Film is less complicated than digital for travel?

I like to carry a camera that fits the occasion. Traveling with just a backpack around Europe, a good compact (I use a Minolta AF-C) and a 6x6 folder takes up almost no room and gives me what I need.

Trekking for a few days in the mountains. Still a folder. Hard to beat in regards to weight and quality in areas with no electricity.

I find it to be a wonderful freedom to be able to carry my entire luggage with ease. Makes me look like a backpacker/hobo when traveling. Therefore my cameras must be small and light. Film is usually better considering that.
 
Mixed bag really, on one hand I like simplicity of film, not worrying about batteries, and also no temptation to sit in the hotel room reviewing photos where I should be out doing something. On the other hand, digital means you don't have pre-pick an ISO, you don't have to ensure you have enough film (SD cards are easily bought from the hotel lobby shops, Velvia, not so much), and digital, you can back up anywhere you have an internet connection which is fast enough. Film, well, there is no real backup solution, not on the move anyway.

Depending on where you are, a digital camera can be replaced easily, assuming your tastes are not too exotic, film camera, probably not so easy.

On balance, I think digital suits travel better, but I'll still stick to film for it's other qualities.
 
I've done both in the past, but nowadays I favor film for traveling. The biggest difference in my experience, is that film is less of a distraction - I take a shot and move on, feeling much more 'in the moment' of my vacation.

I always found that digital would distract me - I'd be anxious that I hadn't got the 'right' shot of a certain place, and in the evenings I'd sit and look through the day's images with a certain angst that I'd missed something.

This also meant that my vacation pictures were somewhat stale to me even before I got home.
In contrast, I love getting my negatives back from the lab and scanning them at leisure - sometimes discovering great beach images in the middle of a chilly winter.

Film cameras are also generally more reliable than digital, and SD cards can be corrupted, mislaid or dropped more easily than a roll of film. One time in Barcelona I used the (upmarket) hotel's PCs to generate DVD backups of my cards, and when I got home and back to my Mac, found that virus files were plentifully present both on the DVD disks and the SD cards. (I know to lock the cards if I ever need to do anything similar in the future).

I think generally a totally mechanical and manual film camera will always outshine a computer-cam that needs constant recharging and backing-up.
 
for short few week holiday, guess it does not matter much, film or digi. but for longer travel, digital is a must IMO. having computer/tablet (+ all chargers etc.) is good to have with anyway. never thought of doubling the chargers like someone above, only usb-disks for space and backup.
 
For ease or convenience, I don't think one is a clear winner over the other, unless you are taking your tablet or netbook with you . . . then digital has to win. At night, copy off the day's SD card while changing for dinner, and there you go. Even post some snaps to you 'blog ( ? ) or send an email snap to the folks back home.
 
I have the family with me, so taking time out for uploading files will be frowned upon. This is the most critical factor for me. I want my wife to enjoy the traveling. I wonder if the responses above may slightly differ with the family factor included.
 
raphaelaaron said:
Well, then there's the cost/time of processing the film, scanning it, etc.

They both have their strengths and weaknesses, in my opinion. But yes, if by less complicated, you mean while out and about shooting, then I would agree.
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Exactly the last sentence. And if I'm longer abroad I will send the exposed rolls by registered mail directly to my developing and scanning provider. Or to my home address.
 
As long as you can have all your film hand checked at the airports its fine but other than that digital is more practical , having said that i regret my trip to Mexico wasn't shot on film.
 
You don't back up your films whilst travelling, so why bother with memory cards? If you do bother then digital is much more fail safe than film. I find digital easier to travel with as long as I have a couple of memory cards and some charged batteries. My 7d will do ~2000 shots with 2 batteries in the grip (usually on for wildlife). I will also see my digital photos far quicker than my film ones at the rate I get round to developing them! 😉
 
raid said:
I have the family with me, so taking time out for uploading files will be frowned upon. This is the most critical factor for me. I want my wife to enjoy the traveling. I wonder if the responses above may slightly differ with the family factor included.
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I sure understand that. My wife never did enjoy waiting for me to take photographs, let alone sitting at a computer uploading files. But I suppose you could have more than one card and leave to go eat or visit other sites while the photos were uploaded. Even to do so on the i'net, except for the exhorbitant prices many hotels charge for i'net access.

