Frugal Film Project 2026 - I'll be back!

These are the dark days before Christmas, days in which I muse about my (film) photography plans for 2026. One of the things I'm thinking about is participating in the Frugal Film Project (FFP) next year. The Frugal Fulm Project, you know, that project that shows that you don't need fancy gear to get great photographs. Now don't get me wrong, I love fancy gear. But this project invites you to be creative with an affordable kit. The rules are simple: Get yourself a camera/lens combination under $ 75 and use affordable film, shoot one film a month and share your results at the Frugal Film Project '26 page. The group currently has 805 members.

My FFP 2026 kit.

I've been discussing this with my friends Joeri van Veen and the Old Camera Guy and after thinking it over I've decided that this will be the gear for FFP 2026:

The camera

I opted for the Canon EOS 1000N. The EOS 1000N was released in 1992 as an improved version of the EOS 1000. The EOS 1000N, known in the Americas as the EOS Rebel II, is a no-frills SLR equipped with autofocus. It has one focus point and no in-built flash. Prices are about € 10 to € 15 these days although mine was a gift.

Specifications:

Camera:                        Canon EOS 1000N/Rebel II

Built:                            1990s

Mount:                          EF

Shutter speeds:             30-1/2000 seconds, B

Self timer:                    yes

Auto DX:                       yes

Exposure modes:           Av, Tv, P, M

Film speeds                   ISO 6 - ISO 6400

Battery:                        one 2CR5

The lenses

The lenses I am planning to use are the Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM and the Canon EF 35mm f/2.0. I bought the 24-85mm for € 60 and this lens gives me a little more flexibility than the 28-80mm kit lens. The 35mm was introduced in 1990, is a newcomer to the project and was a gift. Its minimal focus distance is 0,25 meter which is a plus over the 24-85mm.

Specifications Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM:

Focal length:                        24-85mm

Minimal focus distance:        0.5 meters

Aperture:                             f/3.5-4.5 - f/22

Aperture blades:                  6

Diameter:                            67mm

Mount:                                EF

Manufacturer:                     Canon

Built:                                  1996-2009

Specifications Canon EF 35mm f/2.0:

Focal length:                        35mm

Minimal focus distance:        0.25 meters

Aperture:                             f/2.0 - f/22

Aperture blades:                  5

Diameter:                            52mm

Mount:                                EF

Manufacturer:                     Canon

Built:                                  1990s

The film

My first thought was Fomapan 100 but as I have used black and white film for the project before I might actually use color film this year. That would either be Kodak Gold 200 or Ultra 400. I need to take stock of what I actually have in the fridge and then I'll decide.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - wrapping up the project

Wrapping up the project 

It is now Sunday afternoon, January 5th, 2025. It is two degrees C outside, raining and the snow that fell last night is slowly disappearing. A good time to reflect on the Frugal Film Project. Wait, I hear you thinking. Wrapping up the project? The last episode we saw was September 2024. Where are the final months of 2024? As it turned out, the September session of the Frugal Film Project was the last I would shoot in 2024 due to other commitments. 

For me the big plus of this project has been to just get out and shoot even when I wouldn't otherwise. I didn't always manage that but looking back I feel that I have shot some nice images and that was fun when out and about with my Canon. The camera I used was a very affordable Canon EOS 1000N but don't let the low price fool you, this is a fine camera and it does the job perfectly. The film I used was Agfaphoto APX 100/36. A fine film, just not always as full with contrast as, say, Fomapan. It worked well for the project and I think I've gotten some good results with it. I also got to know the Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lens quite well along the way. What I found was that the extra reach (24-85mm instead of 28-80mm) was nice to have. However I feel that it was holding me back sometimes too. The 24-85 is a good lens, don't get me wrong, but I have other good lenses too and it was sometimes frustrating not being able to use them because they fell outside of the budget rules set by the project.

My favorites

As I said I've had a lot of fun shooting images for the project. These are my favorite photos of each month:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

The future

Moving forward I see myself using the EOS 1000N a lot in 2025 and beyond, just like the APX film. I don't think I will be using the 24-85 as much as I did this year. So what does this mean for the project in 2025? I've been thinking a lot about that lately. I could always switch to another camera/lens setup. However, that would still restrict me to one lens and as I stated earlier it is frustrating to shoot a certain image with a given lens knowing that you have a more fitting lens in your collection that would capture the image better. I have therefore decided to take a break from the project in 2025.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - September

The September edition of the Frugal Film Project saw me go abroad. I took my trusty Canon EOS 1000N plus the 24-85mm to the small town of Unterzeil near Leutkirch im Allgäu, Germany. Close to the town of Unterzeil lies Schloss Zeil, the subject of today's outing. 

Schloss Zeil is the home of the descendants of the Fürsten von Waldburg-Zeil and was built in 1599-1614 by Froben von Waldburg-Zeil. In recent history (1945) the Schloss shortly housed the Vichy-French government in exile after it was driven from France.

This last image was shot at the Mindelburg, 49 km to the northeast.

As usual, the film is Agfaphoto APX 100 which was developed at home with Adonal.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - August

My August shots for the Frugal Film Project were taken at the annual photography fair in Doesburg. More than 100 dealers and sellers offer all kinds of cameras, lenses and related gear. A true heaven for gearheads like me :-)

It is always great to browse through all that is on offer. This time I found nothing to add to my collection but I had a fun day out nonetheless.

