David_Manning
Well-known
JamesH
-
ferider
Veteran
I'm not sure where the pressure comes from, why either/or ? Is it money ?
As a side note, I personally would never shoot slides these days - too much hassle and too expensive compared to negative shop or self development. When growing up, I also got very bored by family slide shows.
Roland.
As a side note, I personally would never shoot slides these days - too much hassle and too expensive compared to negative shop or self development. When growing up, I also got very bored by family slide shows.
Roland.
Renzsu
Well-known
David, I see where you're coming from.. you remember my recent frustration with color films right? I shot b/w only in NY and to be honest I couldn't be happier with the results. For my style of shooting the Leica just wins hands down. I know dslr's might get everything right, but I just like the character of these shots. I couldn't really see myself going back to dslr and having a good time.
Every now and then I'll give color a shot and I think I've narrowed down the films to what I know will work for me. And.. if a shot doesn't work, I'm not going to lose sleep over it
edit: I ride past a pro-lab every day on my way to work, where they process pretty much anything I can throw at them within a few hours ("15 rolls of slide film? no problem, you can pick it up in 2 hours"). If I didn't have that (expensive) luxury, I'm not so sure if I would still be shooting film.
Every now and then I'll give color a shot and I think I've narrowed down the films to what I know will work for me. And.. if a shot doesn't work, I'm not going to lose sleep over it
edit: I ride past a pro-lab every day on my way to work, where they process pretty much anything I can throw at them within a few hours ("15 rolls of slide film? no problem, you can pick it up in 2 hours"). If I didn't have that (expensive) luxury, I'm not so sure if I would still be shooting film.
filmfan
Well-known
For me, it's all about the enjoyment factor-- both in the process and the result. Rangefinders with film (most of all when I owned an M2) gave me the best average result between the two.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
David
I was going to tell you that you were crazy to think of using slide film on your family trip but thought better of it because of the avalanche of advice to use slide film. I guess you learned that for what you wanted to do some sort of digital may be better. My film cameras including Leicas sit unused now. The D700 does what I need especially on family trips where I don't want to burden the wife more than necessary. I think like Roland about slides. Also, generally people who have been on the trip with you don't need to see a slide shows of it, they were there, and other family members and friends who were not there may like to view a select few shots but not be bored by a long slide show of a place that they were not at and/ or likely have no interest in. If you really want to use a Leica get an M8 or M9 and go digital. Use your film gear for times when you want to use it. No conflict to use what works for you not some one else.
Bob
I was going to tell you that you were crazy to think of using slide film on your family trip but thought better of it because of the avalanche of advice to use slide film. I guess you learned that for what you wanted to do some sort of digital may be better. My film cameras including Leicas sit unused now. The D700 does what I need especially on family trips where I don't want to burden the wife more than necessary. I think like Roland about slides. Also, generally people who have been on the trip with you don't need to see a slide shows of it, they were there, and other family members and friends who were not there may like to view a select few shots but not be bored by a long slide show of a place that they were not at and/ or likely have no interest in. If you really want to use a Leica get an M8 or M9 and go digital. Use your film gear for times when you want to use it. No conflict to use what works for you not some one else.
Bob
I'm completely comfortable using digital these days and prefer it. I only use film when there is a great opportunity (unique location, film artifacts will look good, the M4 is the best tool, etc.) and even then still I use both.
Don Parsons
Well-known
I still miss the days when I used my FE or MX. I love the feel of those cameras and viewfinders. I loved working all night in the darkroom making my own prints and falling asleep to the washer. But I take much better pictures using my 40D than I ever did when I shot film and it's tons cheaper too. I've just spent an entire season with one Little League team and got some fabulous stuff. It would have driven me bankrupt to process all the equivalent film. And I can manipulate the files, which I've done to make a book on blurb. (shameless plug and coming soon!) Film just doesn't work for me for the way I shoot.
