What is film-photography to you?

[Steve George]

Film got me interested in photography again several years after I switched from film to digital. For an intangible, indefinable reason, I just prefer the process of bulk loading, shooting, and developing film myself rather than shooting to a card and downloading the files into Lightroom. Best decision I made when I went was digital was holding onto my Leica M6 and lenses. My pictures aren't better, but I enjoy taking them a lot more.

 

[Ming Rider]

Film got me interested in photography again several years after I switched from film to digital. For an intangible, indefinable reason, I just prefer the process of bulk loading, shooting, and developing film myself rather than shooting to a card and downloading the files into Lightroom. Best decision I made when I went was digital was holding onto my Leica M6 and lenses. My pictures aren't better, but I enjoy taking them a lot more.

That was my very same argument on another forum on the same topic. Very few got it.

 

[Spanik]

I just like film cameras better: 1 button = 1 function. If I get wound up because I have again to hunt through 10 layers of menus to change a silly setting or push 3 buttons while turning some dial to change a simple setting then I don't have fun taking photos. I want a real focus ring and a real diaphragm ring on my lenses. A knob to set speed and one to set iso. And some counter to know how many shots left. If because of that I have to use film, then fine for me I'll use film.

The day they make a digital camera with the interface of a Praktica MTL3 I'll get one. I might even get two.

 

[Chris101]

I just like film cameras better: 1 button = 1 function. ...

Some film cameras had controls that changed depending on the mode the control was in. The Canon A-1 comes to mind.

 

[shadowfox]

I think you missed an answer... Film is a tool. I use it when I need to use it... just like digital.

This is exactly why I have the last option on the poll.
Good answer.

 

[dave lackey]

Looking back, the thread title is "What is Film Photography to You?"

At this point in time after many years of digital and many more shooting film, I am content (not overjoyed) at shooting both for various reasons. But what is film photography to me?

It is the foundation to which I always return. When I want to just kick back and enjoy the film gear, it is always waiting. When I want to use the film gear it is always a joy with a completely different kind of satisfaction than using digital. When I want to look at images with character, film is hard to beat. There is just something about film photography that makes me smile.:angel:

 

[68degrees]

I love digital! It drives the prices of film cameras down!

 

[helen.HH]

A sheer Pain in the A**...😱
but when I finally Develop, Scan & View
I couldn't be HAPPIER

 

[Pioneer]

In some respects film and digital are one and the same. This is particularly true in the capture phase. Both the film camera and the digital camera use the light to capture image data.

But following the capture they take totally different paths. The manipulation and presentation of that captured data differ so much that they may as well be entirely different worlds.

The image on film is manipulated and presented through the skillful mastery of light and chemicals. It is a craft requiring the dedication of many years to master.

The image captured on the sensor is manipulated through the use of mathematical calculations that require the computing power of machines to master.

The image captured on film can be touched and handled from the moment of exposure through to the final print.

The image captured on sensor becomes a set of mathematical digits and calculations that cannot be touched or handled until the final print.

Is one better than the other? I don't believe so but I truly do not know.

 

[van_d]

A sheer Pain in the A**...😱
but when I finally Develop, Scan & View
I couldn't be HAPPIER

This. Really.

A lot of aspects of film photography can be quite tedious, but when I finally get to view the finished photograph, I couldn't be happier. It's just not something I get with digital. The look, the feel, and in the back of my head, the fact that this photo is guaranteed to be here for generations to come even if this computer file becomes unreadable or the like.

Plus there's a lot of simply amazing cameras that I can use that have no digital equivalent. TLRs immediately come to mind, for example.

 

[Weasel_Loader]

I just recently started shooting film again after picking up a Nikon F5. Couldn't resist after going through boxes of old slides and negatives passed down to me by family. I had a Nikon N4004S as my first SLR back in 1990 and loved it. The F5 goes perfect with my D700 lenses.

Digital in my opinion does have a much cleaner look and much more detail than film. I still prefer to use my digital D700 for landscapes for that reason and also the ability to compensate and adjust while shooting.

I use film now primarily for taking family photos since I prefer the look and have a physical negative or transparency to hold.

I just hope film holds on long enough and doesn't suffer a complete collapse.

 

[swifty63]

I feel that I can better express my tiny amount of artistic talent through film and darkroom printing better than I can using a "digital workflow". Others may obviously feel the opposite. Please enjoy whichever way you decide to go, and good luck with it!

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

I love digital! It drives the prices of film cameras down!

agree. let them eat their megapretzels!

 

[agoglanian]

I started my photographic journey with film, left it for a while for digital, then came back a few years ago. I still shoot digital for a lot of things, but I like the tangible quality of film. There is a physical object that I can touch, look at or even smell (if I was so inclined) once my negatives are developed, and that is something missing from digital photography.

They both have their absolute place in this artistic world of ours, and I will continue to happily shoot both 🙂

 

[Ming Rider]

. . . or even smell (if I was so inclined) . . .

Anyone who says they haven't is in denial. It's quite ok to admit it, you're amongst friends here.

It's not like there's a National Film Sniffers Register ! 😀