Film is fringe

[sf]

I regularly have people ask me if my camera is digital. They never assume anything because it looks so unusual.

I have seen only one major film camera out and about since the digital revolution. That is, I have only seen one outside my circle of friends and fellow photography people). I was having lunch at a snooty restaraunt in Montecito, CA . . .you Brooke's people probably know the name . . ..it's right on the ocean. The table next to us sat three people, and one of them was a young woman (30s) who was presented with a Mamiya 7II as a gift. I watched and drooled, my Nikon D70 quickly hidden from view out of embarrassment.

Since then, I have only seen a handful of small little AF 35mm cameras. Like Nikon N65s. Digital is absolutely pervasive, across ages and cultures and styles of shooting. Like cellphones - eveyrone's got one, and they treat them as bodyparts. Stuff it in the purse kind of things. I just got my sister the Olympus 720SW. Snapshot, snapshot, snapshot.

Every now and then, I get a grin from someone who watches me load film, wind, focus, adjust aperture, shoot, wind. . .like they are happy to see it done. ANd they usually have a DSLR or EVF camera in their hands.

 

[ruben]

It's funny, but lately I have observed that it's "cool" or "contrary" ;-) to use mechanical cameras and film. That's how much things have changed. Film users are now a fringe group!

I AM FRINGE.

AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FRINGE.

WHO EVER IS AFRAID OF BEING FRINGE, WILL FOREVER LIVE AN ESCENTIALLY FRINGE LIFE.

BECAUSE I AM NOT AFRAID TO BE FRINGE, I AM A FREE MAN.

I AM PROUD OF BEING FRINGE.

I AM A SMALL FRINGE MAN. GREAT FRINGE WOMEN AND MEN CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY AND REVOLUTIONAZED SCIENCE AND ART.

 

[StuartR]

I regularly have people ask me if my camera is digital. They never assume anything because it looks so unusual.

I have seen only one major film camera out and about since the digital revolution. That is, I have only seen one outside my circle of friends and fellow photography people). I was having lunch at a snooty restaraunt in Montecito, CA . . .you Brooke's people probably know the name . . ..it's right on the ocean. The table next to us sat three people, and one of them was a young woman (30s) who was presented with a Mamiya 7II as a gift. I watched and drooled, my Nikon D70 quickly hidden from view out of embarrassment.

Since then, I have only seen a handful of small little AF 35mm cameras. Like Nikon N65s. Digital is absolutely pervasive, across ages and cultures and styles of shooting. Like cellphones - eveyrone's got one, and they treat them as bodyparts. Stuff it in the purse kind of things. I just got my sister the Olympus 720SW. Snapshot, snapshot, snapshot.

Every now and then, I get a grin from someone who watches me load film, wind, focus, adjust aperture, shoot, wind. . .like they are happy to see it done. ANd they usually have a DSLR or EVF camera in their hands.

You were in Montecito??? You should have let me know! I live about 3 miles away in downtown SB. But in any case, one nice thing about Brooks is that it allows for some seriously well stocked photo stores in Santa Barbara. But beyond that, the majority of the people who work in those stores and labs are Brooks students (or former Brooks students), and they really know what they are talking about. Brooks still starts all students with 4x5 cameras, and so the students know film, cameras and all sorts of accessories. When I was learning photography it was in large part to helpful Brooks students at the local stores who would recommend films to me, or tell me secret tips like turning on the shower on the hottest setting to remove the dust from the air before hanging your negs. While most of them don't know the older stuff (and Leica stuff) very well, they know photography, which is a huge bonus. They are working at a camera store because they are studying photography and not just for money, and it is hard to convey how big a benefit that actually is for the customer.

 

[sf]

You were in Montecito??? You should have let me know! I live about 3 miles away in downtown SB. But in any case, one nice thing about Brooks is that it allows for some seriously well stocked photo stores in Santa Barbara. But beyond that, the majority of the people who work in those stores and labs are Brooks students (or former Brooks students), and they really know what they are talking about. Brooks still starts all students with 4x5 cameras, and so the students know film, cameras and all sorts of accessories. When I was learning photography it was in large part to helpful Brooks students at the local stores who would recommend films to me, or tell me secret tips like turning on the shower on the hottest setting to remove the dust from the air before hanging your negs. While most of them don't know the older stuff (and Leica stuff) very well, they know photography, which is a huge bonus. They are working at a camera store because they are studying photography and not just for money, and it is hard to convey how big a benefit that actually is for the customer.

