Lomography Berlin Kino 400 35 mm B&W Film Review with Sample Photos!

June 10, 2026

I always love trying out Lomography’s film stocks. There aren’t many companies out there that produce film, let alone experiment with color, grain and contrast. Lomography has created some of my favorite film over the years, like Lomochrome purple, Lomochrome turquoise and Color Negative 100 and 400. I use the Color Negative 400 all the time. It’s pretty much my go-to film stock because it’s affordable, consistent and perfectly saturated. I have a full blog post about it here if you want to see some sample photos!

These days I stick with color film for the most part, but every once in a while I’ll throw a roll of black and white film in my camera bag and see how it goes. There is truly something special about black and white film. I swear my brain captures images differently when I know that my camera is loaded with it. I see the world in shapes and light, rather than being distracted by color. I always think that I’m going to regret shooting in black and white because it’s not capturing exactly what I see in front of me, but that’s never the case. Oftentimes, my black and white photos are my favorite photos from my travels! I think it’s because black and white film is automatically nostalgic. Maybe it tricks your brain into believing that each photo is special and memorable? It’s more simple than color film, and you really see the moment for what it is. Nothing flashy or over the top. Just a moment in time that might have slipped by if you hadn’t frozen it on film.

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

THOUGHTS ON BERLIN KINO 400 FILM

Berlin Kino 400 is an interesting black and white film, in my opinion. It’s definitely super grainy for a 400 film, so it comes across more like an 800 ISO film. I typically don’t like too much grain in my photos, but in this case, it didn’t bother me so much. It’s not an incredibly contrasty film either. It has a fairly minimal tonal range, but still captures a lot of detail in your subjects. It’s not as dynamic as a film like Neopan Across 100 for example (one of my favorite black and white films - check out my blog post about it here!) and it’s not as classic-looking as Ilford HP 5 Plus 400 or Kodak Tri-X 400. By that I mean, the blacks and whites aren’t as intense or prominent. The tones blend together in a soft, natural way that is incredibly moody and gentle. It was a perfect film for capturing my sister’s new baby and the beautiful, quiet waves on the Oregon coast. It definitely makes the images feel a lot more aged than they are, almost as if you are using an expired film roll.

I used the Nikon FE2 for all of the photos in this post. It’s one of my favorite 35 mm film cameras (read more about it here!) and I think it was a perfect match for this film. I wouldn’t use a super cheap film camera with Berlin 400 because you really need a sharp, nice lens to override the grain. The Nikon FE2 is similar to a Canon AE-1 or Pentax K1000, so any of those cameras would be great to use as well if you’re shooting 35 mm. I also shot a roll of Berlin 400 with my Contax 645 which is a super fancy medium format 120 film camera, and I really loved the way those turned out. 120 film is physically larger than 35 mm so it captures more detail and the grain isn’t quite as noticeable. I will say I prefer the way those images turned out than the 35 mm.

WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN?

This is a hard one. While I enjoyed shooting with this film, I’m not sure it is 100% my vibe. Overall, I prefer film that is a bit cleaner with less grain, but I do like the overall mood and nostalgia of the film. It does capture a surprising amount of detail for how minimal the contrast is. I would probably prefer Lomography Earl Grey 100 because it has a bit more intensity, or even Lady Grey 400 which falls more in the middle. Berlin Kino 400 does remind me of Potsdam Kino 100 but with a little more grain, which makes sense because it does come from Lomography’s Kino black and white film family. If you’d like just a little less grain and smoother overall quality, I’d try the Potsdam 100 out. With an ISO 100 film though, I’d recommend shooting outdoors in bright sunlight for best results.

I definitely don’t regret shooting with it, as I do find the photos to be beautiful in a vintage, black and white tv kind of way. I think it would be a really cool roll to make a short film out of using a video camera like the Lomography LomoKino. I’ve actually had one of these cameras for a few years now but haven’t even opened it! It’s on my list to review soon though!

Overall, I recommend giving this film a try at the very least and seeing what you think! You can’t go wrong with any of Lomography’s film stocks. It’s always worth it to experiment and push yourself a little creatively. That’s why I like trying out different film stocks. I get bored shooting with the same old films time and time again. :)

If you’re looking for more black and white 35 mm film recommendations check out my blog post, The 5 Best and Most Affordable Black and White Film Stocks. If you’re looking for 35 mm camera recommendations, make sure to read my post The Top 10 Best 35 mm Film Cameras for Beginners.

