why do you shoot digital... film is so much better!

I think this thread has got a bit tangled up with money over the last couple of pages.
Pros make up a very small section of the camera owning/shooting public.
Not that they don't have valid opinions, just that their perspective often doesn't apply to most people.
 
Nguss said:
I am in your camp too. I used to think that film was something from the olden days and digital was the way forward until I started using a Medium Format camera (at first) and then latterly found I liked it so much I moved onto large format. After trying it I realised that film has a great deal to offer (colour rendition, exposure latitude, handling of highlights, capturing more detail than my digital camera at the time) as well as drawbacks (dust spotting, having to get it developed and scanned, shooting a roll and getting the metering wrong so paying for the privilege of getting a series of under or overexposed images etc etc).

I would never have used film at all however if I had not used digital first as I found that using digital at no cost (my dad gave me a camera to try) gave me the confidence to try things with no real cost consequences. In turn I saw people were still using film and thought I would give it a go have not looked back. For me personally, in photographic terms I genuinely think that there is nothing better than a properly exposed slide of MF or preferably LF film, though a nice TMAX negative comes close.

I use digital as well of course as it is convenient, sometimes lighter and gives instantaneous results. If I did not use digital I would have missed a lot of great family photos. For the type of photography I enjoy as a hobby however, I genuinely think that film is the best medium for it.

At the end of the day both are great, but for different reasons and for different things.
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Anyone who wants to try and argue that film is outclassed by digital, or that film is in any way inferior should take a good long look at your photostream before they open their gob, they may just find themselves converted.
 
Thank you very much indeed! I think that is people had a look in the film and conventional post your film shots thread they would see that there are loads of talented people using film, much the same as if the F & C people have a look at the non film section too. Also your website is great!
 
Well I've just brought a F80 looking forward to having a play and comparing results:)
 
We use both film and digital cameras but I must admit that film is used for "fun" and for our large collection of vintage cameras.
One point I would like to make regards the photographing of aquarium fish. One of the reasons I became interested in photography over 40 years ago was to photograph aquarium fish; not the easiest of subjects to begin with. Once I had mastered some of the techniques required I got many reasonable shots on reversal film but I had to develop the film before I knew if my lighting and camera settings were okay. Unlike many photographic locations found in a studio or light tent each variety of fish and aquarium required different settings for the camera and lighting. When I started to use a digital SLR for photographing fish I was able to get far better results because I could see my results instantly and make any adjustments required.

Therefore my point is that there is no "ideal" medium to use for photography but for some subjects the modern digital camera does give results far superior to what can be achieved with film.
 
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I took my first photographs over 50 years ago on a plastic Brownie camera which I think only shot about 12 at a time and it was touch and go what the results were! I later used firstly Nikon F's and then the first Canon EOS-1 SLR 35mm film cameras.

I have experience of developing and printing my own film and also being a professional Art Director working with well established professional specialists in studios and on location in a variety of formats up to 10 x 12 inch plate cameras.

For the last few years I have used a digital compact and I see a Canon 70D in my near future. I don't print photos, I don't sell photos, I just take and make pictures because I enjoy it and enjoy sharing them.

Film isn't "better" than digital and digital isn't "better" than film. It's simply horses-for-courses and we each have our own individual preferences. My preference for myself is for digital primarily because it's far more convenient and far more economical.
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Anyone who wants to try and argue that film is outclassed by digital, or that film is in any way inferior should take a good long look at your photostream before they open their gob, they may just find themselves converted.
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Agreed (after a brief interval to go and have a look).


Steve.
 
I would just like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who has contributed to an 'I think xxx is best' TP thread that has got to its sixth page without it being locked. This may be a record.

Jolly good show! :clap::clap::clap:

OK, carry on...
 
Nguss said:
I am in your camp too. I used to think that film was something from the olden days and digital was the way forward until I started using a Medium Format camera (at first) and then latterly found I liked it so much I moved onto large format. After trying it I realised that film has a great deal to offer (colour rendition, exposure latitude, handling of highlights, capturing more detail than my digital camera at the time) as well as drawbacks (dust spotting, having to get it developed and scanned, shooting a roll and getting the metering wrong so paying for the privilege of getting a series of under or overexposed images etc etc). I would never have used film at all however if I had not used digital first as I found that using digital at no cost (my dad gave me a camera to try) gave me the confidence to try things with no real cost consequences. In turn I saw people were still using film and thought I would give it a go have not looked back. For me personally, in photographic terms I genuinely think that there is nothing better than a properly exposed slide of MF or preferably LF film, though a nice TMAX negative comes close. I use digital as well of course as it is convenient, sometimes lighter and gives instantaneous results. If I did not use digital I would have missed a lot of great family photos. For the type of photography I enjoy as a hobby however, I genuinely think that film is the best medium for it. At the end of the day both are great, but for different reasons and for different things.
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Yes, great post.

The thing that is troublesome to me is that we've had to go out of our way to discover film (no one will even mention it in a 'what camera do I buy' thread), even though it still has plenty to offer.

I just feel someone should be doing more to promote film use.
 
Just purchased a couple of digital timers for use in the darkroom today
 
Steve Smith said:
http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk/forum/index.php http://www.apug.org/forums/home.php Steve.
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Yeah, but they're self-contained film-only communities. How many people would know of these forums unless they're already into film?

