Are we mad still wanting to use film ?

jonbeeza

jonbeeza

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I spent yesterday morning popping into a few local shops near to me, this was trying to buy some film that local shops no longer seem to sell. So bright and early first thing this morning, I decided to drive to my nearest Asda store.

I went to the photography section and there was nobody on the counter, I asked the girl on the till, do you sell film for cameras. She said what do you mean, she looked at me as though I was mad, but she must have only been about seventeen. She called a much older woman over, probably about in her fifties. When I asked the older woman do you sell camera film, a glazed look came over her face, it seemed like she went back in time maybe reminiscing, probably when we lived in caves and used film for cameras.

She said she thought that they still did sell it, a fella went into the storeroom, and after what seemed like an age, came out with some film he laughed and said why do you still want to use film? He was looking at me and probably thinking you silly old fart come out of the dark ages.

He said all we have is Fujicolor 24 C200 and these were £3.50 for one pack of 24, or three pack of 24 for £4.50 ! No idea of the silly pricing :thinking: so I bought three pack.

I was checking over my old film camera last night, and I think I will take it out and see how shooting film feels once again.

No wonder people switch over to digital, all the aggro you get simply trying to locate, and buy film :shake:
 
You are mad :D Easier to buy online. http://www.mailshotsuk.co.uk/ They're local to me and a friend with an OM10 used to use them to buy film with processing. Worth ringing them to make sure they're still going. Think I used them a few years ago.

If you want the film experience just set the camera onto one iso. Turn off the rear lcd, shoot 36 and then don't look at the results for a week. Easy :thumbs:
 
srichards said:
You are mad :D Easier to buy online. http://www.mailshotsuk.co.uk/ They're local to me and a friend with an OM10 used to use them to buy film with processing. Worth ringing them to make sure they're still going. Think I used them a few years ago.

If you want the film experience just set the camera onto one iso. Turn off the rear lcd, shoot 36 and then don't look at the results for a week. Easy :thumbs:
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Fully agree, generally easier to buy online.

As for being mad....I regularly get asked why I go to so much bother and expense using film ..."Isn't it sooo slow" I often get asked!

For me these people have no idea what they are missing ...the majority probably don't even know what film looks like!

The idea of getting the film experience by using one iso, turning off the lcd etc.....works to a point but doesn't offer the experience of actually handling the film, loading it, physically winding on to the new exposure etc and/or hearing that fantastic whir as it winds on automatically between shots.

Then there is the fun of developing.
A little time consuming and a little costly but without doubt more fun than just plugging into and looking at a computer screen.
 
I did all that years ago. It's a pain. Downloading onto a computer in minutes is far more fun than waiting a while and being disappointment. I'd rather get it over with quickly :)

My sony has a loud shutter so I don't miss out on that either :)

I think it is different for someone that never used film and someone that has already used it and got bored of the limitations.
 
For me the positives are;
- Makes me think about my shot much more as I will not take 20 shots just in case
- Likewise only take shots that may actually be worthwhile rather than snapping away like crazy
- Getting to use lovely old cameras with their simplistic and mechanical feel
- The whole process (handling film, loading, developing etc,.)

Negatives
- Cost (but that is offset by the fact I am using a couple of £20 cameras - which still provide very high IQ - and while film costs will add up it is a very spread out cost)
- Waiting to see results (or is that a positive?)
 
Are we mad for wanting to use film?
Short answer: No
Long Answer: Nooooooooooooooooooo

:D
 
Am I mad...

well - I take hundreds - sometimes thousands of pictures every year. most of them nobody will see but me.

I'm single, no kids, and when I go, nobody will care about any of the pictures. They'll all get thrown into a skip and taken away - film or digital.

So - it doesn't matter what the pictures were taken on - or if anyone else likes them, for that matter - they're simply taken for one reason - to make me happy. And, I happen to enjoy all the extra time and involvement that the film process requires - it's a hobby after all - why would you want a hobby to consume LESS time rather than more ?
 
TheBigYin said:
I'm single, no kids, and when I go, nobody will care about any of the pictures. They'll all get thrown into a skip and taken away - film or digital.
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One name for you:

Vivian Maier.



(mind you, she actually took decent photos!)
 
DemiLion said:
One name for you:

Vivian Maier.