Hope you are able to see everything you want, and the light improves for you. It is a little rainny and cloudy in DC right now. At least, though not Florida weather, it isn't too cold. Enjoy and stay safe.
 
I think you are complicating this. I just go with two cameras and a lot of cards. Keep the cards in a safe place until you return and can deal with them.
 
oftheherd said:
I sure understand that. My wife never did enjoy waiting for me to take photographs, let alone sitting at a computer uploading files. But I suppose you could have more than one card and leave to go eat or visit other sites while the photos were uploaded. Even to do so on the i'net, except for the exhorbitant prices many hotels charge for i'net access.

Hope you are able to see everything you want, and the light improves for you. It is a little rainny and cloudy in DC right now. At least, though not Florida weather, it isn't too cold. Enjoy and stay safe.
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Thanks.
The weather is turning into sunny at DuPont Circle.
Enjoying the trip is most important.
By the way, yesterday, a metro train ran over a person. I was in a ater train, and we stopped for a while because of it.
 
How fortunate we are, being able to discuss having both the money and the time to travel. I find both in less abundance these days. So, how does it work these days with TSA? I use to travel with a lead bag and film. I assume that you have them hand inspect the film. Do they make you take the 35mm out of the cannisters and the roll film out of the wrap? That uncertainty has had me taking digital when flying. Also, use to shoot and develop locally when travelling. I assume that rural areas and anything but small towns are pretty much void of any developing labs that can provide same day service.
 
mani said:
Film cameras are also generally more reliable than digital, and SD cards can be corrupted, mislaid or dropped more easily than a roll of film. One time in Barcelona I used the (upmarket) hotel's PCs to generate DVD backups of my cards, and when I got home and back to my Mac, found that virus files were plentifully present both on the DVD disks and the SD cards. (I know to lock the cards if I ever need to do anything similar in the future).
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I'm a film guy, but I can't really agree too much with this. The only camera I've had break down on me is a film camera, I was out on the beach in Oahu with my Sigma DP-1 and Fujifilm Klasse back when I shot both film and digital, and it was the Klasse that quit on me. Had to send it off for repair when I got back, thankfully I had another film camera with me.

SD cards can of course be corrupted, but you can drop an SD in the sea and it'll likely be OK, film won't.

Much as I'd love to say film wins for backup, I really can't say it does, assuming you know how to backup files etc.
 
andersju said:
Can't you just not upload files then?
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Exactly. There is no need whatever to upload files and fuss over your camera unless you want to.

The same 2500, pristine perfect, original capture files are still there on my old 2G cards from my last trip with them in 2008 ... because after that trip I upgraded to 8G cards and didn't bother to erase them. Just checked ... Yup, all still there, still transfer as if I made them yesterday.

The supposed fragility of this stuff and desperate need to backup and replicate is another win by the marketing trolls to make you need to buy more again ...

The latent image on film is nowhere even remotely so secure, even if the film isn't further degraded by multiple X-ray exposure.
 
raid said:
I wonder if the responses above may slightly differ with the family factor included.
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well, also subject "travel" can be anything from tourist visiting 2 weeks in Europe to backpacker spending a year in India, or something else 😉 no wonder replies are so wide spread 🙂
 
andersju said:
Can't you just not upload files then?
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Absolutely. This is on my mind too. I will take many cards. As fr a dirty sensor in the M9, I could clean the sensor really well before the trip, and then use one lens only until I am " safe" at the hotel, where I could change to a secod lens.
 
This was meant for the members, since it goes beyond digital vs. Film. I use both. It is a small dilemma that many member could go through when planning for a trip. How do you balance between several factors.

If it fits better in another forum, then I have no problems with that.
 
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