kshapero
South Florida Man
With all these really cool announcements of awesome digital cameras meant to appeal to the RF guy, why do so many of us shoot primarily film?:bang:
Are we just old farts? Or young ones? Are we on to something? Or are we just living in the past?
I, for one, like the unpredictableness of silver particles. I like the surprise. But will our stuff just end as an episode on Pawn Stars?
Are we just old farts? Or young ones? Are we on to something? Or are we just living in the past?
I, for one, like the unpredictableness of silver particles. I like the surprise. But will our stuff just end as an episode on Pawn Stars?
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
I simply cannot afford a digital camera that gives me the quality I need. I have several good film cameras, purchased in better times, two Leicas and a Hasselblad, and buying similar digital cameras would cost more than I earn in several yrs.
kshapero
South Florida Man
No mysticism to it?
colyn
ישו משיח
I don't know if I would call it holding on since I shoot both but I like the look of film more so than digital..
thegman
Veteran
On one hand, there are a lot more nice digital cameras coming out these days than there were a few years back.
On the other, I don't see it as "holding on", I can buy film, cameras, and processing very easily, so there is no pressure to change.
Just do what you want to do, and pay no attention to what others do. I see *queues* outside chain restaurants, and empty tables in decent independent restaurants, but I would not consider those chain restaurants more desirable.
On the other, I don't see it as "holding on", I can buy film, cameras, and processing very easily, so there is no pressure to change.
Just do what you want to do, and pay no attention to what others do. I see *queues* outside chain restaurants, and empty tables in decent independent restaurants, but I would not consider those chain restaurants more desirable.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
What are you shooting, and why? Doesn't that answer the question?
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I like the new avatar Akiva.
'Mysticism?' ... I think with the constant, relentless roll out of new digital gear the stability of film and the cameras that use it is reassuring. I'm finding this constant barrage of new digital cameras pretty tedious personally ... it's de-valuing what I regard as a legitimate art form and turning it into more twenty first century consumer driven crap to amuse the masses.
'Mysticism?' ... I think with the constant, relentless roll out of new digital gear the stability of film and the cameras that use it is reassuring. I'm finding this constant barrage of new digital cameras pretty tedious personally ... it's de-valuing what I regard as a legitimate art form and turning it into more twenty first century consumer driven crap to amuse the masses.
John Bragg
Well-known
The answer is blatently in the question here. I am exactly that. A film guy. Self taught and proud of it. If I felt the need to go digi I would, but I have no need.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Nice rant!!I like the new avatar Akiva.
'Mysticism?' ... I think with the constant, relentless roll out of new digital gear the stability of film and the cameras that use it is reassuring. I'm finding this constant barrage of new digital cameras pretty tedious personally ... it's de-valuing what I regard as a legitimate art form and turning it into more twenty first century consumer driven crap to amuse the masses.
JChrome
Street Worker
I wanted a bigger challenge (less fps = higher quality and slower photography). I wanted to be unique. I wanted to use high quality cameras that aren't plasticky. And you can buy great quality cameras for cheap... .
.
bojanfurst
Well-known
You know I sometime wonder, too. In my case, it's complete stupidity. The only two things in the world I am allergic to are photo chemicals (I think fix) and latex. It affects only my hands and it is very uncomfortable. And yet...
After shooting digital for a living for several years, now that I am doing something else, I am exclusively working with B&W film and I like it. I don't care that digital is sharper, that it captures more detail, that is flexible and superior in low light... I just like the way wet prints look and feel. I don't begrudge people their expensive digital cameras. I admire work people do with digital gear. But for me, film still holds magic. It's just that simple. I like what I get with film.
As for all these announcements, none of it gets me excited. Maybe because there is so much of it that I can't possibly pay attention to it all. My D200s are on their last legs. They have helped me make a living, but I never really enjoyed working with them. I am probably going to get something pocketable like Fuji x10 so I can post photos to facebook and email the pictures of their grandkids to my parents. For my documentary work, film is good enough and I have plenty to learn about it.
