The Optics Lab exists to serve photographers and visual storytellers through a growing set of connected efforts — anchored by our own film production through the Film Factory, where we source, spool, and release original emulsions and product lines. Alongside that, the Film Fridge and Film Picks offer curated rare and expired stock, original prints, photobooks, and the Garage Gallery (coming soon) — a public street-facing exhibition space in San Francisco's Inner Sunset.

We believe in a slower, more intentional relationship with image-making — an appreciation for craft, for the physical object, and for the stories behind every photograph.

Film Factory — Original 35mm film created from rare and discontinued emulsions — motion picture stocks and specialty materials sourced globally and produced in California. Each product line is unique, from sourcing through to the finished roll.

Film Fridge — Cold-stored rare, expired, and motion picture film stock sold individually. Sourced from around the world and kept in controlled conditions.

Film Picks — Monthly curated sets of rare 35mm film, selected around a theme and delivered to your door.

Prints & Books — Original signed archival photographic prints and independently published photobooks.

Services — DX coding, re-encoding, and bulk spooling for photographers working with bulk or vintage 35mm stock.

Stories — Long-form writing on film stocks, cameras, and the culture of analog photography.

The Optics Lab was incorporated in March 2025 and began operating out of San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood that June. What started as a curated collection of cold-stored film stock — Film Fridge — has grown to include subscription-based film sets, our own emulsion-sourcing label (Film Factory), original photographic prints, and photobooks from photographers around the world.

In 2026, we will open the Garage Gallery, a street-facing micro-gallery on the 1300 block of 9th Avenue, across from Arizmendi Bakery. Visible 24 hours a day from the sidewalk, the Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions, each exploring a unifying curatorial theme.

Our visual identity is built around Fran Sans, a typeface inspired by the destination displays of San Francisco's now-retired MUNI Breda light rail vehicles. The font was designed and generously shared by Emily Sneddon. We extended its character into a broader visual utility and design language for the Optics Lab.