MRC)

This is a function which allows you to switch film types to match subject or themes when you want to. When the cartridge is re-loaded, the film spools forward automatically to the previous position.

Information Exchange (IX) System

The APS film (IX240) has a special recording track for different data which is registered when you take a photo. Below are just some them:

Date and time
Selected title
Shutter speed
Film speed
Focal length
Title Language
Aperture
Exposure compensation value
Metering mode
Maximum lens aperture
Use of flash
Ambient brightness
Reproduction ratio
Consecutive scenes
Print aspect ratio (H/C/P type)

Image area 16.7 x 30.2 mm

Data recording track

Data and Title Imprint

Imprints information such as date, time, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and a choice of about 100 titles/captions in 12 languages on the back of every photo. The amount of data which can be imprinted may depend on where you develop your film.

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 widely 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.