Teuthida
Well-known
I want a negative. Not 1s and 0s on a hard drive. Call me crazy.
Why do all we film guys keep holding on?
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raytoei@gmail.com
Veteran
because i love mechanical cameras....
hausen
Well-known
I like both mediums and even though I own a M9 I find myself most often using a film camera most of the time and most often MF. Love the process and as mentioned above the unpredictable nature of film. Shot a roll over the weekend with my Rollei and has a band down one side of the roll. Is it a light leak or something went wrong in the tank? Don't know yet but loved walking around with the Rollei and Tri-X. Might post a scan to see if anyone has an idea what it is in film section later on. PS my 48th birthday next week and I am getting a Tattoo of a cannister of film with film spewing out and headline film is not dead. So I am in for long haul.
Gumby
Veteran
What "really cool announcements of awesome digital cameras meant to appeal to the RF guy" are you referring to? I haven't seen any. Maybe I still shoot film because I'm ignorant. Please don't repeat that... it hurts my feelings when people call me ignorant.
Murchu
Well-known
I'm in my 30's, started out with digital, and shoot film. Why? Small manual bodies, and the hands on craft-like nature of the b&w process from shooting to printing. I could live without the latter (although like it), but it was the former that brought me to film. Film helps keep me rooted directly in the core activity of making images, and think that is a key part of what keeps me shooting it.
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Keith, I think you've touched on something near the heart of this matter, at least for me. I've bounced around in the digital juggernaut for a half-dozen years now. And I gave up my film stuff several years ago.
It has been a stressful time moving around amongst these ever-changing bells, whistles, and mega-pixel races. I long for the stability of film & film gear quality. Back then one could buy a Nikon F3, a couple of prime lenses and you'd feel comfortable that you had enough horsepower to do the job.. for years and years!
FrankS
Registered User
That's dedication!
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Yep ... I'm having those same feelings.
Damn ... never thought I'd become a curmudgeon! 😛
bwidjaja
Warung Photo
I agree with most of the responses here. It really depends on how you view what you do with photography. If it is a hobby and film as a medium provides the means to satisfy, why digital?
Or if film is the only medium that can give you the image you want, why frustrate yourself with digital.
On the other hand, as in my case, the limited time and space i have only allows me to enjoy film photography up to developing. I feel that I am only experiencing half of what analog workflow can offer. Hence, I am staying with digital since most of the images are good enough to be enjoyed digitally.
Or if film is the only medium that can give you the image you want, why frustrate yourself with digital.
On the other hand, as in my case, the limited time and space i have only allows me to enjoy film photography up to developing. I feel that I am only experiencing half of what analog workflow can offer. Hence, I am staying with digital since most of the images are good enough to be enjoyed digitally.
Tom33
Established
I like that. I like shooting film for all of it: the process, the look, that I have an image to hold when I get the negatives or slides back from the lab... but I REALLY like being "Steve McQueen cool!"
Cheers,
Tom
bojanfurst
Well-known
Ha-ha-ha... Too true.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Love to hear from the under 30 crowd. Interested in your perspective, too.
bensyverson
Well-known
It seems like an everyday occurrence because it's Photokina season... We don't normally get so many interesting camera releases.
I'm a huge film fanatic, but I shoot with digital too. I hold on to film because I love the look of 35mm, and in medium or large format, there is simply no comparison. But digital cameras are fun and quick. It's hard to avoid owning a digital camera, so you might as well make it a good one.
I'm a huge film fanatic, but I shoot with digital too. I hold on to film because I love the look of 35mm, and in medium or large format, there is simply no comparison. But digital cameras are fun and quick. It's hard to avoid owning a digital camera, so you might as well make it a good one.
tuanvinh2000
Well-known
i read a quote recently that when you keep looking at the latest cameras, you only get better cameras when the time goes by. If you look at more pictures, then your photography would in fact improve. It really struck me and from my own observations, i do like a lot of imperfect shots so cameras matter much less to me. having a really good film camera ensures me i can focus more on what's in front of it 🙂 From an Under 30 crowds.
loquax ludens
Well-known
Let's see, this is pretty simple...
I like the look of images captured on film, especially when the image is optically enlarged and printed or contact printed on light sensitive paper that is chemically processed. It has an organic quality that seems more smooth to my eye than a digital image, even when it is printed on textured paper. Maybe it has something to do with the tonal scale.
I like working in the darkroom. I'm doing something with my hands, taking an active part in the production of the final image from developing all the way through printing. For me, lightroom work means matting and framing.
I like having negatives. They are tangible, not just digital files on an electronic storage medium. I like being able to view transparencies on a light table. Digital images seem ephemeral, unreal, without substance unless I am actually viewing them.
I like film cameras, especially older ones. They have a certain heft, a feel of solidity and precision engineering that is satisfying to the hand and to the eye.
The convenience and utility of digital photography is undeniable. If I need a quick snap to illustrate something on a forum, or if I want to sell an item on eBay, digital wins hands down. Otherwise, I prefer film.
I like the look of images captured on film, especially when the image is optically enlarged and printed or contact printed on light sensitive paper that is chemically processed. It has an organic quality that seems more smooth to my eye than a digital image, even when it is printed on textured paper. Maybe it has something to do with the tonal scale.
I like working in the darkroom. I'm doing something with my hands, taking an active part in the production of the final image from developing all the way through printing. For me, lightroom work means matting and framing.
