Do you hate digital?

[totifoto]

Maybe hate is too strong of a word but lately I have beginning to dislike digital more and more.

I have worked as a professional photographer for some years shooting editorial and commercial work using all the big DSLR guns and fancy glasses. Then I sold everything and went back to school studying graphic design. At school I´m working on a lot of digital stuff and I love it as long as it is not my pictures I´m working on. When I shoot I looooooovvveeeee shooting film and now I shoot almost all film and if I have to pick up a digital camera for some work at school I get all "crap why cant we just shoot film"

Am I weird or are there anyone else here that has gotten sick of digital. ?

[Zathros]

I despise digital!!!

[River Dog]

I got sick of it a while ago, now compromising a bit with a NEX-3 and old lenses and keeping hold of a LX-5 which I hardly use. I think nothing of shooting a couple of rolls (35mm, 6x6 or 6x9, b/w or colour) in an evening, processing and scanning before bed.

I love the tools, their feel, their weight, their precision and the whole look of it all. It is a rediscovered joy for which I am very grateful.

Only tonight I was thinking how cute my black Pentax MX was and relishing the big, bright viewfinder compared to staring down the narrow tunnel of a DSLR. I was pondering on the size of my Bessa II's negatives, the silky depth of images from my Rolleiflex Planar lens and how people come up to me in the street to ask about it.

Yeah, I love film and have no passion for digital.

[totifoto]

Yeah, I love film and have no passion for digital.


I think you hit the spot right there, I have lost my passion for digital.

[mabelsound]

I can't even think of digital as a thing anymore. It's all just photography. The distinction is increasingly meaningless, I think.

[TaoPhoto]

I neither love nor hate digital. It's a tool, it has its uses, and its limitations. I do, however, love film. The tactile sense of it, the way it captures light and color, the way it makes me slow down and make each shot count. I love film cameras, for their lightness and relatively uncomplicated construction, for the way they feel in my hand. When I come a job or some event inspiring photography, film camera in hand, I feel like an artist. When I arrive with a DSLR in hand, I feel like everyone else.

[jmooney]

Yes and no.

My heart wants to live on HP5, Perceptol, and M's but reality is a different story. I just can't justify the day-in-day-out cost of film. I despise scanning with all my being and I don't have the time to do it anyway so rather than never get to print or see any of my images I've switched almost all to digital. I invested in a big Epson printer so I can do it all in house. Yes, there's a cost involved for paper and ink but even if I had the film processed and scanned I'd still be printing it anyway so in the long run I'm saving.

The kicker is that post processing is not a joyful thing for me but it's probably because I'm not that good at it so I'm going to try and take a class or two to get up to speed and then it'll probably be a different story on that front.

I won't ever stop shooting film completely. I've got a sweet Bessa R & 35 Elmar combo sitting next to me as I type and it'll get used for sure. I also have my Yashica D as well. Film will sort of become a hobby within an avocation. It's a shame though because all the cameras I lusted after in my youth are practically free these days so I flirt with them from time to time.

I've plans to buy an M8 next year when I get my check from Uncle Sam and that will no doubt become my main camera but I'm sure I'll still have an M film body around as well. I'm not 100% sold on digital black and white so I like to do a lot of that work with film still.

Sometimes I wish we were back a few years when digital wasn't an option and I could happily shoot film and accept the weekly drain on the budget and not have the Art Director (my wife the scrapbooker) breathing down my neck to make sure I got the shot and could print it that night. I'll admit I am a huge fan of knowing I got something. I don't chimp, but will glance down occasionally to be sure all is up to snuff. My youngest daughter's first visit to the doctor was supposed to be a triumph for the quietness and reportage abilities of the M6, it was, until I popped the plate off the bottom at the end of the roll and found it slipped out of the takeup fingers and had never advanced.

The Art Director was not pleased.

It's with a bit of melancholy that I admit film isn't my main squeeze anymore, but I still keep her around for the occasional tryst.

The reality is though, like it or not I can get a lot more done with digital and produce a lot more finished work and that's a big part of what it's all about. Some people say they'd stop photographing if they couldn't use film. That's not an option for me. I have to make pictures. Since I can't stop, I go on with my digipet by my side.

Jim

[acheyj]

No
this is silly.

ron

[tlitody]

I've never owned a digital camera but have used photoshop extensively. I'm fine with spending time on other peoples images for web and graphics but I really don't like post processing my own images. They are never finished. There is always some other tweak you can try. The thing I find odd about most of the "I hate digital" or "I love film" statements is that they rarely seem to be connected with hand printing. That for me is a joy. To actually make a print in the darkroom. It just has something about it that a print from a machine doesn't. It's not a rational or objective thing. It's just a process thing and I value the result of the manual hand process more than the automated or semi automated process.
So to say I hate digital wouldn't make any sense because I don't hate it, I just don't do it unless I really have to.

