What is film-photography to you?

[dazedgonebye]

I have no animosity towards digital, but at the same time, I can't seem to come up with much enthusiasm for it.
I've often described a camera that I thought would move me to digital for what I now do with 35mm film (leaving medium format for other work) and now that Fuji seems ready to produce it, I just don't think I'll be going that way.

 

[craygc]

I think I might be just a little bit committed to film... :bang:

Love the mechanical cameras and love the process

 

[crawdiddy]

I have no animosity towards digital, but at the same time, I can't seem to come up with much enthusiasm for it.

This sums it up quite well for me.

I appreciate mechanical devices much more than electronic. I don't trust electronic devices-- when they break, you might as well toss them. They're designed with obsolescence in mind.

I have a Canon digital Elph, since 2004. About a year ago when I tried to use it, the sensor had apparently died. At first I was going to toss the camera, but it had actually been a decent performer, while it was alive, so I kept it. The other day, someone at a camera shop told me Canon was repairing these cameras with bad sensors free of charge. So, mine is currently in the shop, and hopefully will be back in my hands shortly. I must say, Canon has my respect for supporting their products to this degree. Most other companies wouldn't.

If I get my 6 year old camera back, I'll assume I dodged a bullet. But seriously, what do you think is the useful life of a digital camera? And by contrast, how long do analog cameras last? I have 80 year old analog cameras. They may not work quite as well as when new, but they work.

 

[waltere]

I've been all digital for about 6 years. Came from film and various formats, but got hooked on 8 x 10 & 8 X 20 & contact printing. Just getting around to planning a darkroom, probably about 6 months off. Looking forward to some B & W with the view camera's. Meanwhile, digital got kinda boring, and I bought a Contax G2 and am shooting Ektar 100 in it--I am having more fun than I every imagined with this!

 

[sepiareverb]

But for me, film + scanner is the worst of both worlds.

As much as I hate scanning film I do find an ink-jet print of a good, well processed scan from 35mm beats a C-print hands down every time. I've revisited several negatives since getting the 3880 and despite all the hours I've spent in the darkroom I like the ink-jet prints a whole lot more.

Something about a B&W baryta print that digital can't touch to my eye, but color ink-jet vs RC C-print? The ink-jet wins every time.

 

[igi]

I like the film experience 😉

 

[ruslan]

"film is obsolete" - Agreed 100%.

 

[emasterphoto]

For me, after growing up with film, then spending the last 11 years all digital, then coming back to film somewhat in the last few months, I learned that it's film cameras that I enjoy, but film itself could go up in a poof to Heaven and I could care less. As a medium, I find film puts too many restrictions on me when I shoot, becomes stifling, and as a result tends to kill my creativity. Still, I like the cameras, so film's a necessary evil. That said, looking at Fuji's X100, if it's really all it seems to be, then I'll probably pick one up then dump the film cameras.

 

[sjw617]

Film is not a craft but just a recording medium for the craft of photography. It is not something to pursue or a world on to itself. Odd concept. That's like saying paper is a world on to itself. It is the recording medium not the craft.

Steve

 

[shadowfox]

Film is not a craft but just a recording medium for the craft of photography. It is not something to pursue or a world on to itself. Odd concept. That's like saying paper is a world on to itself. It is the recording medium not the craft.

Steve

Steve, that's how you see film and you are entitled to it.
Others sees it as a life-ling pursuit because film to them are not just the medium, but the process and craft.

Nothing odd about it, really.

 

[JayGannon]

I've just been looking at some MF B+W wet prints. Hard to dismiss film at that point.

But for me, film + scanner is the worst of both worlds.

Cheers,

R.

Same here.
I work in film B&W and color digital mostly.

I proof my B&W on the scanner and print everything smaller than 8x10 on an Epson printer, then if I find a really nice neg I'll take it into the darkroom and play with it in there.

I do feel that B&W developing and printing is a craft though, much moreso than scanning/PS work, or at least its a more organic craft as opposed to a digital craft.

Each has their own place, one day film one day digital one day hybrid. Live and let live IMO.

 

[JayGannon]

That's like saying paper is a world on to itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papermaking

I'm sure papermakers would disagree with your assesment of their craft.

 

[CSG123]

I also grew up with film and only recently (last year) got more than a P&S digital camera, a D90. However, while i LOVE digital for all the reasons most of us do I found myself somehow finding it wanting. For color it's fine but for B&W it's not the same for me as film. Also, the old equipment is more elegant. I found myself pulling out my old rangefinders and OM and Minolta XG SLRs. Then, the film disease really hit and I acquired a Leica M4 and a couple old Leica lenses to get the classic Leica experience.

On the one hand, film is simply another medium but it's more than that. It's also a different way of making pictures. With digital, I snap more (the film and processing is free). With film I shoot less and take more time. Neither is better, just different ways of doing things.

I love the mechanics of cameras like the Leica M4 but pretty much hate the plastic and menus of the D90 even though it's a great camera. One is intuitive and elegant in its simplicity the other is not.

 

[bensyverson]

"Digital vs Film" is a false dichotomy. It's exactly like saying "Electric vs Acoustic."

I work with both for different reasons. Saying one is "better" is so vague it's meaningless.

With that said, I find myself being an advocate for film, because at this point, my kitchen fridge has a better selection of LF film than B&H. Digital doesn't need a cheerleader.

 

[sjw617]

Steve, that's how you see film and you are entitled to it.
Others sees it as a life-ling pursuit because film to them are not just the medium, but the process and craft.

Nothing odd about it, really.

Will,
I see photography as the craft and finding a good subject and good light as the process. It works the same if I am using film or a sensor to record the 'event'.

Steve

 

[h_A_Z]

film for me is the other side of photography that i find sparks my creativity a bit more, makes me feel like im learning something new again. Digital is dedicated to my proffesional career, digital is what makes me the money. Film is where that money made goes 😛 ha ha

You couldn't have said it better 🙂

 

[eddie1960]

Both are tools to express myself, both have their place. I love film, the results i get from my MF in b/w are hard for me to beat in digital (partially because i don't have the best printer in the world for b/w though i have seen some nice prints done at labs) Really for me it's about what inspires me to shoot.. lately that has been film or old lenses on my digital body. I still feel b/w is better on film, and given all the small companies producing b/w film i don't worry about it disappearing in my lifetime (though the chemicals may get harder to find - but you can always brew your own)

 

[rbsinto]

"Everybody does what they do. You do what you do. He does what he does. And I do what I do."
RBSinTo's Law.

I do slide film.

 

[italy74]

Really I hope film will still be available after 2012 when whatever happen will fry everything has a chip in it 😛

Joking aside, while in digital I see the aseptyc perfection of a swiss clinic or a german engineer, completely targeted at the result, film, with its "fallibility" and aptitude to have slightly different results and handling lights and shadows in a different way is indeed closer to real life, like a dish of home made "tortelli" (italian egg-pasta), maybe not so perfect and healthy like the pills astronauts take but wow, sooooo good to eat !!!

 

[shadowfox]

"film is obsolete" - Agreed 100%.

Finally, a brave and honest one 😀