135 is the official name for the 35mm film format. It is the most common and well-known photographic film format in the world, having become the standard for analog photography.
When you see the designation "135", it means we are talking about standard 35mm film, which is used in most film SLR and rangefinder cameras.
Key characteristics of the 135 format:
- Film width: 35 mm (hence the popular name).
- Frame size: The standard size of a single frame is 24×36 mm.
- Packaging: The film comes in light-tight metal or plastic cassettes (cartridges), allowing convenient loading even in broad daylight.
- Number of frames: Cassettes are typically designed for 12, 24, or 36 exposures.
Why "135"?
This number was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as an internal designation for 35mm film in cassettes intended for still cameras rather than motion picture cinematography. The name stuck and became the international standard ISO 1007.
135 (or 35mm) is the classic and most popular format, used to capture a vast number of iconic photographs.