Sometime ago, there was a thread about somebody saying they will do something else if film disappears. I kind of get that, actually. Over the past year, I have been taking some drawing classes and practicing sketching. I am not saying I plan to abandon photography all together if film becomes unavailable, but there are tactile, slow aspects of film photography that are important to me and digital can't really replace it.
After shooting digital for a living for several years, now that I am doing something else, I am exclusively working with B&W film and I like it. I don't care that digital is sharper, that it captures more detail, that is flexible and superior in low light... I just like the way wet prints look and feel. I don't begrudge people their expensive digital cameras. I admire work people do with digital gear. But for me, film still holds magic. It's just that simple. I like what I get with film.
As for all these announcements, none of it gets me excited. Maybe because there is so much of it that I can't possibly pay attention to it all. My D200s are on their last legs. They have helped me make a living, but I never really enjoyed working with them. I am probably going to get something pocketable like Fuji x10 so I can post photos to facebook and email the pictures of their grandkids to my parents. For my documentary work, film is good enough and I have plenty to learn about it.
Sometime ago, there was a thread about somebody saying they will do something else if film disappears. I kind of get that, actually. Over the past year, I have been taking some drawing classes and practicing sketching. I am not saying I plan to abandon photography all together if film becomes unavailable, but there are tactile, slow aspects of film photography that are important to me and digital can't really replace it.
Kenj8246
Well-known
From one old fart to another--although I have you by three years--I like the unpredictableness of it as well. In all honesty, I feel like I'm making something. Guess it's the process.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
"Why do all we film guys keep holding on?"
Because we still can buy film.
Because we still can buy film.
Michalm
Well-known
I like colour , dynamic range of film and some kind of organic appeal it has contrary to synthetic one from digital. It is like difference between true coffe and instant one to me.
paulfish4570
Veteran
they are two different mediums, film and digital. i like both. but there is no doubt in my mind that film is steve mcqueen cool, and digital is something else. what, i don't yet know ...
Kenj8246
Well-known
I like holding things like this in my hands--some of which are older than me--and knowing they still do what they're supposed to do AS LONG AS I do my part.
Old things that still work by kenj8246, on Flickr
Old things that still work by kenj8246, on Flickr
Ljós
Well-known
You know what, part (a small part of it, but still) of the fun is exactly this, that there are essentially no (ok, Zeiss will come with some lens in M-mount sometime in 2013
) news for us film users. After all, we are about making pictures, yes? So we have our cameras and lenses, and especially if you are focusing on Black and White, film supply is not in danger. We are all set. I find that quite liberating. I have made my peace with the inherent shortcomings of a mechanical rangefinder camera (framing accuracy, no closer than .7m without special arrangements etc.), but apart from that I do not feel my gear is holding me back. In that sense, living at the end of the technological curve of one "system" gives you matured tools without the rush of the "rat-race".
Greetings, Ljós
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I'm very cranky in the mornings until I've had my second cup of coffee Akiva.
But bloody hell... I turned the computer on this morning and logged onto RFF to see the beginnings of yet another feeding frenzy over this predicted full frame point and shoot! It's like frigging 'Ground Hog Day' around here at the moment!
Now where's that coffee?
gb hill
Veteran
I have too much $$ tied up in my film gear just to let it lay on a shelf. BTW I enjoy processing my own b&w. I love shooting with my Bessa R. I'd like to get the new Pentax X-5 but having to help with family members, my money is kinda tight right now.
kshapero
South Florida Man
It does seem like an almost everyday occurrence to announce another "cool" digital camera. Why as soon as you buy one, 4 or 5 more have eclipsed it. That definitely makes me want to "drop out" and pick up my M3 just to be bratty.I'm very cranky in the mornings until I've had my second cup of coffee Akiva.
But bloody hell... I turned the computer on this morning and logged onto RFF to see the beginnings of yet another feeding frenzy over this predicted full frame point and shoot! It's like frigging 'Ground Hog Day' around here at the moment!
Now where's that coffee?