Friday, June 09, 2006
Digital or Film...?
Well it's now about 5 months since I bought my digital camara and timely to reflect on how it's going....and how it compares with film.In short I definitely think it's been a success, in fact it has freed-up my photography in a way I really didn't expect...and also changed the way I think of photos - less as archive, more as raw material. But it's not all gain...I do miss the thrill of opening up a batch of photos...a week or so after the event, creating images in your mind of the trip in the intervening time. And I also miss the simplicity of taking a picture and then bagging it, so to speak, to be revealed at a later date. That makes you concentrate on the next photo rather than reflecting on and checking the last one...which I tend to do a lot with digital. I miss the lovely feel of my Minilux with it's reassuringly solid controls, and the puzzle of deciding which type of film to use next....
But in terms of end results...and that's largely what it's about, there's really no contest...and I think more than any on-camera gizmos, it's the post processing on the PC that the powerful advantage lies. As long as I don't overblow my highlights, I can tune the photo afterwards, and the ability to post process white balance to compensate for the inevitable variety of colour temperature is something that leaves film in the shade...!!
The other main scoring point for digital is the number of pictures you can take - I've taken so many pics of people on film, only to relish the photos coming back and finding that they were awful....you can whack away with digital and really guarantee some good results...and then delete the others.
Another suprise to me is that it takes the dilemmas out of photography, I just get on and take the picture rather than waiting for the moment and then missing it...in order to conserve your precious film. This is a big plus point and saves being snorted at by family members who are keen to keep moving.
And I haven't mentioned cost...which is rare for me! I still collate a batch of images and print them off for our album, which probably costs me about £5 per month at most...and enlargements for digital are much cheaper than from negs. So I'm more extravagent on image taking and spend much less.
So I'm definitely a convert....but in spite of all these gains there is something nagging in the back of my mind which makes me a little disatisfied...Is it too easy to get good pics? Will I look at the hundreds of pics per month I collect in a years time? Is the simply endless scope of picture taking and post processing a little daunting...? Is it that I don't feel the same pride in using a camera which I consider virtually disposable..? Am I getting fed up with more and more of my life being ruled by the PC...?
Only time will tell, but I certainly won't be selling my final 2 film cameras for a while...though I haven't used either for 3 months now...!!
Comments:
<< Home
Lots of good sentiments here that I fell too Adrian. Interestingly though - in terms of the time frame - I haven't put a film through my SLR for two years - mainly because when I got the last film out (thankfully paid for by work) its products were appalling. You neglected to mention the truly dreadful processing that can happen at some usually reliable stores too.
Another salient point you touched on is summed up by asking me how many of your film camera pics have I ever seen....!
Binary for me, despite its drawbacks. Ace photo by the way on the timer... presumably by the Casio.....
Another salient point you touched on is summed up by asking me how many of your film camera pics have I ever seen....!
Binary for me, despite its drawbacks. Ace photo by the way on the timer... presumably by the Casio.....
Yep, fully agree. In fact the last slide film I ran through the minilux in Feb had some of the slides scratched...very frustrating, and perhaps the nail in the coffin lid. And the sharing point is a strong one..
The Casio is in the photo...even digital hasn't conquered that one yet. I used Izzy's little Vivitar.
The Casio is in the photo...even digital hasn't conquered that one yet. I used Izzy's little Vivitar.
What a great Blog Adrian!
Well as far as I am concerned, since I started using a digital camera in March I reckon I have taken more pictures than I had taken in the previous few years, and most of them are better pictures. I agree that, for a really professional result, there is nothing to beat film, but for my purposes digital is excellent. The other advantage I find is that I have a ready end-user with blogging and on-line photo albums, so (at least in my perception!) there is greater worth to the photo because there is potentially a much greater audience than with a film hard-copy. Consequently, (digital) photography has now become my hobbie, and I do not think I would have had the same patience with film phtography! Plus I love all the community of this stuff, the very fact that I am sitting here now keeping in touch with you and others, when otherwise we would not be in such regular contact. Whhat a great medium! More where that came frpok please!
Phil
Well as far as I am concerned, since I started using a digital camera in March I reckon I have taken more pictures than I had taken in the previous few years, and most of them are better pictures. I agree that, for a really professional result, there is nothing to beat film, but for my purposes digital is excellent. The other advantage I find is that I have a ready end-user with blogging and on-line photo albums, so (at least in my perception!) there is greater worth to the photo because there is potentially a much greater audience than with a film hard-copy. Consequently, (digital) photography has now become my hobbie, and I do not think I would have had the same patience with film phtography! Plus I love all the community of this stuff, the very fact that I am sitting here now keeping in touch with you and others, when otherwise we would not be in such regular contact. Whhat a great medium! More where that came frpok please!
Phil
I agree with him. And him.
...still waiting to become a photo genius. I'm trying not to think about a digi SLR. Something like a Canon. I wish I had what used to be known as 'spare money'. Haven't we all suddenly gone very modern and webby eh?
...still waiting to become a photo genius. I'm trying not to think about a digi SLR. Something like a Canon. I wish I had what used to be known as 'spare money'. Haven't we all suddenly gone very modern and webby eh?
Hi Adrian
there is probably an environmental advantage in using less film, I think silver halides might be a little detrimental to it.
Post a Comment
there is probably an environmental advantage in using less film, I think silver halides might be a little detrimental to it.
# posted by 
: 6/7/06 14:12
: 6/7/06 14:12 << Home
