Going all-in with film...

I use my elderly DSLR mostly for photographing stuff I was to put on internet - otherwise I am all film. I do use the DSLR in ZOOs and such, but the AF is awfully slow and imprecise. But I do not have an excuse to get a new one. I just prefer the way the film looks and all the development/scanning thing is worth it.
 
Despite being part of the 'digital generation', I never started off with a DSLR. I'd always wanted one and was saving for one for a couple of months when I decided to try a film rangefinder because it was so much cheaper than buying a DSLR. The irony now is that I've spent much much more on film than I would have done had I bought a digital camera. Do I care? Well, maybe a little, but when I see the results I get from film, I'm happy I decided to go in that direction.
 
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shyoon said:
Despite being part of the 'digital generation', I never started off with a DSLR. I'd always wanted one and was saving for one for a couple of months when I decided to try a film rangefinder because it was so much cheaper than buying a DSLR. The irony now is that I've spent much much more on film than I would have done had I bought a digital camera. Do I care? Well, maybe a little, but when I see the results I get from film, I'm happy I decided to go in that direction.
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I really like this type of thread because it makes me ask myself where my head is at. I enjoy my photographic excursions most with a rf camera and at the moment that is Mamiya 6 and 3 lenses. Have started processing and have a old school guy down the road who scans them for me. And even printing them digitally I still love the look more so than my M8 so that had to go. Also have a 7d and EP-1 and only really use those for close focus or long exposure situations where M6 can't compete or I am less confident. Am finding though I am using a lot of my old Minolta MD lenses on my 7d so I can get a look closer to that old school look that I like. Not sure what my point is love the process I go through to take the shot using film cameras, love the results I get from film, love the size of my kit, but would I be equally happy if someone designed a digital back for my Mamiya 6? I don't know, but I do really enjoy reading about what others are thinking on this site and than asking myself the same questions.
 
I love film, can anyone help me? (I have a Fuji GS645Zi and I need the eye piece outter element (Round and screws in to hold the rest of the components) I love this camera but finding this piece has been very hard, maybe you know of someone who has a broken camera for parts that I can buy this item from. Thanks.

I get great images with my Veriwide 100 scanned with Epson V500.
 
Phantomas said:
Wow. I couldn't sell D700. It's too awesome of a camera.
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+1 ... no point in cutting off your nose to spite your face!

A full frame digital is no huge investment IMO, especially if you get a second hand 5D, and it's always good to give yourself the option!
 
So liking my film MP. Less is certainly more! Now if I can only remember to change the darn ISO when i switch from 400 film to 100... 😀

@-doomed- Great price for that camera. I sold my 10D last year for way more than what you paid. But it was a great camera. I got some 16x20s from it that were great. Enjoy it!
 
I might add that the problem with abandoning digital is that you are reducing your options to expand your photography skills!

Someone asked me to do some head and shoulder portraits recently ... she wanted them for a business card and she wanted them digital ... but she also wanted them to be unusual.

I learned something from the exercise and the D700 was the perfect tool! I could not have given her as good a result with scanned film and it would have cost a lot more!
 
Keith said:
I might add that the problem with abandoning digital is that you are reducing your options to expand your photography skills!

Someone asked me to do some head and shoulder portraits recently ... she wanted them for a business card and she wanted them digital ... but she also wanted them to be unusual.

I learned something from the exercise and the D700 was the perfect tool! I could not have given her as good a result with scanned film and it would have cost a lot more!
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I can see your point, but I only have so much money... Can't exactly afford full-frame digital + lenses. Plus, no one pays me for my photographs. Everything I do is for my own enjoyment. 🙂
 
Sold my DSLR and lenses a year ago and got two OM bodies, a Zuiko 28/2, 50/1.4 and 100/2.8, a changing bag, a tank with two reels, and an Epson V500 scanner. I've learned a lot since then and love the film look.

For a while I kept a Panasonic FZ-30 as my only digital camera, but didn't use it much. I recently traded it for a nice Ricomatic 225 that someone at work inherited. She wasn't into film and offered to just give it to me. I insisted she take the FZ-30 and even though she was real happy with the trade, I still think I got the better deal!

I'll probably get another digital camera sometime next year, maybe a GF-1 or EP-2 or one of their successors, but I still plan on shooting a lot of film.
 
i'm selling my last 35mm film camera to fund a mamiya RF kit, leaving behind 35mm film completely. but if the sale doesn't happen, i'm going to dedicate my M7 to low speed B&W film, something different from what my digi cameras do. it doesn't make sense for me to shoot film for color output. i do think low speed B&W film offers a look i can't get from my digi gear. we'll see.
 
I don't use film for my work, unless it's a special circumstance...for that, it's digital.

But I will say film has reinvigorated my photography overall -- it's pretty much all I do for my personal time and work.
Mostly I print traditionally but I do have an Epson v700 and a Nikon Coolscan for 35mm. May go more that route in the future but I love printing traditionally as much as I love shooting film.

The world's big enough for both, so why not use them both?
 
hipsterdufus said:
I can see your point, but I only have so much money... Can't exactly afford full-frame digital + lenses. Plus, no one pays me for my photographs. Everything I do is for my own enjoyment. 🙂
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This where being hooked into rangefinders for film shooting can be a drawback. If you use any M mount RF for your shooting pleasure with a reasonable range of lenses and you would like the option of shooting digital occaisonally you can't really do it without spending a sh!tload of money if you want your focal lengths to match up unless you buy an M9 (choke) or put up with the crop factor and use an M8 or RD-1.

However ... if you choose to go the Nikon route and get an F3 or FM3A for example you can build a lens selection for not much that will work on a full frame D700 which is only a $2000.00 camera now ... and will get a lot cheaper used as Nikon replaces it with newer models.

Better still ... a couple of tiny OM bodies and a range of amazing Zuiko glass and you have the option of picking up a second hand full frame 5D for under a grand to use the Zuikos on ... and you could do all of this for $2000.00 or less!

Using a rangefinder is a good option for film shooting but it can penalise your potential versatility when considering a digital alternative occasionally!
 
Sorta was going digital in 2005 but then just found that I was going to have to spend a lot of money on a D70 even to get started.

So I stuck with film, I'm very happy that I did. Film costs and processing colour I could have bought that D70 I'd imagine 2-3 times over since then; but then I get just what I want from my M2, OM2 and Autocord.

I expect in a few years I might have to look at a half decent digital compact if colour processing becomes more of a luxury (though I am considering processing at home now; as my C41 volume is much higher now, about 10 rolls a month.)

Got nothing against digital mind, just happy with what I use.
 
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