[f16sunshine]

Listen......... you here that?

The needle is skipping.
Time to change the record. ;)

[Chris101]

No, I don't hate digital. I rather like it. Rather than lump digital and film into a single category of 'photography', I see them as two distinct media, each good for what it does best. While there is some overlap, I can tell right away if I would rather shoot something digitally, on film, sketch it with a pencil, or paint it in acrylics. The only media I hate using are charcoal, watercolors and bas-relief*.

* unless it's one of those things with all the pins, then it's kinda fun.

[Roger Hicks]

No, but I do hate computers. I like their convenience, when they work, but whenever I have to change anything - new computer, new software, new printer - it's a nightmare.

Cheers,

R.

[Steve_F]

I think you hit the spot right there, I have lost my passion for digital.

Me too. It's a tool (nowt wrong with that) but there is no passion like film.

Steve.

[bayusuputra]

i don't hate it.. i just don't like to use it for my own personal projects..
but for occasional and informal shots with family or friends, i don't mind using it, as they hate to wait for the results to come alive.. so, it's more of a side thing for me.. like marathoner doing 3km fun run..

[Turtle]

I prefer film by a mile, but see digital work all the time that I think is amazing. I have a DSLR but dont like using it the same as my Ms. I think the solution is going to be a digital M for most of my work and a DSLR for portraits.... kinda how I have worked with film.

So, no, I dont hate it, but I do not get excited about it either. B&W film is still magic, but I can't justify that, only feel it.

[bizarrius]

no.
hating is rude.

[_larky]

To 'hate' a method is to be pathetic. It's a method, a tool, it's not a way of life, it's not a philosophy, it's not a religion.

[TaoPhoto]

Film is not a religion? True, though both film and digital afficiandos often sound like evangelists. I have to admit that the folks here on RFF frequently remind me of a group from one of the contemplative traditions, perhaps monasticism or Buddhism. Digital evangelists remind me more of the preachers I see on TV.

That aside. I do find digital useful, if not inspirational. If someone here says "post a picture of your xxx camera!" it's probably going to be a digital shot. For one-off needs, quick uploads and similar requirements, I wouldn't want to be without digital cameras.

However, for creating a new body of work on the fine art side, making portraits, or simply enjoying the color and light of the world, film is it for me. Perhaps someone else feels the same way about digital.

[Brian Sweeney]

I've worked with Digital imaging for most of my life, started in 1981.

I prefer having source code for my digital cameras, make them work "my way". Getting used to not having it, "annoying" at worst.

But- the Leica M9, comes really close to my ideal digital camera. I'd like one with a Monochrome sensor without the IR abosrbing glass. I'll take care of the firmware if Leica needs help.

[Haigh]

I am an amatuer so I can shoot digital and film depending on many things.

[bayusuputra]

Film is not a religion? True, though both film and digital afficiandos often sound like evangelists. I have to admit that the folks here on RFF frequently remind me of a group from one of the contemplative traditions, perhaps monasticism or Buddhism. Digital evangelists remind me more of the preachers I see on TV.

That aside. I do find digital useful, if not inspirational. If someone here says "post a picture of your xxx camera!" it's probably going to be a digital shot. For one-off needs, quick uploads and similar requirements, I wouldn't want to be without digital cameras.

However, for creating a new body of work on the fine art side, making portraits, or simply enjoying the color and light of the world, film is it for me. Perhaps someone else feels the same way about digital.

this is exactly what i meant..

[Ariefb]

Personally,
digital for my work, but film for anything else.

Digital is reliable. I can shoot, review, thether, back up, and work on an image/clip instantly. It may feel a bit soulless, but nevertheless, reliable and convenient. That's good for both my client & i.

I dont like to overly romanticize film, but making a photograph by burning sheet of film with light has a satisfying feel to it.

No need to hate digital. It serves a purpose in photography.
As for film, it revives the passion and soul to it.

[mhv]

Hate for a technology is silly.

Digital just has nothing to excite me, even if I use it regularly and I bless its usefulness. I love having an easy access to pictures, the ability to take snaps when I sell gear, to have scans from my films to share with other people, and to disseminate at large.

But there's nothing in the materiality of digital that I find exciting. Inkjet prints, even though they have better gamut than RA-4, do not have the soul I want. Ditto in black and white. A digital workflow may be more precise, afford more control over the details of contrast, yet it does not sing or make me hot. That's why I print RA-4 and B&W.

Last night I contact printed 8x10 negatives on silver chloride paper, then I toned the pictures in selenium. One could take a look at them and say that an inkjet would have had better contrast, better sharpness, yadda yadda, and perhaps be right.