Now, having said that. I'm thinking of getting a Pentax 67II and a couple lenses and heading out to the 4-corners to do some landscape stuff. But of course, I'll have a small digi just in case
Shoot what makes you feel good, if it's an i-phone, who cares but you?
Now, having said that. I'm thinking of getting a Pentax 67II and a couple lenses and heading out to the 4-corners to do some landscape stuff. But of course, I'll have a small digi just in case
Shoot what makes you feel good, if it's an i-phone, who cares but you?
Florian1234
it's just hide and seek
Why choose? Just take the one that works better for you.
David_Manning
Well-known
I think Renzsu hit a good point right on the head...without access to a local lab that does good work, a Leica won't matter. I've gotten 90% of my color images back from local labs and they look like they could've been taken with an instamatic...yes, that bad. I rescan the negs, they look pristine. But the hour round-trip for good E-6 or C-41 processing is getting hard to take. I enjoy souping my Tri-X, but then I'm still mostly at the mercy of a good scan from somewhere else. If I had a completely analog film workflow, it would be different...but even though I can print some b&w here at home, it's not practical for snapshooting. The occasional work of art, yes...but not entire rolls (please understand the self-deprecating sarcasm with my occasional work of art!).
I love shooting with my M6 terribly! But everything else has me down right now.
I love shooting with my M6 terribly! But everything else has me down right now.
_mark__
Well-known
It is a dilemma that has recently kept me from shooting at all. Film has the edge for me, but the quality of the nikon sensors and the ease of use - snap, snap, delete, keep is compelling.
I cannot shoot both because,
a.) It is physically impossible,
b.) I am constantly weighing one against the other.
c.) Cost
Film is an aesthetic choice, I am not happy applying Photoshop plugins to emulate film-grain or bleach-bypass or cross process because for me that is dishonest. (Although some of the Flickr photostreams I have been sent recently are just incredible and they do this almost exclusively. Honestly I couldn't tell)
You are not alone,
cost is obviously a factor not just in the increasing cost of E6 + contact in the UK, but also dual equipment cost i.e. With the lens choices, Leica glass or Nikon AIS etc. Sigh!
I cannot shoot both because,
a.) It is physically impossible,
b.) I am constantly weighing one against the other.
c.) Cost
Film is an aesthetic choice, I am not happy applying Photoshop plugins to emulate film-grain or bleach-bypass or cross process because for me that is dishonest. (Although some of the Flickr photostreams I have been sent recently are just incredible and they do this almost exclusively. Honestly I couldn't tell)
You are not alone,
cost is obviously a factor not just in the increasing cost of E6 + contact in the UK, but also dual equipment cost i.e. With the lens choices, Leica glass or Nikon AIS etc. Sigh!
chrism
Well-known
I'm doing it for pleasure, not for profit, so what I say may not apply to others.
I prefer the use and feel of my MPs over my M9.
I enjoy the recipe-driven aspects of darkroom chemistry.
I enjoy using another set of skills when scanning
And again, another set when post-processing and printing.
I admit the M9 generally produces far more detail, is so much easier if I want a colour image, and is cheaper to run.
But I enjoy those first items on the list, and I don't see why I should deprive myself of those pleasures.
So I do both, and try not to agonise over which is better, or preferable, or even right.
Consequently I still enjoy what I do.
Chris
I prefer the use and feel of my MPs over my M9.
I enjoy the recipe-driven aspects of darkroom chemistry.
I enjoy using another set of skills when scanning
And again, another set when post-processing and printing.
I admit the M9 generally produces far more detail, is so much easier if I want a colour image, and is cheaper to run.
But I enjoy those first items on the list, and I don't see why I should deprive myself of those pleasures.
So I do both, and try not to agonise over which is better, or preferable, or even right.
Consequently I still enjoy what I do.
Chris
David_Manning
Well-known
I knew I wasn't the only one caught in the dilemma. It's good to hear others face the same issues.
