Pushing a film means the photographer is rating the film above its actual speed. For example, an ISO 100 film can be pushed up by two stops to Exposure Index (E.I) of 400 and the film can be over-developed by the processing lab to compensate for the 2-stops of underexposures because the whole roll of film was shot at the rated E.I. index speed. Similarly, a film can also be "pull-processed". This is accomplished by rating the film below its actual speed. For example, an ISO 100 is used at the E.I. index speed of 50, which is an overexposure of 1-stop. The film now has to be under-developed in order to get back the normal exposure balance in the film. But if you shooting purely for hobby or just for entering photo contests, there are no hard rules on what film speeds that you have to shoot with, since any speed will do, depending on your budget or your type of lenses. If you are shooting for glossy high quality magazines, like those on fashion or glamour, try not to use any film higher than ISO 200 (negative or slides) unless you are only shooting a high-profile cocktail reception or other premiere events with the usual glitz and glamour. If you are one of those photographers shooting for commercial (non-reportage) stock photo agencies on a part-time of full-time basis, where the requirements are top-notch quality and extremely saturated colours) 35mm images, ISO 100 film is the highest speed to be used for your submission pictures for them to accept. You can try shooting with higher speed films with such agencies only after you have become one of their top contributing shooters, otherwise donít waste your time trying to impress, they are not interested. For travel and landscape photography, any film up to ISO 400 film is okay. If you prefer to shoot with colour slides film, the better choice is with any film not faster than ISO160. With colour negative film, ISO 400 is the limit although you can try shooting with ISO 800 or even 1600 for creative effects with the increased grain for personal taste. However, when it comes to shooting with strobes in the studio using portable or heavy-duty studio lighting set-ups with your EOS cameras, the lower speed films are suitable for such applications. The same method applies, too, if you are using your EOS camera with Canon accessories for multiple flash units or the Wireless Autoflash System of the new EOS-3 camera with multiple Canon Speedlite 550EXs. This is because the studio strobes are powerful enough to light up your intended subject(s) with maximum depth of field to boot, so using films having ISO speeds of 100 or lower is not a problem at all. << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 .