But I don't want perfection: I want uniqueness.

[mhv]

I've worked with Digital imaging for most of my life, started in 1981.

I prefer having source code for my digital cameras, make them work "my way". Getting used to not having it, "annoying" at worst.

But- the Leica M9, comes really close to my ideal digital camera. I'd like one with a Monochrome sensor without the IR abosrbing glass. I'll take care of the firmware if Leica needs help.

Funny you should say that, because I think the last time a computer held me in thrall was my old 8086 PC clone running DOS 5. It had 640k of memory, two 360k floppy drives, a mouse, EGA display, and I managed to find a 2400 baud modem for it.

I knew it inside out: memory management, interrupts number (remember INT 21 ?), how to arrange DIP switches to change channel on extension cards, how to access the display über-fast directly in machine code (I used Borland Turbo Assembler), making TSR programs, listening to the serial port, and I could go on.

That computer managed to get me on the Internet in 1993, and it allowed me to get kicked out of CompuServe chatrooms because I was a teenage idiot, but man did I learn from it and loved its wonders.

I could push it to the extreme limits, because it was so limited, and my brain could apprehend it as a whole to imagine what it could do.

I can't do that for modern computers, and I have no idea how I could do it with a digital camera (even if some people like you do). I think that's why digital has no wonders for me: I don't know how to hack it the way I can "hack" film photos.

[Leigh Youdale]

This is a bit of a silly comparison, but it makes the point.
I don't really like eating McDonalds or enjoy the taste. But there are times when it's convenient. Most times I enjoy home-cooked, hand prepared or a decent cafe or restaurant. Either way my need for 'fuel' is satisfied but the enjoyment factor is a different matter.

[tlitody]

Funny you should say that, because I think the last time a computer held me in thrall was my old 8086 PC clone running DOS 5. It had 640k of memory, two 360k floppy drives, a mouse, EGA display, and I managed to find a 2400 baud modem for it.

I knew it inside out: memory management, interrupts number (remember INT 21 ?), how to arrange DIP switches to change channel on extension cards, how to access the display über-fast directly in machine code (I used Borland Turbo Assembler), making TSR programs, listening to the serial port, and I could go on.

That computer managed to get me on the Internet in 1993, and it allowed me to get kicked out of CompuServe chatrooms because I was a teenage idiot, but man did I learn from it and loved its wonders.

I could push it to the extreme limits, because it was so limited, and my brain could apprehend it as a whole to imagine what it could do.

I can't do that for modern computers, and I have no idea how I could do it with a digital camera (even if some people like you do). I think that's why digital has no wonders for me: I don't know how to hack it the way I can "hack" film photos.

+1 ..........

[Brian Sweeney]

Funny you should say that, because I think the last time a computer held me in thrall was my old 8086 PC clone running DOS 5. It had 640k of memory, two 360k floppy drives, a mouse, EGA display, and I managed to find a 2400 baud modem for it.

I knew it inside out: memory management, interrupts number (remember INT 21 ?), how to arrange DIP switches to change channel on extension cards, how to access the display über-fast directly in machine code (I used Borland Turbo Assembler), making TSR programs, listening to the serial port, and I could go on.

That computer managed to get me on the Internet in 1993, and it allowed me to get kicked out of CompuServe chatrooms because I was a teenage idiot, but man did I learn from it and loved its wonders.

I could push it to the extreme limits, because it was so limited, and my brain could apprehend it as a whole to imagine what it could do.

I can't do that for modern computers, and I have no idea how I could do it with a digital camera (even if some people like you do). I think that's why digital has no wonders for me: I don't know how to hack it the way I can "hack" film photos.

That is the nice thing about working with embedded code. It really hasn't changed much from your DOS computer. I still write in assembly language, do my own interrupt handlers, and write my own device drivers. I've used O-Scopes and Logic analyzers to debug code. What's even better, having the hardware made to your own spec. It's like being a kid again, writing Z80 code. Z80 interrupt mode 2. That was a chip.

I guess I can't have mis-spent my youth, just my middle-aged years. Now approaching "Senior Discount" years, I'm loving work. So no, not sick of digital.

[Archiver]

I neither hate nor love digital. Nor do I hate nor love film. I mostly shoot digital due to the convenience, control and quality of the image. I like the immediate feedback from the screen, and from the computer as I make adjustments.

But I honest to god love film cameras. As much as I love my M9 it doesn't have the same feeling as my M7. Slimmer body or different balance or whatever, but it just feels nicer to me. Then there's the Contax T3. Goodness, that's a hot little camera, with smooth rounded edges and glistening lens. I really enjoy many of my digital cameras, but I loooove my film cameras.