I like having negatives. They are tangible, not just digital files on an electronic storage medium. I like being able to view transparencies on a light table. Digital images seem ephemeral, unreal, without substance unless I am actually viewing them.
I like film cameras, especially older ones. They have a certain heft, a feel of solidity and precision engineering that is satisfying to the hand and to the eye.
The convenience and utility of digital photography is undeniable. If I need a quick snap to illustrate something on a forum, or if I want to sell an item on eBay, digital wins hands down. Otherwise, I prefer film.
ChipMcD
Well-known
I hadn't thought of this, but it does feel more like you're making something. Also, even though my work probably doesn't deserve permanency, I have a lot more faith that B&W film, and probably even transparencies, will still be around and readable in 50 years, or much longer for B&W.
Nevertheless, I am tending to use digital for color more and more. For B&W, I just haven't been able to make digital work for me, and I haven't tried too hard, since film looks so good for b&w.
Pfreddee
Well-known
At the risk of getting blistered, I would say that I like both mediums. I own and use a Nikon F100 for B&W work, and a Nikon D7000 for colour. I don't anticipate buying another digital body for some years yet, since the D7000 is a solid camera, like the F100, and I can swap out lenses with the F100. Also, I don't see the D7000 as becoming obsolete any time soon, for me, unless there comes a time when I can't read the files, or get an occasional print made. We still use the Canon Digital Rebel our daughter gave us, and it has *only* six (count 'em), six mega-pixels. But it still does the job. There is no obligation constantly to upgrade a digital body unless you are a pro, and the upgrade gives you a competitive edge, IMHO.
And for the record, I can still use my Yashica MAT 124G with the best of them, hand-held meter and all. As I said, I like 'em both.
(I will now quickly don my Nomex fire-resistant suit!🙂)
With best regard.
Pfreddee(Stephen)
And for the record, I can still use my Yashica MAT 124G with the best of them, hand-held meter and all. As I said, I like 'em both.
(I will now quickly don my Nomex fire-resistant suit!🙂)
With best regard.
Pfreddee(Stephen)
Fedupwithdigital
Member
Interesting topic. As my username suggests, I went back to shooting film after a period of time using digital exclusively.
I'd originally resisted going digital because I felt too much depended on what computer hardware and software you had rather than on the camera itself. I also worried about the (then) lower quality of digital verus film. But I bit the bullet and was impressed by all the things a digital camera can do.
After a few years, though, I got a bit, well, fed up with digital. The ease, the speed, the ability to take hundreds of photos very cheaply. For using as computer wallpaper or sending by email, the quality was great. But most of them sat on my hard drive, unseen. Something was missing.
I reckon I had forgotten to take photographs and I had become just a snapper. Quality control was gone. I felt I needed to slow down and think about what I was doing more. And think about why I was doing it. So I went back to film. I even got a fully manual 6x9 folding camera with a shoe-mount rangefinder. That slowed me right down!
And it's been great! I really do prefer using film cameras and I've been very happy with some of the results.
But I now have a part-film, part-digital workflow. I haven't the time to develop my own film. And I definitely don't have enough time (or the skill) to print my own. So now I'm shooting film but scanning the negs and "printing" them digitally.
So I'm sort of half-film, half-digital. I find it frustrating. I'm not getting the best out of film. And I'm still stuck looking at a computer screen a lot of the time. The idea of buying a much better digital camera than my current model is attractive. It's that or I build a dark room in the attic and go fully "analogue".
I'd originally resisted going digital because I felt too much depended on what computer hardware and software you had rather than on the camera itself. I also worried about the (then) lower quality of digital verus film. But I bit the bullet and was impressed by all the things a digital camera can do.
After a few years, though, I got a bit, well, fed up with digital. The ease, the speed, the ability to take hundreds of photos very cheaply. For using as computer wallpaper or sending by email, the quality was great. But most of them sat on my hard drive, unseen. Something was missing.
I reckon I had forgotten to take photographs and I had become just a snapper. Quality control was gone. I felt I needed to slow down and think about what I was doing more. And think about why I was doing it. So I went back to film. I even got a fully manual 6x9 folding camera with a shoe-mount rangefinder. That slowed me right down!
And it's been great! I really do prefer using film cameras and I've been very happy with some of the results.
But I now have a part-film, part-digital workflow. I haven't the time to develop my own film. And I definitely don't have enough time (or the skill) to print my own. So now I'm shooting film but scanning the negs and "printing" them digitally.
So I'm sort of half-film, half-digital. I find it frustrating. I'm not getting the best out of film. And I'm still stuck looking at a computer screen a lot of the time. The idea of buying a much better digital camera than my current model is attractive. It's that or I build a dark room in the attic and go fully "analogue".
batey_1020
Well-known
I am 24. Just this week i sold all my digital equipment (canon 60D and a bunch of L glass).
The reason?
a) Well ive learnt more from shooting film in the last 12 months.
b) I havent picked up my digital equipment for anything other then doing favours for people
c)I inheritated my Grandads M4 and his darkroom equipment. Something about holding onto a camera that i know he did everything he could to buy.
Weather i will stay in film completly time will tell. Im just hoping im going to lear a lot more over the next year about what i want form this hobby i guess.
Colin Corneau
Colin Corneau
Same reason people 'hold on' to growing gardens, walking, listening to radio, cooking for themselves, or painting.