Obviously, I'm not going to give up shooting my M6, but this little trip was, for me, a true wake-up call about bringing the right gear to the right shoot.
Trouble is, the good digital gear does just about everything fantastically, whereas my Leica film gear only does some things fantastically!
Obviously, I'm not going to give up shooting my M6, but this little trip was, for me, a true wake-up call about bringing the right gear to the right shoot.
Trouble is, the good digital gear does just about everything fantastically, whereas my Leica film gear only does some things fantastically!
gho
Well-known
Wise decision. I would just use the D700, if you feel more comfortable with it. If you do not want to be burdened with your gear, just get a decent compact digital camera. For projections, use a beamer. Use film only if you feel like using it. Using film is not an obligation, but a personal preference.
wgerrard
Veteran
Don't forget that a Leica user determines the aperture and the focus and the shutter speed, while the D700 user almost always lets the camera do those things. If someone has trouble getting a good exposure with a Leica and slide film, he is just as likely to have trouble getting a good exposure using a D700 in manual mode.
I.e., a comparison between a fully manual camera and a fully automated camera serves little purpose.
I.e., a comparison between a fully manual camera and a fully automated camera serves little purpose.
peter_n
Veteran
I use B&W film for my "serious" photography and a dSLR for family snaps and suchlike. A couple weeks ago I went on a family vacation to Bermuda and normally that would mean the dSLR and a happy family. But because I know the island and had some "serious" pictures to take, the MPs and Agfa B&W film were taken. Unhappy family (maybe!) but happy Peter.
I haven't shot slides in 20+ years. Mostly because they're no longer common and anyway a slide show is a nightmare to sit through. I wouldn't put anyone through that so when I use the dSLR I either email or if there's a story make a web page and give the recipients the choice of viewing or not. So no real conflicts for me and more important none for my family who can choose not to look at my boring snaps without fear of "offending" me.
I haven't shot slides in 20+ years. Mostly because they're no longer common and anyway a slide show is a nightmare to sit through. I wouldn't put anyone through that so when I use the dSLR I either email or if there's a story make a web page and give the recipients the choice of viewing or not. So no real conflicts for me and more important none for my family who can choose not to look at my boring snaps without fear of "offending" me.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Sorry, but you don't have to use all of the automation that is available in a modern DSLR but at least you have that choice. That kind of stereo typing of a DSLR shooter is just Leica elitism and a crock.
Bob
Why limit oneself? I shoot film and digital, slides, negs, and b&w. It depends on the nature of the shoot, and the circumstances.
BTW, it's just as easy to blow highlights with digital as it is with slides. Either way, the shot may not be recoverable. Just have to know how to prevent it, bracket, etc.
I like slides, not because I want to do a slide show (heh) but because they scan so well and are more consistent. But this doesn't mean I don't shoot color negative film.
BTW, it's just as easy to blow highlights with digital as it is with slides. Either way, the shot may not be recoverable. Just have to know how to prevent it, bracket, etc.
I like slides, not because I want to do a slide show (heh) but because they scan so well and are more consistent. But this doesn't mean I don't shoot color negative film.
Ranchu
Veteran
It's up to you what you want to do. Digital bores the hell out of me, so I shoot film. I was at my Dad's scanning some of his slides of our family and I'm so glad they exist. Please yourself, whatever you decide.
gdi
Veteran
Exactly - I have never known any serious photographer who shoots a DSLR in full auto as SOP. It is absurd to generalize that most owners who paid $2000+ for a D700 put it on "P" mode (or whatever the equivalent Nikon setting is) and don't think about the exposure. Kind of like claiming that Leica owners with an M8.2 or M9 leave it set to "Snapshot" mode, just because it's there.
And I know a lot of Leica users who relay on the "A" setting on cameras that have it. And I know there are Leica owners now who occasionally use auto bracketing - and even Auto ISO.