Why film?
I'm a stubborn Luddite. Only kidding
😀
I have my fair share of technology what with having a job in creating websites, and pretty modern snazzy so-called 'Web 2.0' ones. So I'm certainly not technically challenged.
For me it comes down to:
- Tactile: I love the whole process of film from opening the box, loading the camera, developing the film (if B&W) and printing the film in my darkroom (if B&W) - this for me is great fun. Printing in the darkroom is a huge reason why digital largely doesn't interest me.
- Cameras: Apart from the M8 (which I have used and it was good) and the RD1 series (not used) there are no digital cameras that make me think -- woah that looks like a solid piece of classic engineering with just the essentials. My M2 is simple but it's rugged and a delight to use. Something I don't always find with my EOS 3 which is more about button prodding, let alone the current crop of DSLRs which regardless of being digital hold no interest with me whatsoever. I want four things in a camera: shutter speed dial, aperture opening ring, shutter release and film advance -- anything else like histograms and fancy meters, print buttons and Pacman (ok maybe not Pacman!) is an optional extra for me.
- Film itself : I do a lot of slideshows using E6 and Kodachromes that I shoot regularly. Digital projection is expensive and to my mind still not as good as old fashioned analogue. Also, my Kodak Carousel is as simple as it gets, a boring old rotary mechanism with a bright bulb shining some light through a slide and onward to the lens. Digital projectors - there's more to break, they are more complicated. Also the bulbs can cost a fortune, whereas the Kodak costs me about £2 a pop -- and that's not needed often! So projection is a big issue for me.
Black and white and the associated silver prints on good FB paper (and even some matt RC will do for proofs and quick jobs like cards and so forth) -- gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Digital black and white is too clean for my liking and looks too smooth, although the M8 does a good job. Also film has no risk of noise, but as pointed out grain. One looks good, and one looks unsightly.
Colour C41: I don't use much these days, mostly just Reala, Portra and some of the Fuji press fims (160C, 800H) but they are very good, and they do tend to have a certain quality that I don't see in digital prints. That said, if I was a big shooter of colour C41 -- digital would look very tempting. Sure we have great colour films but this is one area where digital is very much an equal for me.
E6/K14 : As already inferred, I like slideshows, it's sociable and relaxing to gather friends together and have a slideshow, some drinks and food. None of this fiddle with the computer, what do you mean cannot find disk, ahhh bloody screensaver etc., just a simple projector. Also I like shooting chromes, nothing quite like it. Yes they have a narrow exposure latitude compared to C41 and modern digital but that's a.) half the trick and b.) what gives it that look that I like.
What would it take to make me switch to digital?
I'd say if/when/whatever the bulk of film that I use is discontinued (and we're talking Tri-X, FP4+, Neopan Acros, Pan-F+, Ektachromes, Kodachrome
[*], Provia, Astia, Velvia, Fuji press C41s...) then I'll have to start looking at a digital system.
But my guess is that in 10 years time, film photography may have got slightly more expensive due to lower volumes, but it will still be strong and thriving.
But it's a guess, and I'm no oracle.
In the meantime, I'm enjoying taking pictures and that counts for more than anything for me.
Vicky
[* = Kodachrome is probably the most at threat of my most used films, but I know this and am trying to put one roll aside in each 3 that I buy every now and then. I won't have a big stockpile but there's no point if Dwayne's stop processing it a year or two after Kodak discontinues is... That said, Kodak may even be realising a small profit from it and keep it going for a bit longer, which I would be most thankful of!]