WHERE TO BUY BERLIN KINO 400 FILM

35 MM

B&H Photo

eBay

120 FILM

eBay

Amazon

WHERE TO BUY POTSDAM KINO 100 FILM

35 MM

B&H Photo

eBay

120 FILM

B&H Photo

eBay

If you found this post helpful in any way, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

Blog

June 10, 2026

Lomography Berlin Kino 400 35 mm B&W Film Review with Sample Photos!

June 10, 2026

dubblefilm - jelly 400 35 mm - samsung evoca zoom 115-23.jpg

May 14, 2026

Dubblefilm Jelly 400 35 mm Color Film Review | The Most Colorful and Funky Retro Film for Unique Photos

May 14, 2026

March 2, 2026

Polaroid Now Generation 2 Review & How-To with Sample Photos! The Best Polaroid Camera for Beginners

March 2, 2026

Dubblefilm Jelly 400 35 mm Color Film Review | The Most Colorful and Funky Retro Film for Unique Photos

May 14, 2026

I’m probably a little bit too excited to review the Jelly 35 mm film roll by dubblefilm, but I can’t help it! I’ve been waiting to try out this film forever and I finally got up the nerve to use it in one of my point and shoot 35 mm film cameras, the Samsung Evoca Zoom 115. I’m absolutely obsessed with the results. I’m always doing what I can to create light leaks and dreamy, colorful images, so I knew that I was going to love this film. I was on instagram one day and came across a few photos that a photographer took with this film and I bought a roll right away. It’s definitely not the cheapest film out there, but for what you’re getting, I’d be willing to buy it again.

I guess this isn’t really a review, but more of a rave because it’s exactly what I was hoping for. I’ve tried out a few experimental film rolls like Pyschedelic Blues and even made my own film soup (a fun way to alter your film rolls at home - I have a YouTube video about it if you want to try it for yourself!)! But the variety that I got throughout this film roll was pretty amazing. All of the images below are from the same roll of film, so you’ll see the immense color variation throughout. There are pinks, blues, reds, greens, and purples. And there aren’t any images that didn’t turn out because the color variations weren’t crazy or overdone. There’s just a gorgeous rainbow-like effect over each photo that brings a lovely, magical quality to them. I was actually expecting most of the images to be more of the pink/purple tone based on the images I saw on instagram, but I’m actually happy that there was more variation than that.

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

If you’re looking for a fun roll of film that it still reliable and won’t ruin any of your images, the dubblefilm Jelly 35 mm roll is definitely a great one to try out. I’d recommend comparing it to my photos using the Psychedelic Blues film that I mentioned above (you can see sample photos from that film here!). You’ll see that the dubblefilm is just a little less extreme and more subtle, yet still exciting and colorful. If you’d prefer something even more unique and unusual, the Psychedelic Blues film is also super fun to experiment with.

Another thing I love about this film is that for a 400 ISO film, it was surprisingly not grainy. When I’m using cheap point and shoot cameras, I’m sometimes disappointed by the results when I use a 400 speed film. Mostly because the cameras themselves aren’t super sharp, so when you combine that with a grainy film, it just lacks detail. But I didn’t find that to be the case with this film, and when I was scanning it with my Epson film scanner, I realized why - because it’s actually Kodak GC/Ultramax 400 film! They just used that brand when creating their experimental film, and I find Kodak GC/Ultramax to be a great representation of 400 film because it has that “film” look to it, but the grain isn’t overpowering. It works well in most lighting conditions and is the perfect all-around daytime film, whether it’s sunny or cloudy outside. I have a full review about the Kodak GC/Ultramax film on my blog here!

I’ll definitely be shooting with this film again, especially because I had such a blast shooting with it knowing that I was going to get bright, colorful photos. It was just so exciting! I love anything that makes my photos stand out. :)

If you’d like to try it out too, here’s where you can find it!

