Sell M9 and Return to Film Only?

[David Hughes]

This is why so many people here are talking at cross purposes. If photography is a passion, as it has been for me for almost 50 years, the responses of those for whom it is a pastime will be all but meaningless. Likewise, those for whom it is merely a pastime are likely to stare blankly at the responses of those who are passionate.

Cheers,

R.

Interesting comment but a lot of people are passionate about the equipment and yet the photography bit is only a casual pastime. To me a pastime is playing patience on the computer while it gets its act in toether...

Regards, David

 

[willie_901]

...I have 15,000 pieces in my computer that I do not see much often, and rarely print, only for exhibitions or contests. Doing film without dark room for printing is half analog-half digital, not the best. One satisfaction of film, is that you have to work at it and can see the product coming out. Again, time is a factor in both cases. Digital requires a lot of time in front of the computer, and film requires a lot of time in the lab.

The creative process is time consuming. Still, a hybrid workflow is twice the work(development, scanning then digital processing). And one ends up with a digital image in the end.

If you had 15,00 prints you wouldn't see them very often either. If you had 15,000 transparencies you wouldn't project them very often.

I enjoy the satisfaction of editing (the selection process) and sequencing photographs and then experiencing of optimizing their raw renderings.

AT this point in time I believe issue really isn't digital vs film. The issue is what media and workflow delivers enjoyment.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

After reading more comments from OP, I'm wishing him pleasant trip and cool film RF pictures from it. If no relatives and emotionally close to me places are involved on the trip, I would also take film M as main camera and use iPhone to capture something goofy and shareable. In fact, this is what I'm doing on such trips now.

Here is nothing wrong if OP will sell M9 to someone who needs it more. And I don't think GR, x70 type of camera is really needed to OP instead of M9. Latest dual lens iPhone would do better job and it is much more fun to use and more advance and quicker to get picture ready, shared (if needed) and backed up on the cloud. Sometimes I'm taking rural landscapes before place gets destroyed by cookie cutters developers, I'm using film M to take printable picture and iPhone to swipe off the panorama and have picture with coordinates of the place which used to be nice...

 

[SaveKodak]

And what would be wrong with cat pics on film ?

Not sure though why this has become a film vs. digital debate.

Roland.

The OP's question was essentially a digital vs film debate but I agree with another commenter. This is not about what is 'better'. This is about what you want out of your photography. Your workflow, your long term goals, your need for immediacy or your want of limitations. There are differences between digital and film and each have strengths and weaknesses. Are we not allowed to discuss that?

 

[jsrockit]

The OP's question was essentially a digital vs film debate but I agree with another commenter. This is not about what is 'better'. This is about what you want out of your photography. Your workflow, your long term goals, your need for immediacy or your want of limitations.

and what makes you want to get out there and enjoy photography. The most important part.

 

[jsrockit]

And I don't think GR, x70 type of camera is really needed to OP instead of M9. Latest dual lens iPhone would do better job and it is much more fun to use and more advance ...

I'm not so sure of this...

 

[ferider]

There are differences between digital and film and each have strengths and weaknesses. Are we not allowed to discuss that?

I know. I shoot both. And permission granted 🙂 (not sure where your last sentence came from)

It's not just about workflow, long term goals, etc. We know that the OP does a lot of travel photography, see his recent related threads:

• Tokyo?
• RTW Next Summer
• Iceland Again and the BWCA
• Hong Kong?
• Things Happen/Evolution of Travel Kit
• Travel with Film?
• Round the World . . .Packing Challenge
• Taipei or Taiwan Info?
• So, Which Lenses to Take? 35/50/90 or 21/35/90
• Suggested Destinations? Japan Help
• etc.

And he rides. These are some special needs and I sympathize with implied gear requirements. For example, when I travel, a lot of photos are done in the evening. Due to film checks, it's hard to shoot faster than ASA 400 - and some countries don't treat your film nicely. I pack light and prefer to just take just one body and a couple of lenses. Your Chamonix or F6 would be too big. Etc.

Ever since I use digital (2 years), I find it invaluable for traveling. And I don't mind carrying my 240 in my tank bag - it's that robust. Not sure I would treat an M9 the same.

Roland.

 

[MCTuomey]

the reason i read threads like this one is simple. i like to hear how others align gear with their imaging goals. which has nothing to do with absolutes and everything to do with how someone gets it done and what problems were faced and resolved.

i stopped using film while traveling more than 5 years ago. my travel kit used to be a digital M with a couple lenses. needing flexibility on FL for live music shooting, now it's fuji X with 2-4 lenses.

 

[ktmrider]

As I stated originally, I enjoy certain aspects of both digital and film: I know one system and enjoy the technology of the other. I don't think either is perfect and could be happy in either but sometimes I get the urge to narrow it down to one or the other. Let's face it, if there were a perfect camera or photo system out there we would all be using it.

And, yes I do travel a lot and ride a motorcycles a lot as well. Recently I was stunned by the motorcycle trip around Iceland by one of the members here while carrying camping gear and a couple 6x7 cameras. I am thinking if he can do it, so can I but I have used 35mm for years vice mf. In fact, I am planning for a motorcycle trip from the US to Panama and return in early 2017. Maybe I should buy a sidecar so I can carry all the photo gear. Wait, a Leica and two lenses will cover it.

So again I want to thank everyone for the advice. I don't know if I will make any decision soon as I enjoy having the option. Is not that why we own more then one camera and one lens?

 

[_goodtimez]

I'm using a lot of various film cameras and bought an M8, then M8.2.
While I had these digital bodies I was still doing a lot of film (color slides and B&W).
After a while I sold the M8.2 and was happy for a year, however I thought this was a good camera with a nice output, so I bought one again.
I'm using both the M8.2 and a bunch of other film gear ranging from screwmounts to many Leica M, also a variety of Nikon F's and so many Pentax, Canon and other brands.
Just to be on the safe side I even bought a couple other M8.2s as spares...I love to have a spare wheel.

 

[ktmrider]

Well, the M9 will be gone this week which leaves me with five film cameras including a new to me medium format (Pentax 645NII) and an M5 due this week from Sherry. I am off in a week for the Philippines and taking the M5 with 35/90 and HP5. I am hoping to get very, very familiar with the M5.

I may pick up something like the Fuji X70 or Ricoh GR2 when I return or I may just see if I can live with the camera in the phone for awhile. Now I really need to quit procrastinating and get the darkroom set up.

 

[Ronald M]

Full frame digital M is my dream. Sold a bunch of film Leicas to finance it and I will never sell it. I am sick of labs screwing up my color images and it getting increasingly difficult to do at home.

I kept one M6 and gave one to my son. He wants to learn to print so my darkroom is now opening up again. Only monochrome will be used.

I fell in love my Nikon F2 years ago, just not the bulky meter head. So I bought a F2 with plain prism. The lenses are all AiS that I used on my Nikon Digitals.

Vue Scan is getting my MK5400 scanner working again in case I want a digital file from film..

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

If my CoolScan V ever broke down and was not repairable I couldn't imagine having to break out my PRIMOS Testreflex (Kienzle) enlarger and set up a darkroom again after 30 years.....I think I'll keep the M9 and continue to use the film cameras when the mood strikes.

 

[jazzwave]

Don't sell anything, keep your current gear
Use your budget for traveling and shoot lot of pictures with your M9 & M2.

IMHO, M9 & M2 is beautiful pair... I wish I have these cameras.

~ron~