Why I'm still with film

developing film is something I could do without but unfortunately can't. shooting is no different than digital to me. editing. now that's where the game changes immensely and is fulfilling.
 
Thanks for your responses so far.

I took great care to indicate in my original post, and even in the title, that I am speaking for myself, and am not attempting to push my views onto others.

RFF has changed significantly over the years and is now quite digital content heavy. Lots of speculation and discussion over a steady flow of yet to be released digital cameras. My interest is in film, and just wanted to add to rff's film content.
 
@Pistach
It's obvious, that digital is a great photographic option - excellent in colour, but also very good in B&W, particularly if you are fond of pushed film aesthetics ( Daido Moriyama tonality), or if you work a lot in controlled light. You can also do very well by using exposure bracketing and merging the images whenever possible. Then, with every new generation of sensors, the advantages of film are shrinking anyway.
 
I like using film and I enjoy the simplicity of manual film cameras (Nikon FTn, FM2, Leica R8, Fuji GF670). I even enjoy developing my own color film. But the killer for me was the scanning. (I didn't have the space or the patience for a wet darkroom.) I was never able to do decent scanning myself. So I have decided to let the camera do the scanning for me - so I am now using digital full time, mostly with Sigma Foveon X3 sensor cameras.

There is a great lab in Orlando, Florida that does a great job of developing and scanning (Colonial Photo & Hobby) but I really wanted to take control myself of these processes. Film development I could master - scanning I couldn't.
 
I too still prefer Film....
There is just something about B&W film and all its Glow & Imperfections
that just brings a Smile to my Face

As for digi , i am experimenting with the leica X1 mainly because i love the simple plain menu and ease of use, its compact, i bought the 36mm VF since i just prefer shooting thru a VF, love its colour rendering and that 'instant gratification' one gets with digi. Also i am having fun able to experiment more with crazy mixing of aperture & shutter speeds , pushing and pulling in ways I never do with Film

But at the end of the Day, i can become bored with digi
And reach for my Film camera ;)
 
Though in Today's World
I don't think it much matters...Digi or Film
If the Photo moves You, speaks to You then thats ALL that Matters !
 
helenhill said:
Though in Today's World
I don't think it much matters...Digi or Film
If the Photo moves You, speaks to You then thats ALL that Matters !
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I am arguing against. For me, the process used to obtain the final image is very significant in MY enjoyment of my photography hobby. This is my point.
 
noisycheese said:
Why do I still use film? It's the process. I love everything about the process and the tools for the process of film photography.

You have five things to manage in the process: Aperture, shutter speed, focus, shutter release, film advance. That's it. No 300 page user's manual. No multilevel menus. No battery going dead because you videoed too much.

The process is meditative, zen like. It slows you down. It makes you focus your mind. It makes you think. It is intuitive. It is elemental.
Click to expand...
Agreed. The "pure" process that is quite simple and intuitive but engaging is a must.
I like the results I get with my EPL2, but it is essentially an auto/priority camera... And anything manual is quite a pain to do. Good results and convenient, but doesn't fullfill much... It's boring.

mfogiel said:
Where my quality requirement is never satisfied, is in the tonality department. I have yet to see a digital image from any sensor, that can compete with 35mm film, not to mention medium or large format. When I say "film" here, I mean silver B&W film, shot typically at 2/3 or 1/2 box speed, and properly developed. For a pushed film effect, digital cameras are cheaper.
[...]
A good analogy can be found in HI FI transistor amplifiers - which, when they first appeared on the market, were boasting a much better harmonic response, lower distortion, etc, than the valves, but did not pass the blind test of listening. Till present day, a vinyl record reproduced on top quality equipment seems to be the audiophile gold standard.
Click to expand...
Audio is quite the old and beaten analogy (unintended pun isn't it?) but it's quite applicable. Vinyl has its own distortion in the audio chain but it's a pleasant one, euphonic. Same with film... Grain, has its own way of rendering color and contrast... But it's nice.

As of tonality, out of the camera I've preferred much the results I get from my old and cheap OM than the EPL. Both of which I got for a similar price.
I don't like postprocessing and if I do some it's quite conservative (Levels/curves and retouches).
As of printing
I am a student and nowadays we sit too much in the computer, if part of a hobby can be done out, much better.
And I could agree with the prevous poster and his positive feedback about the Monochrom. But I am sorry that I'm not able to afford it. Film offers high quality, in a pay per go basis but not a high price entry level.

But in any case, digital offers really nice options. IMO, I might have a big trip in the future and wouldn't refuse to bring a small mirrorless for still snaps and video. GM-1 + pancake primes or the zoom look really good.
 
FrankS said:
This is exactly what I am arguing against. For me, the process used to obtain the final image is very significant in MY enjoyment of my photography hobby. This is my point.
Click to expand...

Oh Hey Frank, I still AGREE with You re: the Process and The Joy of being Absorbed in the Process
BUT
I can look at 'other People's' work and be Moved, awestruck by 'An Image'
And that Image can be Created in either World, film / digi
 
pdh said:
[dyspeptic]

haven't these "why film is better than/different to/whatever" discussions been beaten to death by now ?

[/dyspeptic]
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As have the air head vs oil head debates ...

I have both film and digital cameras that do the number right. I have used plenty of both that didn't, and I sold them off or gave them away. Two of the finest cameras to use I've ever owned are digital: I rank them as nicer than even the best Leica M film camera.

Likewise with motorcycles. Old and new, simple and complex—no criteria so generically large in scope tells me what bike is going to sing when I ride. Riding them does.

G

Equipment is transitory. Photographs endure.
 
It distills down to this: I'm doing photography the way I want to do it, and riding the bikes I want to ride, and achieving maximum pleasure from these hobbies.

I hope you all are too, however you choose to enjoy yourselves. :)

I was just trying to explain myself.
 
FrankS said:
It distills down to this: I'm doing photography the way I want to do it, and riding the bikes I want to ride, and achieving maximum pleasure from these hobbies.

I hope you all are too, however you choose to enjoy yourselves. :)

I was just trying to explain myself.
Click to expand...

That's good.

I rarely feel the need to explain myself, that's all. I just do what I like to do, and also what I need to do.

G
 
For me its simple:

(1) Because I can
(2) Because it brings me pleasure

The same applies to shooting digital, drinking single malts and building kayaks..
 
It's interesting to see how some people have made the transition from film to digital, others the converse , but I think its safe to say most of us utilize some combination for various purposes.
One area I particularly prefer digital is color work. Maybe it's because of my reduced blue/green sensitivity of my eyes, but with the latest sensors I get colors and sharpness that finally match velvia. I love grainy BW photos, but I can't stand it with color. Maybe it's that levels of abstraction thing: you can get away with grain in BW, but color is supposed to look more "real".
 
noimmunity, mfogiel,
thank you so much for your responses,
Chatting here at RFF is a pleasure and an ongoing opportunity to learn.
All the best
Paolo
 
I shoot b/w film because I enjoy the entire process from choosing the film and the developer and the darkroom work. I tried digital and the work flow and the inkjet output but did not enjoy the process. I guess I shoot film because I like it.
 
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