thinking of leaving DSLR for film

[redisburning]

I went from starting out with film to digital and back to film over the course of 2 years.

my reasoning for using film basically boils down to this: I look at my digital photographs and I just don't give a ****. zero emotional connection. with film the same shots just speak more to me and I feel a greater ownership of the picture. Im much happier being back to shooting film.

 

[hepcat]

I guess at this point is selective shooting.
I would rather work with 2-4 rolls from vacation than over 1000-2000 digital images (my previous vacation)
With a digital camera it's so tempting to just shoot whatever I saw without really reflecting why.

Wow... this is a common thought... so you think that film is going to enforce some kind of discipline that you don't already have? It won't. There's absolutely no difference in making images using a digi M or a film M. An image is an image. If you don't pre-visualize your images with digital, you won't think them through with film either. "A motor-drive does not a good image make."

I shoot weddings. In the film days, I'd shoot six rolls of 36 exposure color negative film; roughly 200 images and keep around 125 of them for a 100 proof album. Using digital, I was a little more free; I'd shoot maybe 300 images looking for between 150 and 200 keepers. I've talked to wedding photographers who shoot digital who make between a thousand and two thousand images per wedding. Why? Nobody wants to have to look through that many proofs, and the images don't have any character.

The difference is discipline; looking for the image, deciding what you want, letting it come together, and THEN releasing the shutter. If you don't do that with digital, film won't make you do it either.

BTW, film and digital are NOT mutually exclusive. I have two digi M bodies and a film M body and use them all. They all coexist quite nicely. This isn't an all-or-none proposition. What's nice about the M bodies is that all the accessories and lenses interchange, so all I did was add a film body.

 

[taemo]

^it's working good for me right now, been shooting film for my personal work for the past 4 weeks, except I've decided to keep my 5D Mark II for now in case I need to take portraits with my 50mm or 135mm lens. Plus with my 100-400L I can also use it for wildlife and sports.
Might downgrade it to a 5Dc though since I don't think I'll need the advantages of the Mark II. I will be using a X100s and P67 for landscape.

I was at a family b-day party Saturday night and brought only my M6, 2 36 rolls and flash, ended up shooting only one roll unlike some of my relatives who probably went through 100-200 shots that night.
I went for a walk this afternoon with my EOS3 + 135L and only shot 10 frame.

So for me, it's the limited frames that I have with film that forces me to think and wait to take pictures only at the most decisive moment.
It's easier with a digital camera to go crazy with the shutter button without properly thinking.

 

[locheeboy]

To me , it's like saying

"Ah love Guinness but only going tae drink Beamish for a year"

Enjoy the Beamish - but take the Guinness occasionally tae remind yourself what yer missing. Ye'll appreciate both more, they both produce (different) levels of satisfaction.

Too many folk say "I ONLY USE FILM!" - like vegan boasters - there's often a vainglorious snobbery attached.

🙂

 

[hepcat]

So for me, it's the limited frames that I have with film that forces me to think and wait to take pictures only at the most decisive moment.
It's easier with a digital camera to go crazy with the shutter button without properly thinking.

Y'know taemo, I have to disagree with this completely. It sounds to me like you're justifying making lots of useless images with digital just because it doesn't cost anything to do it. If you bring the same self-discipline to your images with digital that you impose on yourself with film, you'll get the same quality of images with both media. You're just checking your creative mind at the door when you pick up your 5D instead of bringing it along like you do with the M6.

I'll let you in on another secret. One of the things you like about your M6 (and you just haven't recognized it) is that you're shooting primes. Primes DO force you to get serious about subject-to-lens distances and perspective. You sneaker-zoom and look for the best angles using primes. You can't stand in one place and move the zoom ring (which gives very vanilla and boring photos.) I think there's a lot more going on for you with the bright-line rangefinder camera than just the film/digital issue. Bright-line rangefinders have a different shooting style and work flow. Literally, the world looks different through the viewfinder.

If the bright-line rangefinder camera really works for your style of shooting, you'll find you'll have less and less need of a DSLR... but don't throw digital out just because you think that's the difference. If you really want to do portraiture, try your M6 with a 90mm Summicron sometime.