(mind you, she actually took decent photos!)
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That'd be the bit I have problems with... Been wasting film and electrons since 1976 and still haven't taken anything I've been truly happy with!
 
Next hurdle will be trying to get them dev'd and printed :)
I need some film fix, used to be able to get it everywhere, dont need a lot, 500 ml will do, postage is almost as much as product.
SupaSnaps near me (Farringdon, London) will dev at £7 a roll (ouch), havent scanned them yet so no idea if they are any good.

Then try and get a wet print from a negative, best of luck.

I'll keep trying though :)

Matt
 
My missus thinks I am absolutely bonkers, she says I am silly as I will be wasting money on buying the film, then paying for the Processing of the Film. I simply told her that she wastes her money on booze, and that's her pleasure. While should I be wasting money on film, that will be my pleasure.

I will put a few rolls of film through the camera, then see if I want to keep my hand in film. It will give me pleasure trying film out again, should I not want to keep my film camera going, it will have cost me under twenty quid for the pleasure, money well spent I think ;)

I am really excited at the thought of using film after all these years, it's making me think more. Instead of snap happy digi, it's going to be careful and thinking about that shot..
 
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That was odd, I was trying to quote a reply that's now vanished! Did someone wave the ban stick?
 
I might be mad but I'm okay with that.

I shoot film for lots of reasons but mainly cause i really don't like what digital did to the industry. If film dies, which i don't think it will. I will quit shooting.

Some asked if waiting to get your pictures back was a positive or negative? I think its one of the biggest positives! So fun to stock pile up 10 to 20 rolls and then have them all developed. Nothing like a rainy Sunday morning with a nice cup of tea and my scanner to rediscover the past few months! So much fun!

Oh and as far as film cost goes. Little tip that has worked out in my favor twice now. When searching Craigslist or other ads for cameras and people are selling lots of different film equipment ask them if they have any outdated film. I've been very pleasantly surprised as to how much film is still lingering in peoples freezers and fridges.

Okay sorry i talk to much..
 
Just a heads up for the future. Morrisons sell Fujifilm Superia x-tra 400 24exp for £1.50 a roll. Great if you're in a bind and can't wait for a mail order to turn up.
 
2Thumbs said:
Just a heads up for the future. Morrisons sell Fujifilm Superia x-tra 400 24exp for £1.50 a roll. Great if you're in a bind and can't wait for a mail order to turn up.
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Is that Morrisons as in Morrisons supermarket? I must admit when I think of supermarkets I never think of Morrisons! :thumbs:

Just another thought, I wonder if it's worth having a look in places like Lidl and Adli etc :thinking:
 
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Is there a poundland nearby? They have film for erm £1, fine to check the machine still works.
 
steveo_mcg said:
Is there a poundland nearby? They have film for erm £1, fine to check the machine still works.
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I don't fancy going to poundland, it works out too dear going to there. I went to the city centre the other day, as it's where my nearest poundland is. But my missus always wants to go to town with me, we went to the butty shop and we spent £5 odd in there, then she wanted to go into primark and we spent another £20 in there, we walked all around the market and I forgot all about my film.

So if I go into town for my £1 film, I will end up spending a lot more than that :nono:
 
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I use film because it gives a "feel" that I have never managed to reproduce on digital, regardless of the fact that having four rolls developed at Peak Imaging can cost upwards of £30! Film is more expensive than it can seem but I enjoy it and that's all that matters to me. I'm not an anti-digital pundit either.

The only way I can really describe my usage of film to the masses is like driving and maintaining a classic car. The classic car won't be as reliable and probably not suitable as a daily driver, but the quirkiness from the lack of PAS down to the different sound of the engine (roaring carbs) or even the upholstery makes you smile every time you ride in one. The modern car (digital) is probably more reliable and more comfortable for long journeys, but just a bit... well, boring.
 
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jonbeeza said:
Is that Morrisons as in Morrisons supermarket? I must admit when I think of supermarkets I never think of Morrisons! :thumbs:
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Yeah, the supermarket. I work there so I also get 10% discount on sale price. :D

jonbeeza said:
Just another thought, I wonder if it's worth having a look in places like Lidl and Adli etc :thinking:
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Never spotted any in my local Lidl's.
 
trencheel303 said:
The only way I can really describe my usage of film to the masses is like driving and maintaining a classic car. The classic car won't be as reliable and probably not suitable as a daily driver, but the quirkiness from the lack of PAS down to the different sound of the engine (roaring carbs) or even the upholstery makes you smile every time you ride in one. The modern car (digital) is probably more reliable and more comfortable for long journeys, but just a bit... well, boring.
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What a superb way to express the difference....absolutely spot on!
 