I only got into film, because someone I know started talking about their old film cameras and darkroom after I mentioned I'd bought a DSLR.

There's almost zero awareness amongst the general public about film photography. In fact, when you're using your cameras, I'm sure that you've been asked many times 'do they still even make film?'.
 
Steve Smith said:
Analogue timers are much better!!!


Steve.
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ooohh get you with your modern technology... and what exactly is wrong with an hour glass ?
 
^^^^ Tee Hee
 
Just in case anyone thinks film can't produce the quality of digital.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/12742?size=_original#caption

Now I know this was taken on a discontinued film and (probably) a medium format or more likely a large format camera but the quality speaks for itself.
 
That confirms it then!!!!

Those images don't just show how good Kodachrome was. They also show how good the photographer was at setting up lighting.


Steve.
 
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Daryl said:
Get a didital Hassleblad if you miss medium format.... or a Pentax make a good medium format range.
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Unfortunately, a digital medium format camera just doesn't make financial sense for most folks, plus there aren't really any 6x6cm or 6x7cm backs, so the images would be cropped.

For the thousands of pounds it costs to get a digital back, you could just shoot A LOT of film instead.

Daryl said:
Sure as hell dont miss the chemical smells from my old lab days.
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Let the lab handle this part then and just worry about the shooting. ;)
 
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I love the smell of caffenol in the morning.
 
that's definitely a personal preference - despite shooting film for 15 plus years I've never developed a frame myself
 
Keith W said:
Developing and processing is part of the fun and enjoyment of shooting film though
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I largely agree, but I acknowledge that not everyone shares this sentiment.

Generally, I develop all my black and white photos myself, but let the lab handle my colour stuff.
 
big soft moose said:
that's definitely a personal preference - despite shooting film for 15 plus years I've never developed a frame myself
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I tried it once or twice. On the whole I prefer to pop the exposed rolls into an envelope and wait :)
 
Daryl said:
been digital for 14 years never seen the need to go back to film.

Except for 10x8 sheet neg for very very large grp shots... No need.
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Need ??, what is this need you speak of..:)

My mate is a big fisherman, every weekend he's off coarse fishing, I dunno why, he doesn't need to, there's a chippy just round the corner...lol
 
joxby said:
Need ??, what is this need you speak of..:)
My mate is a big fisherman, every weekend he's off coarse fishing, I dunno why, he doesn't need to, there's a chippy just round the corner...lol
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Subversive laughter is not allowed on this forum. Bulldog-clip your lips this minute, in case we all lose our decorum!
 
joxby said:
Need ??, what is this need you speak of..:)

My mate is a big fisherman, every weekend he's off coarse fishing, I dunno why, he doesn't need to, there's a chippy just round the corner...lol
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On which note, I've just checked, and all my family have been photographed, as have all the great objects and landscapes in the world.

We might as well take up knitting if we're resigned to 'need' :shrug:
 
Phil V said:
On which note, I've just checked, and all my family have been photographed, as have all the great objects and landscapes in the world.

We might as well take up knitting if we're resigned to 'need' :shrug:
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You're not resigned to need ?


What I'm getting out of this thread lately is the pros talking about what's best for their business, which doesn't apply to most people.
Lots of people aspire to shoot for a living but generally pro photographers are a minority group.
Not that minority groups don't have a valuable contribution, they do, I'm just trying to put some perspective to it.

:)
 
I shoot digital because i`m crap and I can delete my hundreds of useless shots lol. I`d imagine there would be a great feeling of satisfaction when shooting film and developinf the pictures yourself. I`d love to try it.
 
CaveDweller said:
I`d imagine there would be a great feeling of satisfaction when shooting film and developinf the pictures yourself. I`d love to try it.
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Then why not give it a try? There's very little to lose.

If you don't like it, you could likely just sell the camera for near enough what you paid for it, so there's not much risk involved.
 
JennyGW said:
You are definitely referring to a different age group to mine!
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Well, I've had people of all ages, young and old, ask me if they even still sell film when they see I'm using a film camera, so I don't get the impression that most people are very aware of it nowadays.

That's not to say that many of these folks have never used it, but the thought seems to be that digital has basically rendered film completely obsolete.
 
CaveDweller said:
I shoot digital because i`m crap and I can delete my hundreds of useless shots lol. I`d imagine there would be a great feeling of satisfaction when shooting film and developinf the pictures yourself. I`d love to try it.
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The most honest and sensible answer so far...:clap::clap:

But seriously, as RJ points out, give it a go its cheap and it may improve your photography by making you take your time and think about what your shooting.
I read somewhere recently that in the year 2000 80% of all cameras in the UK were film...that's only 13 years ago not the dark ages and yet now the majority think film is dead. Well it isn't and it never will be, so there. :razz::D
 
joxby said:
You're not resigned to need ?


What I'm getting out of this thread lately is the pros talking about what's best for their business, which doesn't apply to most people.
Lots of people aspire to shoot for a living but generally pro photographers are a minority group.
Not that minority groups don't have a valuable contribution, they do, I'm just trying to put some perspective to it.

:)
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There was nothing in my post referring to to business, I thought I was agreeing with your point about doing it for the enjoyment - because nothing really needs to be photographed :shrug:

Or maybe I got the wrong end of the stick?
 
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