WHERE TO FIND DUBBLEFILM JELLY 35MM FILM

B&H Photo

WHERE TO FIND PSYCHEDELIC BLUES 35MM FILM

PsychBlues.com

WHERE TO FIND THE SAMSUNG EVOCA ZOOM 115 35 MM CAMERA

Etsy

eBay

Amazon

If you’re looking for other unique film stocks to try out, make sure to read my blog post - 5 Unique Films to Try to Make Your Photos More Interesting. Or if you just want some standard 35 mm film recommendations, check out my post about The Best Color Film for 35mm Cameras.

<3 Myles Katherine

Polaroid Now Generation 2 Review & How-To with Sample Photos! The Best Polaroid Camera for Beginners

March 2, 2026

This camera is so darn cute. I’ve always been obsessed with Polaroid cameras, and honestly, they just keep getting better. The Polaroid Now Generation 2 camera comes in tons of different colors, takes beautiful photos, and gives you that retro, classic instant film vibe that everyone loves. Polaroid makes a few different modern versions of Polaroid cameras like the Polaroid Go (takes mini polaroids), the Polaroid I-2 (higher end, pricey Polaroid camera with more control), the Polaroid Flip (a bit more advanced, heavier, and more expensive than the Polaroid Now), and the Polaroid Now and Now+. The Polaroid Now is a great, affordable way for beginners to get started with instant film photography. There’s truly nothing more magical than watching a Polaroid come to life. And these days, it’s so important to take photos that actually mean something. The photo is printed right there in front of you and gives you something tangible to hold on to from that exact moment in time. It’s so easy for our memories to slip into the depths of the photo albums on our phones, sadly. I bring a Polaroid camera with me to every photo shoot, and on every trip I take. If I didn’t take a Polaroid, it didn’t happen. That’s my motto!

HISTORY BEHIND THE POLAROID BRAND

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Polaroid brand, but you might not know the long story behind it and how the brand is still able to exist today. The original company was started in 1937 and produced the first instant camera in 1947. Throughout the years they created the iconic Land Camera, the folding SX-70 camera, the 600 series, Spectra series, and so many more. In 2001 though, the company filed for bankruptcy, the assets were eventually sold off and the Polaroid brand pretty much ceased to exist for a while. Then, along comes a small instant film company called The Impossible Project who made it their mission to bring Polaroid back. Later down the line, they changed their name to Polaroid Originals before officially acquiring the Polaroid name and being able to market themselves as such. I’ve been there with them every step of the way, trying out the different film iterations and watching them grow into a reliable, successful company. It’s been a long road for them, but it’s so fun seeing their products labeled with the official Polaroid name.

(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

THE MAKING OF THE POLAROID NOW CAMERA

The Polaroid Now camera is one of their original products, meant to mimic the older 600 series cameras, but with more modern features. The camera is cute and colorful, with a similar shape and size to cameras like the vintage Polaroid One-Step and Polaroid Sun600 cameras. I think my favorite part about these cameras, and the company itself, is that the photos still look exactly like they did back in the 80s. They haven’t tried to greatly enhance, change, or modernize the overall aesthetic of the photographs. I still have Polaroids my parents took of me as a kid and the color tones of Polaroids are so specific. While those have aged over the years and taken on a new color tone of their own, there is a special quality to Polaroids that simply can’t be replaced. The photos aren’t super sharp, but they have a magic candidness to them that truly captures of the essence of the moment. It can be a little frustrating to learn the quirks of Polaroid film, but that’s also part of the fun of it all.

MODERN FEATURES OF THE POLAROID NOW CAMERA

The vintage Polaroid 600 cameras were incredibly user-friendly, simple, and easy to use for the average consumer. You didn’t need to be a photographer to pick one up and take a photo. That’s why Polaroid cameras were in nearly every household back in the 80s and 90s. It’s really as simple as turning it on and snapping a photo. The Polaroid Now cameras aren’t that much different than the older 600 cameras, but there a few modern updates. For example, with the older versions of Polaroid cameras, the battery was actually inside each pack of film so you didn’t need to charge the camera. Today, the newer cameras need to be charged to be used and most of the film does not have a battery. While this sounds frustrating, it reduces environmental waste. However, the good news is, you can still buy an old 600 camera and use the new Polaroid 600 film which does have a battery built into the film. I love that they still offer the 600 film and continue to support the use of the vintage cameras. The newer cameras typically take i-Type film, which does not have a battery, and so the camera needs to be charged to work. It’s a little confusing, so just make sure to use the recommended film depending on which camera you purchase.

