Getting bored with digital

colyn said:
I've gotten bored with digital lately. It's easy to snap off a lot of images but they don't compare to my B&W or Color film images.
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Colyn,
Why are you bored? Do you change your shooting style when you shoot digital? If so, why? How do the images not compare? Composition not good? Out of focus? Is your post processing the issue? Have you tried a different post processing path?
Just wondering why you would sell a camera if you are truly bored. Take up a new project or approach to your photos instead of rashly selling off equiptment.
Steve
 
colyn said:
Actually I like the Nikon digital system but the only time I turn out anything worthwhile is when shooting film. I find more and more that I am leaving the digital at home and taking one or more of my film cameras.



Why do think this is? Have you put your finger on why you produce better images with film gear? Personally I don't think it has much to do with gear... I think its something psychological... at least for me. Images from my D90 were just as technically beautiful as my film stuff (at least as far as computer-printed scanned negatives goes). But I also got 'bugged' by the DSLR. But I haven't figured out what it is exactly.
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sjw617 said:
Colyn,
Why are you bored? Do you change your shooting style when you shoot digital? If so, why? How do the images not compare? Composition not good? Out of focus? Is your post processing the issue? Have you tried a different post processing path?
Just wondering why you would sell a camera if you are truly bored. Take up a new project or approach to your photos instead of rashly selling off equiptment.
Steve
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Digital does not have the same look as film which I grew up with plus I don't get to spend time in the darkroom like with film. I miss that when shooting digital. As far as post processing, composition, etc that's no problem. I don't like spending time in front of a computer fixing each and every one of my images. I'd rather be in the darkroom..

I never make rash decisions. Been thinking about this for some time now..
 
Colyn,
You are doing this for nostalgia? You miss your youth and inhaling chemicals? You should learn to post process to get the image you want.
Steve
 
sjw617 said:
Colyn,
You are doing this for nostalgia? You miss your youth and inhaling chemicals? You should learn to post process to get the image you want.
Steve
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To be honest digital never impressed me even though I used both a D200 and D90..

I already know how to post process having used photoshop, gimp, aperture, lightroom, capture nx2, and others. The darkroom is far more fun than spending hours in front of a computer tweaking colors, sharpness, etc..
 
croweater said:
The trick is finding an F6 for a sane price! (Does buying an F100 and scrawling "F6" across the front count?)
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🙂 You can buy a good used F100 for a song these days. Perhaps the OP should get one. After using it for a while he'll know if its digital or the Nikon system that he's tired of.
 
colyn said:
Thanks

I've bookmarked them and will have a look..
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I researched most of the commercial scanning services available... I've sent about 3600 35mm color negs to Scancafe and can give you a few tips if you use them:
  1. Sign up for their email newsletters and wait for a sale. I paid 19 cents and 21 cents per 35mm color neg for my orders. Last December I got a $300 gift card for $150! The sales are frequent enough that I'd never pay full price for their services.
  2. They only do 8-bit, regardless of color/B&W, format size, resolution, etc. I've pleaded with them to offer 16-bit for at least B&W, but until they switch from Photoshop Elements it's not gonna happen.
  3. You can throw away up to half of your scans and not have to pay for them, which is the best thing about Scancafe.
  4. They don't do any noise reduction, but do sharpen your scans (you can ask them to leave them unsharpened). Their Nikon Coolscans tend to accentuate the grain, so I do some light noise reduction on the scans.
Scancafe is best for archives of old negatives or slides when you don't care about fast turnaround. I don't send them any of my B&W negatives because I prefer to edit those in 16-bit.

If you want to give them a try, let me refer you and we both get a little something 😎
 
colyn said:
I've gotten bored with digital lately. It's easy to snap off a lot of images but they don't compare to my B&W or Color film images. ...
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Colyn - I've never used Nikon or Canon digital gear, only the Pentax system, but I have often seen Pentax users write that Pentax digital gives more "film-like" results. I note that Bill uses Pentax too, which might explain his pleasure in digital 🙄. Maybe a shift to Pentax and a small set of their excellent prime lenses might be worth a try.

And - I understand where you are coming from. This isn't about film versus digital; it's about YOU and your photography and your enjoyment and how you get your best results. I'm in a similar space; enjoy my Leica and Pentax gear (dSLR and film bodies) use MF and LF as well, and I'm in the process of building my own darkroom to give me more options in that direction.

Have fun! 🙂
 
I use Canon digtal gear and Zeiss film gear and both are great.

The bigger issue for me is what or why I am photographing - which isn't a film digital thing at all. In fact I'm increasingly agnostic about the kit, except the digital kit is heavier.

If it inspires you great, but otherwise think about why your doing it.

Mike
 
colyn said:
I don't get to spend time in the darkroom like with film. I miss that when shooting digital. As far as post processing, composition, etc that's no problem. I don't like spending time in front of a computer fixing each and every one of my images. I'd rather be in the darkroom..
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My feelings exactly.
 
ChrisN said:
Colyn - I've never used Nikon or Canon digital gear, only the Pentax system, but I have often seen Pentax users write that Pentax digital gives more "film-like" results. I note that Bill uses Pentax too, which might explain his pleasure in digital 🙄. Maybe a shift to Pentax and a small set of their excellent prime lenses might be worth a try.
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I've heard the same. There is a store here that sells electronics/cameras/etc at discount prices. I see Pentax and Olympus DSLR's from time to time and may check it out sometime.

ChrisN said:
And - I understand where you are coming from. This isn't about film versus digital; it's about YOU and your photography and your enjoyment and how you get your best results. I'm in a similar space; enjoy my Leica and Pentax gear (dSLR and film bodies) use MF and LF as well, and I'm in the process of building my own darkroom to give me more options in that direction.

Have fun! 🙂
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Thanks Chris for the heads up...

Having been raised in the film era I know my way around and can do most tasks without thinking about what I am doing.. When comparing my digital and film images side by side the film wins hands down in part because of the above..

It all boils down to what works best for the individual.

I plan to shoot more MF and I may even break out my 4x5 and give it a run again..
 
CLE-RF said:
Get a Kodak Medalist II and have Ken Ruth convert it to 120 spool.

Nothing like a pretty 6x9 negative scan of 75MP in the morning.
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This Kiev 60 I picked up last weekend will wear out your hands and arms just carrying it....nearly 5lbs. worth...😱
 
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