BTW, a Visoflex on an M body is bulky, but is still pretty handy for long lenses for birding or sports... perhaps not as quick or easy as a 5d and a long lens, but the Visoflex allows you to pare down to having one set of lenses that all fit on the same brand of bodies, and they offer both film AND digital bodies. 😉

 

[jschrader]

i used a D700 until last summer.
my plan was to change to Leica because I wanted them all my life but the M9 being too expensive, I thought I would use my father's M6 for until the M9 price drops.
Now I consider staying with film because I don't shoot that much.

I am still looking for a good scanning solution.

I very much enjoy film, it reminds me my long past youth.

 

[Weasel_Loader]

I've used film since a kid in the early 1970s. I was also an "early adopter" of digital and have a Nikon D3 and Panasonic Luix LX7. I still shoot film predominently. Why? Because. I can't be more specific - I just like it more than digital. However, digital can also be fun and give the immediate gratification that film cannot.

Why give one up in favour of the other? Get a Canon film body that allows you to use the lenses you already have and see which medium you prefer / suits you best. If it becomes a straight choice between them and you're happy to let one wither on the vine, then okay. However, even though I'm a film nut myself, I wouldn't encourage people to burn bridges as that can be a very expensive exercise.

I've done almost this exact same thing. Over the years, I have been through more film and digital cameras than I can count. I'm pretty happy with my current setup of a D700 and F5. Rangefinders are super cool, but they just don't work for me. I mainly use my film F5 for family type stuff and use digital D700 for landscapes and sporting events. I don't develop any of my film and use B&W, color negative, and also slide. Average only one roll a month (maybe two), so I still keep costs low.

Don't think I could ever give up digital entirely since I find it very helpful to use for situations where I need immediate feedback, low light shooting, and high shot counts (sports). Nothing better than using film for family events and having the physical negative and prints to file away. Digital files just don't have that charm. 🙄

 

[DrTebi]

Last year I was back in Europe and took two cameras: My beloved Plaubel Makina 670 (6x7 medium format rangefinder), and my Ricoh GXR with the A12 50mm Lensor.

It turned out to be a pretty perfect combination.

When I was in nature, hiking, exploring French alp villages etc., I had the Plaubel with me and got stunning results.

When I celebrated my birthday, with plenty of cerveza and crazy old friends, me and my girlfriend took plenty of snapshots with the Ricoh. We also snapped many pictures at other occasions, snap-shots in every way...

So ultimately I have to say I strongly believe both digital and analog have their place. I definitely prefer film photography for "prepared" shots, particularly landscape and nature, while I prefer digital for the quick and dirty moments, and instant gratification.

On a side-note, at least at the moment, there is nothing that beats projecting film slides . Digital projection is really limited with it's 1920x1080 resolution; projecting 35mm slides, and especially medium format slides, is simply fantastic.
If you are after the ultimate re-live-experience of whatever you took pictures of, get yourself a medium format camera with lots of slide film and a slide projector to project the positives--you will not be disappointed.

 

[mdarnton]

Everyone's said everything, but i guess I will have my say.

I have dumped various systems for various reasons along the way, and ALWAYS regretted it. Keep what you have, and buy a little bit of film gear to start with. One of the reasons I did not buy Canon was the way they have regularly abandoned their old users by changing lens mounts. By buying a Nikon DSLR I had access to all the Nikon SLR lenses back to day one, and I bought only old lenses figuring I might come back to film, which I did. Now I have a complete system of compatible digital and film and about 20 older lenses which did not cost me a fortune. I build my film system around Nikon FGs, which cost $45 each, and have the technical sophistication of a Leica M6, so what's the problem with an FG?

Now, having been back into film for a couple of years, I'm edging back into Leica, for the third time, thanks to a gift, but I'm not going to be dumping any Nikon stuff. Though I don't use the digital a lot, I still have uses for it and am glad to have it.

Don't hold film. You won't learn a thing without seeing feedback from photos. If you're going to do it that way, save yourself some money, and do the whole exercise in your mind, without any camera gear at all.