[Dante]

I neither love nor hate digital. It's a tool, it has its uses, and its limitations. I do, however, love film. The tactile sense of it, the way it captures light and color, the way it makes me slow down and make each shot count. I love film cameras, for their lightness and relatively uncomplicated construction, for the way they feel in my hand. When I come a job or some event inspiring photography, film camera in hand, I feel like an artist. When I arrive with a DSLR in hand, I feel like everyone else.

I think Norm said it perfect here. To add my 6x7 cents ... Shoot digital when the job "requires" it and then shoot film to mend your soul.

[sparrow6224]

Digital can f**k with your head, man (so can internal meters once you get used to not having them but that's another story); the other day I was taking pictures with my Nikon F100 and started taking some of my two-year-old boy and as he crawled under the table just cute as a puppy I started pumping up the ISO to like 1250 or 1600 except I was shooting Velvia 100 chrome.... problem is the F100 and my D300 are almost identical in the hand with many similar features so I just forgot what I was doing.

Actually maybe modern cameras are the problem, not digital. This would not have happened with a Leica IIIf in my hands.

[dave lackey]

Do I hate digital? No.

Do I love film? Yes.

Do I hate Photoshopping and all other forms of post-processing and computer work in general (RFF excepted of course)? Hell, yes, I hate it! Three years after surgery and the pain ranges from 2-9 all day, everyday of my life!:mad: Read this for a little insight:

http://www.nationalhandspecialists.com/injuries/nerve/cts_elbow.html

Surgery helped a great deal but my arms hurt constantly even now.

[click]

I don't really hate anything but sometimes I'm forced by customers to deliver digitally manipulated film. I do like to eat.

Am I glad that digital cameras exist? YES, they decrease the demand of film which makes it more affordable. So I can shoot lots of it.

Am I annoyed by every joe schmo who thinks he's a photographer because he's got a fancy new digital camera and wants me to show him how to use it? YES.

Do I think that if Professionals stuck to film then the market and subsequent development of high end digital would cease, thus ensuring our livelihood. YES!

Do I enjoy watching a fine print come up in developer. YES!

Do I take other film Photographers seriously? YEs!

[Haigh]

Au contraire, I enjoy using it when not shooting film.

[pietjs]

I miss my darkroom, but don't miss the smells, the fight against dust etc...
Digital darkroom solution... just as the 50's!
Digital >Sepia, edges, grain, vignetting, doding and burning.....what else do you want?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5656059489_9974b9710d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pietjs/5656059489/)
Mondo Verdi186 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pietjs/5656059489/) by pietjs© (http://www.flickr.com/people/pietjs/), on Flickr

Leica M8
Capture One Pro, SilverEfex Pro 2, Truegrain

[rogerzilla]

I still think film works out cheaper if you want big prints and high quality; you can get this with digital but it will cost a small fortune even before you get into the inevitable consumer electronics upgrade cycle. Work out the cost of a Canon 1Ds or Leica M9 every five years - because you'll want the next one when it comes out - compared to keeping an M6 for the rest of your life.

What I find hard to swallow about digital is that it's almost killed any film R&D, and film has a lot left to give. There is some new Eastern European stuff but Kodak have more or less given up - they're selling Jurassic Plus-X as their main medium speed film! Film hasn't got noticeably more expensive though, and while processing has increased in cost, it's still cheap if you scan the negs or slides at home.

Digital is great for eBay pack shots and for flash sync testing, though!

[Jamie Pillers]

Why would you want more film R&D? To bring it up to digital capabilities? :-)

Honestly though, the issues you raise really aren't true any more. IMO, digital has reached a point where (1) I don't need to buy up every few years because the image quality at high ISO is splendid now, and (2) I'm saving roughly $1500 a year, now that I don't have film purchase and processing costs.

By the way, what do you consider "big prints"? I easily print 13 x 19 inch prints that look marvelous. If I had a bigger printer, I'm sure I could easily go bigger than 13 x19.

[cosmonaut]

I love digital RAW files. Endless options. But I love the simplicity of film. Just what mood I am in I guess.

[DougK]

I enjoy both film and digital and they both have their uses. I mostly use just one camera these days (Ricoh GR Digital III), but it's nice to burn off a couple of rolls of film now and again.

[pvdhaar]

Why should I hate digital? I can shoot, take the SD-card to the local camera shop, plunk it on the counter and can have the stuff that's on there printed without having to do a thing myself. There's absolutely no difference with a roll of film.

That said, I did feel a pang of nostalgia when I put a roll of 120 film into a Holga, used the numbers on the backing paper to advance the film, and licked the sealing paper of the exposed roll before I handed it in..

[c.poulton]

Digital photography leaves me cold......