Front of camera, red shutter button

Flash button, yellow power button, digital film counter

And my absolute favorite feature of the Polaroid Now camera is that is has a double exposure mode! I absolutely love double exposures, so this a huge plus for me. It always bummed me out that I couldn’t do double exposures with the old 600 cameras, but now I can! I can’t wait to experiment more with this and get some really interesting photos. To turn the double exposure mode on, you simply double tap the white self-timer button on the front of the camera and you’ll see a “1” pop up on the digital counter. After your first image, it will turn to “2” before ejecting the photo after your second shot. You can also purchase a colorful filter set to use with the Polaroid Now so you can really get creative. I just got a set the other day and I can’t wait to try it out!

There is also a self-timer mode (a 9 second timer perfect for self-portraits or group portraits) and an option for turning the flash off. With the older 600 cameras, the flash would go off automatically every time. I actually love the way the Polaroid flash looks so, personally, I hardly ever turn it off. The Polaroid film typically requires a lot of light for decent images, especially if you’re shooting indoors or in the shade. The only time you might not need the flash is in bright, direct sunlight. You can also control the exposure by holding down the flash button until you see a line on the digital screen, and then pressing again for either + or -. The plus will make your photo brighter (+1/2 stop), and the minus (-1/2 stop) will make your photo a bit darker. I recommend using the darker setting if you’re in a really bright environment like the beach. The brighter setting is great if you’re in dark shade or shooting indoors.

And one of the most convenient features of the newer Polaroid cameras is that there is an app you can use alongside it. You can scan your polaroids right away and upload them to social media to share with your friends and family! You can even enter contests! With the newer model of the Polaroid Now, the Polaroid Now+, you can even control various aspects of your camera like aperture and remote shooting. Essentially, the Now+ is a bit more advanced if you prefer to have more control over your images. The Polaroid Now is easier to use and better for quick shooting or someone who just wants to pop their camera out, take a photo, and not have to worry about fiddling with settings or apps. The Polaroid Now is also a little more affordable! They’ve recently released a Polaroid Now Generation 3 model with slightly enhanced features like an updated light meter and range sensor if you’re able to spend a little more.

USB-C charging port

Viewfinder and white self timer/double exposure button

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m just so thrilled that Polaroid is still around producing film, creating cameras, and supporting the legacy of film photography. I take a Polaroid camera with me to every photo shoot and (not even joking) I have dozens of boxes and photo albums filled with Polaroids from my shoots over the years. They are such a great way to remember the moments and people I’ve met throughout my career. The Polaroid Now camera fits right into the overall nostalgia and spot-on aesthetic of the Polaroid brand. Plus, it’s nice that I can put my vintage 600 cameras up on the shelf and keep them safe while still getting that classic Polaroid vibe in my photos that I need at each photo shoot. The Polaroid Now is an affordable, basic Polaroid camera that anyone can use. I love that it has more features than the vintage 600 cameras though so I actually prefer to use it over the vintage ones. By no means is it a low-end camera though. You still get the full experience of Polaroid photography but without complication. If you’re ready for an upgrade though, the Polaroid Now+, Polaroid Flip or I-2 are for those who want a challenge. If you want a pocket-sized camera to snap cute, tiny polaroids with your friends, the Polaroid Go is a unique, fun option.

I also highly recommend these Polaroid photo albums to protect and store your photos. I have quite a few of them and they look great on a shelf! :) If you’re on the hunt for more gift ideas for a photographer, there is also a Polaroid printer that allows you to turn any photo from your phone into a Polaroid. I actually use mine all the time!

I’m still waiting for the day that the Polaroid brand brings back film for Polaroid Land Cameras. Those cameras are incredible and produce the most gorgeous Polaroids I’ve ever seen. They stopped making the film in 2008 and it’s extremely expensive if you’re able to find film on eBay. I have a full review and YouTube video about Polaroid Land Cameras if you want to find out more! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Land camera film is on the horizon…. we’ll see!