 

[perzpective]

I'd say the one thing I believe needs to be reiterated.

In the end, it doesn't matter what camera you shoot, film vs digital, or what format you prefer, all that matters is that you ENJOY shooting it. There is so much clutter that comes with photography: all the gear, all the terminology, all the desires to share your work.

But somewhere in all of this, we can lose sight of why we ever picked up a camera in the first place, because we enjoyed the process of shooting. The process varies for everyone, but ultimately what's most important is that you truly love shooting.

That's why I've been shooting film again. It's reawakened my passion for simply going out and making images. For me, it's been film. But to each there own.

 

[furbs]

But somewhere in all of this, we can lose sight of why we ever picked up a camera in the first place, because we enjoyed the process of shooting. The process varies for everyone, but ultimately what's most important is that you truly love shooting.

Agree 100%. I've seriously considered selling my Nikon D600 since I went back to film. All the lenses work great on my F2 Photomic and are, for me, more enjoyable with film. Half the time people hate seeing their pictures on that LCD, while they unanimously love prints from the F2 a week later.

The only thing that's keeping the D600 in my hands is its ability to shoot kids and low light. Mighty tempted to sell it while it still has ~2000 shutter releases and market value, though.

 

[kanzlr]

I did just that.

I used a Nikon D700 and Leica M8 but have since progressed (over various systems and cameras) to a Leica M4 and R7 as well as a Bronica SQ-Ai medium format camera and various other non-system cameras (Hexar AF, Vitessa L, XA...).

I spent the results of the Nikon and Leica digital sale on the film cameras, Jobo CPA2 and, latest aquisition, a Plustek 120 scanner and could not be happier (except for a few niggles in my workflow...) 🙂

 

[michaelwj]

Same

Same

I did a similar thing recently.

I picked up a very 'user' grade M6 from a local wedding photog who estimates he had put over 10,000 rolls through it. I matched it with a Voigt 35/2.5. Basically I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about rangefinders, I was never going to sell my Nikon dSLR kit, but I haven't touched it in a few months, so slowly I'm offloading it. Got rid of the external flash today, still have the 35/1.8 prime though its on shaky ground.

I picked up my first processed slides (I missed it the first time around). WOW. There was a 'pop', not really image quality, more of a hard to explain connection with the images. WOW again.

I love the immediacy of digital, but my phone does that. I LOVE the experience of actually using my M6. The film advance, the shutter sound, the lack of an LCD, no distractions.

I suppose while I always loved the images I got from the dSLR, I never really liked actually using it. Sometimes my wife catches me sitting on the couch in front of tv just holding the M6. I never did that with a SLR, especially not a dSLR.

As a disclaimer though, this is probably more rangefinder v SLR thing, and I reserve the right to get a digital M at a later date. I can't see myself getting another SLR though.

 

[clayne]

I love the immediacy of digital, but my phone does that. I LOVE the experience of actually using my M6. The film advance, the shutter sound, the lack of an LCD, no distractions.

I suppose while I always loved the images I got from the dSLR, I never really liked actually using it. Sometimes my wife catches me sitting on the couch in front of tv just holding the M6. I never did that with a SLR, especially not a dSLR.

As a disclaimer though, this is probably more rangefinder v SLR thing, and I reserve the right to get a digital M at a later date. I can't see myself getting another SLR though.

Not really a rangefinder vs SLR thing at all. It's about having and using something with *tangible* results.

And there's absolutely nothing like slides. No amount of digital anything will equal holding and looking at beautiful slides. Get off the electronics train entirely, you control it, they don't control you.

 

[jimithing616]

Personally I would go for a digital body with interchangable lenses... like the x-pro1 or the x-e1 or an NEX... but to each their own and for travel I guess the x100s is a great camera... only reason I say that is because if you are going to buy film slr's and a leica or whatever, you can use those amazing lenses with adapters... which is so so so much fun, I absolutely love it, its like having 2 lenses in 1... but like I said, thats just my opinion and it may not apply to you!