As usual, all photos were shot with my Canon EOS 1000N fitted with a 24-85mm lens and loaded with a roll of Agfaphoto APX 100. I've developed the roll at home using Adonal developer and scanned the negatives with an Epson V850.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - June

The June edition of the Frugal Film Project takes place in my back yard - sort of. For those new to the project, the aim is to show that you don't need fancy photo gear to get great photos so in order to participate you select a camera-lens combo under $ 75, some cheap, well, make that less expensive film and shoot a roll every month for a year. I've opted for a Canon EOS 1000N with a 24-85mm lens and Agfaphoto APX 100/36. I also develop the film at home using Adonal developer.

This month I went walkabout on an early misty Monday morning, just as the sun was rising. Enjoy!

Frugal Film Project 2024 - May

The Frugal Film Project - you know, that project where you use a film camera and lens that cost you less than $ 75 and shoot a roll of affordable film each month just to show that you don't need expensive stuff to get great photo's - sadly hasn't seen enough attention on this blog in the last months. We last visited the project in April, so let's turn our attention to May.

Now May was a bit of a busy month for me with no photographs taken for the project so I'm switching to a second roll I shot in April. This saw me taking photos at the Muiderslot or Muiden Castle in Muiden, the Netherlands. Built in 1280 by Count Floris V at the mouth of the river Vecht its primary goal was to facilitate the collecting of toll from traders using the trade route along the river. It was destroyed in 1297 after being conquered by the Archbishop of Utrecht, Willem van Mechelen. It was rebuilt around 100 years later on the orders of Albecht I, Duke of Bavaria and Count of Holland and Zeeland.

The Muiderslot is perhaps most famous as the summer home of P.C. Hooft (1581-1647). Hooft, being the sheriff and bailiff of het Gooiland for 39 years (hence his use of the castle) was a well known writer, poet and historian who established the Muiderkring or Muider society which had members like Vondel, Huygens, Bredero, Barlaeus and father and daughter Visscher.

After the time of Hooft the castle was used as barracks for the French army occupying the Netherlands. It was later used as a prison and ammunition depot. After that, the castle fell into disuse and disrepair. So much so that in 1825 it was for sale with the purpose of it being demolished. King Willem I interfered and the building was saved. It took another 70 years before reconstruction began. These days the castle is a national museum.

I brought my Canon EOS 1000N fitted with a 24-85mm lens and loaded a roll of Agfaphoto APX 100. As usual, I've developed the roll at home using Adonal developer and scanned the negatives with an Epson V850.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - April

For this chapter of the Frugal Film Project I've travelled across the border. The Frugal Film Project - you know, that project where you use a film camera and lens that cost you less than $ 75 and shoot a roll of affordable film each month just to show that you don't need expensive stuff to get great photo's - has seen a rise in participants in the last few months, the community is now 556 photographers strong. It is really fun to participate and to see the photo's other participants have taken.

Il-14P of the Polish Air Force, built in Dresden

April saw me taking photo's at the Flugausstellung Peter Junior located at the Haberberg 1 in Hermeskeil, Germany. This aviation museum, established in 1973, has a collection of more than 100 aircraft and is well worth a visit. I brought my Canon EOS 1000N fitted with a 25-85mm lens and loaded a roll of Agfaphoto APX 100. As usual, I've developed the roll at home using Adonal developer and scanned the negatives with an Epson V850.

Former Aeroflot Mi-6A

Former Interflug Tu-134AK

An ex Fleet Air Arm Sea Hawk FGA.4

Ex French Air Force Super Mystere

A former USAF F-105F

An ex Luftwaffe Pembroke C.54

A MiG-21US trainer version

A former East German AF An-26

The F-104 Starfighter, a rocket with wings

Another shot of the Il-14

Frugal Film Project 2024 - March

I travelled to Lake Naarden (Naardermeer) for the March edition of the Frugal Film Project. For those new to the project, the aim is to show that you don't need fancy photo gear to get great photos so in order to participate you select a camera-lens combo under $ 75, some cheap, well, make that less expensive film and shoot a roll every month for a year. I've opted for a Canon EOS 1000N with a 24-85mm lens and Agfaphoto APX 100/36. I also develop the film at home using Adonal developer.

Wind mill De Onrust at the edge of Lake Naarden

Lake Naarden is a nature reserve in the 't Gooi area of the Netherlands. These former marshlands are the first nature reserve in the Netherlands, established in 1905. Before that, there were several attempts to convert the marshlands into dry land. This was almost managed in 1629 but to stop the advancing Spanish Army from reaching Amsterdam the whole area was inundated. During the reign of Louis Napoleon in the early 1800s another attempt was made, this time by building three wind mills to pump away the waters. These three mills together however did not have the capacity to pump away all the water. In 1883 a third attempt was made and a steam mill built. The costs to dry the entire area were deemed to high however and the area remained wet marshlands. In the early 1900s the city of Amsterdam then planned to use the area as a waste disposal area but local opposition was fierce, resulting in the creation of the preservation foundation Vereniging tot Behoud van Natuurmomenten. It was this foundation that bought Lake Naarden for 160,000 guilders and made it a nature reserve.

Of the mills, the steam mill building and one of the original three wind mills still exist. Wind Mill De Onrust (the Unrest) was built in 1809 and is still used to regulate the water level in Lake Naarden. It is this mill that I went to see.