I go down there once a year, usually for a month or so. Have not been in a while, though. Not since last summer. LOVE the place. Montecito beach used to be a secret - now flooded with UCSB crowds. I'm most likely moving back to LA in not too long. Looking forward the the Strand, Patrick's roadhouse in Malibu/Santa Monica, Montecito, Samy's Cameras in SB and LA. And the El Segundo/Palos Verdes area.

Just remembered the name of the place : The Biltmore (Four Seasons). Go there.

 

[StuartR]

Yeah, I figured it was the Biltmore. It is a nice place to have drinks...gorgeous and right on the beach. Well, unfortunately I am not going to be around this summer (I am off to Iceland), but I will be there for a week or two in August before moving back to New York for good. If you are around in August, let me know and we can meet up.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

My Leica gets two reactions from strangers. Many don't notice it, or dismiss it as just some old camera. The other reaction is this kind of weird religious awe.

I've not experienced the second reaction Melanie! but the first is EXACTLY why film works for me. The photographer becomes almost invisible to the subject he/she is photographing. Recent projects have invloved getting up close in what are often difficult situations - i know i couldn't capture that sort of intimacy with a digital camera
- the problem for me is convincing the Charities and NGO's to work with film and it being B/W....

 

[MikeCaine]

Well... he'll actually make pictures from the stuff inside the canister... but you're in the right ball park. Think of it as a cylindrical memory card being taken to the kiosk.

Ah, got it now!

Apparently I'll see my prints on Monday. I should have gone straight to the big chain film processor but I'm trying to support my little local independent camera shop.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

This talk of film users being on the fringes prompted me to watch David Hemmings in "Blow Up"
great to see big prints, Nikons, Hassy's, old lighting equipment and everything else not to mention his car!

 

[Kim Coxon]

I am not a number, I am a free man

Ha Ha Ha Ha

Kim

I AM FRINGE.

AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FRINGE.

WHO EVER IS AFRAID OF BEING FRINGE, WILL FOREVER LIVE AN ESCENTIALLY FRINGE LIFE.

BECAUSE I AM NOT AFRAID TO BE FRINGE, I AM A FREE MAN.

I AM PROUD OF BEING FRINGE.

I AM A SMALL FRINGE MAN. GREAT FRINGE WOMEN AND MEN CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY AND REVOLUTIONAZED SCIENCE AND ART.

 

[pvdhaar]

And in the 'everything old is new again' department, you can get a PS plugin that simulates film grain. I'm sure that in due time, there will be one that simulates scratches and dust, naff exposure, and focusing errors. Maybe tilt horizons as well.

Hey Bill, you just gave a 100% accurate description of what my dSLR does all the time 😀

To be fair, some of it is user error, my nose always pokes into the AF selector, the dust is due to changing lenses too much, and I probably should select a different colour space.. and the others I can correct (viewfinder mask is slightly off-level) by either rotate in PS/PSP or by using the AF marks as a guide..

 

[ch1]

My experience is that the guys at B&H are really rude. Not the guys working the floor (selling the cameras etc), but the ones at the checkout counters. On the other hand, the guys at Adorama have all been really nice to me. Nice to the extent that they closed the store down on a Friday afternoon while I was still there because they were trying to find something for me in the back. The guys at the counter were like: "Hey, don't worry about it, we still have time to get home (before sundown)." There is always the normal New York speed/briskness in the service, but the guys are really nice. I much prefer Adorama in person.

I favor Adorama over B&H for a variety of reasons like those cited above. While it also has a two-step purchasing process (first you tell them what you want then you go to checkout and pay where the item is handed to you) they seem to handle it much more effectively and politely.

But as noted, it is a busy place and it always helps to know what you want. It's not the kind of place to "browse" - although it may be quieter on Sunday AMs (I spend weekends outside the City so have never been there then).

I find that one way to faciiltate my business there is to "shop first" on the website so I know what I want and what the cost is before going to the store. Contrary to what some may think - when it comes to new gear, accessories etc. there is no "bargaining". I've never purchased used gear there so don't know about that.

Oh, and the other reason I prefer Adorama is for some reasons I mentioned earlier. Adorama is still really a camera (and telescopes) store - I don't have to wade past TVs, computers, AV equipment etc. to get to the "good stuff"! 😀