Also I have to agree with those who say develop as you go, dont wait. I have done that because of money issues, not by choice, and for 1 it makes you lose interest in shooting, and also you may find out that while your exposures were right, you had a light leak, or your camera's shutter speeds went haywire, so even though you metered your scenes and maybe even tested exposure using your digital camera, your shots come out ruined because of a gear malfunction like those mentioned... I would much rather find that out after 1 or 2 rolls, than 50... what a waste.

From someone who has done pretty much exactly what you are talking about doing, I can tell you I have NO desire to re-buy a high end DSLR... none at all... I much prefer having my NEX and a nice stable of film cameras... there are just so many fun film cameras that digital cannot offer... things like the yashica t4, and ricoh GR1's that can be had for fairly cheap and they give you a whole new look to utilize artistically that no art filter or PP could ever give you in your 5Dmk2 ... discovering camera's like those has really taken my photography to the next level by allowing my to have a tiny little film camera wherever I go... had I still had my Nikon D-90 I would have missed so many awesome shots I made with my MJU, or my Ricoh R1 (not gr1)

One more thing, when it comes to switching to film to learn "selective shooting" I can tell you that is so true... Since I am now 80/20 film/digital .. I use my NEX like a film camera when it comes to being selective and waiting for a perfect shot... I am much happier this way than I was when I only used DSLR's.... much much happier!

 

[cosmonaut]

I would develop as I go...why wait a year and shoot all that film then find out you did it all wrong...
Plus you'll learn a lot about exposure (in camera) when you develop your own and then you can immediately apply that to your next roll...
I've been shooting film for over 35 years now and I'm still learning...good luck in your new direction...

This is sound advise. What if you shot a whole year and found out you had a light leak or something? I have though shot and saved the film and developed in the winter when we have days on in of nasty weather and I can't shoot.
I doubt I could just quit digital. It sounds romantic and nostalgic but in reality not practical for me. I like shooting landscapes to much and a RF is limiting IMO. I use ND grads and shoot time lapse. But good luck.

 

[noisycheese]

Lately I've been tempted to leave the digital world behind, DSLR particularly and concentrate on Film.
Seeing a friend selling most of his Nikon gears to go Leica kinda gave me the push to really do it.
I want to try shoot as many rolls I can throughout a year then develop all at once.
Currently I have a 5D Mark II, 17-40 f4L, Sigma 50 f1.4, 135 f2L and a 100-400 f4-5.6L.
Thinking of selling most of those except maybe the 135L and 100-400L
which I can always use on my EOS-3 for tele/wildlife shots, which I'm not really into though.
I will also be picking up a X100s once it comes out to satisfy my digital need, especially for landscape with the 28mm conversion lens.

What this leaves me behind is full time to concentrate shooting film with my M6 and Pentax 6x7.

Anyone else had this idea and maybe actually did it?

You could do worse - like selling off all your film cameras to go digital like the tech addicted masses did. 😉

 

[philosli]

I sold my DSLR (Canon Rebel) and now I only have film cameras. In the past year in average I shoot one 135 roll per week and just one roll of 120 every month.

I do not regret. What a liberation!

I keep my Canon EOS lenses and bought a used EOS 3, a Plustek film scanner. I sent all my films out for processing, and plan to do BW myself in the near future. Later I acquired a GA645 to try out medium format.

This might be the end of the story, until about 4 months ago I accidentally acquired a Contax system: a RTS body, and 3 Zeiss C/Y mount lenses. I also got an old style Sunpak potato masher. Now I find that using much less automatic gears (no TTL flash, no auto focus, no evaluative metering, no film rewind...) makes photography more enjoyable, induces me to think more before taking a shot, and overall gives me better results.

 

[DrTebi]

Sunpak potato masher

That's hilarious, never heard that expression before!

Your journey from digital to film sounds very similar to mine. Great to hear you're enjoying it all the way.

 

[mansio]

went cameraless for few years and now mostly a m5(and iphone). but i just haven't go around enough to do much meaningful things with them yet, lazy, but mainly rainy season. i should be staying strictly film this year and reconstruction of the darkroom. hopefully sooner or later getting my 6x6 fixed. if darkroom proves to be sustainable then film it is. at best i will still be getting a ricoh gr/grd4 for 28mm, my film goes only to 35.