Going all-in with film...

hipsterdufus

hipsterdufus

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So, it's finally happening. I just sold my digital SLR (EOS 300d). I'm now going to be all film (the only exception will be my digital compact). For 35mm, I now have a Bessa R2 with Elmar 90mm f4, Nikkor-HC 50mm f2, and Canon 35mm f2.8. For Medium format, a Ricoh Diacord G is on the way. I will be using a hybrid workflow with a Canon 8800f for Medium format and a Plustek 7300 for my 35mm.

Apparently, I've gone off the deep-end... Btw, this is not a film vs. digital thread. I'm just wondering how many people have done the same. Any regrets? Kind of wondering if I've gone crazy. 🙂
 
I'm on opposite route...just bought digital compact, 2mpix with fixed focus 49mm lens 😀 Now I'm not film-only....
 
Hi there.

Been there, done that.

Current setup is Leicas IIIa and M3 with lenses, Mamiya C330f on the way, Kodak Medalist II, Horseman 970, and a not-yet functional Welta 9x12 camera. Planning to go larger in the future. I upgraded from Fuji S3, to Nikon D300, to Leica M8 in the past but sold off all digital gear, save for a now slowly failing 1999 Nikon D1. Only other digital camera is a cell phone camera.

35mm scanning on Minolta Scan Dual IV, larger on vintage Epson GT9600.
I'm enjoying it, no matter what others say. I like what I get. Developing B&W at home. Starting C-41 and cross processing E-6 this autumn. No regrets.
 
I'm all film. I always have a digital compact just for taking some pics for record or for video. But I probably use it once or twice a month. I take a lot of family photos, and does urban photography for pleasure, all on BW film.

I don't do photography for a living, I use what I'm happy with, not what the crowd think I should be doing. And anyway, most people are all film 10 years ago!
 
For "photography" I'm all film. 35mm, 6x6, 6x7 and some pola just for fun. Mostly B/W only with self dev and darkroom prints. Digital is used only for recoding notes and shooting gear for sale. I have no regrets or concept of "regret."
 
Awesome. I'm actually really excited to embark on this path. I started out in college 10 years ago doing only black and white; that was the only time I really enjoyed photography. Since getting back into film, all of those old feelings are coming back, kind of like a long-lost love.

Very good to see all of these encouraging remarks.
 
buzzardkid said:
Hi there.

Been there, done that.

Current setup is Leicas IIIa and M3 with lenses, Mamiya C330f on the way, Kodak Medalist II, Horseman 970, and a not-yet functional Welta 9x12 camera. Planning to go larger in the future. I upgraded from Fuji S3, to Nikon D300, to Leica M8 in the past but sold off all digital gear, save for a now slowly failing 1999 Nikon D1. Only other digital camera is a cell phone camera.

35mm scanning on Minolta Scan Dual IV, larger on vintage Epson GT9600.
I'm enjoying it, no matter what others say. I like what I get. Developing B&W at home. Starting C-41 and cross processing E-6 this autumn. No regrets.
Click to expand...

Do I correctly remember you didn't have a GG back for the Welta? I checked the Welta back I have. It works on Zeiss, so it should work on Recomars and Voightlanders (just didn't have time to check). The inside lip doesn't come out as far as Kodak and others, but works. So, if you can find a gg back for one of those cameras that has been orphaned, and the same for 9x12 cut film holders, you should be alright.
 
Another digital-punk adopting film here.

Keep going. You haven't gone beyond the deep end yet until you operate your first enlarger 😀

Regrets? only one. I should have done this sooner.
 
I have gone back to all-in film more than 3 years ago ... used to have Nikon DSLRs (first D70 when it was announced and later D1x) and before that ~ 20 years Nikon SLR (FM / F3HP).

Occasionally, I have borrowed a friends Leica M8 and M9 (to see how they compare to the film M Leica) and also a D700 (to experience the progress from my dinosaur D1x). The biggest surprise was to realize that my 7 year old IBM notebook can hardly handle the large files of either the M9 or D700.... To be able to work with the files of the photos that I had taken, I would have needed a new computer .... 😱
 
I really shoot film only, I didn't have a digital for a year. I got a canon 10D with 50/1.8 lens for $50 recently so I have that for when I take pictures of things for sale and that sort of thing . More recently the digital has been for color. I need to give C-41 at home a try sooner or later.
 
You realize you are not the same type of photographer or even enjoy the same hobby as your full frame DSLR & HUGE F2.8 zoom lens friends when you come across with "the moment" on street carrying only a digital camera and think "Oh why didn't I bring my film camera!?" :bang:

I'm sure many people here can relate to that. :angel:
 
After 40 years of shooting film and countless hours in a darkroom, the thrill is pretty much gone. I love digital. But I'm glad to see there are still folks who are keeping film alive. Keep shooting that film! 🙂
 
I might go the oposite direction. After spending the last few years with just film I started playing around with D700 and some manual NIKKORs and the last couple of weeks started thinking how the images do satisfy me now, sometimes more than film.
I learnt a great deal with film cameras, not only about technical aspects but also how to behave better when shooting. It was simply easier for me to approach people with my "curious" cameras but I'm starting to notice that the habit stuck and I can do the same with a DSLR.
I'll see how the mirrorless cameras develop over the next couple of years. I think the idea of going back to digital doesn't sound as bad as it did a few months ago to me.
 
Got back into photography several years ago, after a very long lapse. Initially went the DSLR route. Wasn't happy with all the clutter. Decided I wanted to deal with more fundamental things. So, I bought a Bessa R4M and some lenses. I've added an M2 and an OM-2N. I do my own b&w and take color to a local shop, and then I scan the negs.

Just bought a small digital to use while traveling.

I like the images i get with film. I like the images I get with the little digital. They are a bit different, but I'm not interested in which is "better". I'm only interested in whether or not I like them, and I like both.

It's all good. You'll have fun.
 
I picked up a digi P&S last January. I still use film cameras more often. Mostly medium format.

My P&S digi thingie....

WMT2+1D+MkIII.jpg
 
Phantomas said:
I might go the oposite direction. After spending the last few years with just film I started playing around with D700 and some manual NIKKORs and the last couple of weeks started thinking how the images do satisfy me now, sometimes more than film.
Click to expand...

I can understand how full-frame digital could be satisfying. However, all of my equipment cost significantly less than a D700, and that includes lenses/darkroom/scanners! Either way, I'm not saying that everyone should do what I am doing; we'll see how it works out for me. 🙂
 
I'm in just about the same boat as the OP. I've been on the verge of getting rid of my Nikon D70. I bought it shortly after it came out, and have gotten a decent amount of use from it, but I haven't picked it up in well over a year. I'll probably give it to my father-in-law the next time I visit him. I'd give it to my own father, but he doesn't shoot much, and he'll never have a digital - not even a P&S!

I'm still keeping my little Canon digital, though, for many of the same reasons as already posted.
 
hipsterdufus said:
I can understand how full-frame digital could be satisfying. However, all of my equipment cost significantly less than a D700, and that includes lenses/darkroom/scanners! Either way, I'm not saying that everyone should do what I am doing; we'll see how it works out for me. 🙂
Click to expand...

I've frequently considered trying my hand at digital printing. That would also see me buying a DSLR of some sort, on the premise that if I'm gonna print digital I should shoot digital. I'd almost certainly sell my film gear to cover costs. And that brings me around to the fact that I like using my RF's and the RF-sized Oly much more than I like using a DSLR.

The digital I just bought is a Sigma DP2-S. I'd be very curious to see how the market would respond if Sigma or someone else brought out a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera using the same Foveon sensor.
 
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