2Thumbs said:
Yeah, the supermarket. I work there so I also get 10% discount on sale price. :D



.
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do they pay you for working there as well ? :D
 
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***Are we mad still wanting to use film ?***

Well yes if a roll of film cost £15 :)
 
jonbeeza said:
So if I go into town for my £1 film, I will end up spending a lot more than that :nono:
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Yeah I have similar issues, tend to take boy in on a Sunday morning when Mrs McG would prefer to stay in bed :D
 
trencheel303 said:
I'm not an anti-digital pundit either....
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I don't think any of us are, it seems these types of threads always appear to suggest hating digital is a prerequisite for shooting film.
And the idea that peeps shoot film for only one reason, like they like using mech cameras or they want to slow their shooting down, is daft.

Imo, digital cameras and film cameras make two completely different things and as such it hardly seems relevant which is quickest/slowest/expensive/mechanical/automatic.
If you want a film image....on film, I'm afraid there's nothing else for it, your gonna have to shoot some film with a film camera, madness doesn't come in to it..

:)
 
I think the question "are we mad" is completely independent of the question "is the idea of still using film mad" :p

Can't speak for anyone else but i haven't souped in a while, and while i was out with the dog i got a waft of something strange in the air. I instantly got a craving for the smell of developer. So yes, i'm definitely mad :D
 
Certainly not mad... perhaps slightly deranged? :)

Sometimes film is better, but most of the time not for me. And before you ask, yes I have and did use fim for donkeys years.

cheers
 
It also seems that a keyword in the question is "wanting". It's a (relatively) free country. You can do whatever you want. What does it matter what other people might think of you, as long as you're happy?
 
Just realised I will have to take a notebook and pen when using the film, otherwise I wont remember what setting I used :thinking:
 
jonbeeza said:
Just realised I will have to take a notebook and pen when using the film, otherwise I wont remember what setting I used :thinking:
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I use Evernote on my iPod. Syncs to the PC so it's easy to add it to the exif.
 
If you've got an iphone this is really useful FilmExif Lite

And it's free :thumbs:
 
hahaha.
I was fifteen when I started using film & everyone who I knew thought it was odddd. I love it tho & am still a keen learning film photographer eager to consume more!

I tend to buy all my film online or huge Boots stores do a 3 for 2 on a range of films which isn't bad?

& cheers for the aforementioned FilmExif app suggestion, have just downloaded it to la iPhone :}
 
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I really do wished I had of taken up photography when I was in my twenties, I really would have loved to have stockpiled loads of photos from the 1980s 1990s. All on lovely film as well..
 
have been pondering this myself and am thinking of getting my film camera down from the loft
 
I must be the maddest of all seen as how I just started shooting film a few weeks ago!

I've always shot with Nikon DSLR stuff and I've now bought an F5.

Whilst it is remarkably similar in both looks, controls and operation to my DSLR stuff... It is a completely alien experience.

I'm still having to stop myself looking at a non-existent screen on the back after each photo!

The positive for me is I really think about each photo before I press the shutter, which in itself is good for me as I'm too used to coming back from a day out with an SD card full of 200 crap photos that I wouldn't have taken if they weren't 'free' so to speak.

I have been taking photos for the sake of it, but now I'm thinking about what I'm shooting.

Downside is obviously the cost. By the time you buy and process the film it's costing me £10 for 36 photos from camera to computer, which is considerably more than £0 for an SD card full of 500 shots!
 
TimB said:
Downside is obviously the cost. By the time you buy and process the film it's costing me £10 for 36 photos from camera to computer, which is considerably more than £0 for an SD card full of 500 shots!
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Well that depends if you are going to print them off, I just printed one digital photo 6x3 at Asda and it cost me 35p I also printed two digital photos at max Speilman 7x5 and this cost me £1.08 While I have ordered 24 film prints at £5.99 :)
 
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