Why should I use my film cameras instead of digital ?

dreamsandart · 07-31-2012

Background and then questions…

I've been a dedicated ;-) Leica user for a long while, got a RD-1 to complement the M-series and use with my lenses, and then a couple years ago the M9. Since then I've sold a few of my film Leicas, down to a M4, III, and Rolleiflex - "no more film cameras" became a mantra - but recently bought an M7 (a titanium M7/50 Set) which I'm having a hard time justifying even though I really want to keep and use it (I don't like to see cameras sit).

Since the M9 its been 'difficult' to get film into my M-series cameras, which I'm having regrets and wonderings about. Has the use of a digital M really made me that lazy? No darkroom these days, and need to get the motivation and know-how out to use the scanner - actually more computer work.

So, I thought this would be a good place to ask this question since there are more than a few film users here.

Why should I use my film cameras? Your experience with film after digital, going back [or forward if that's your thinking]? Usually we talk digital with this thought, but what is your film work flow to get a digital image? I do like the idea of having a film AND digital archive.

Thanks for any thoughts

digitalintrigue · 07-31-2012

You should use film if you enjoy using it.

My work flow is simply to send the film off to a lab, and then download the hi-res images, which usually require minimal if any adjustments.

Keith · 07-31-2012

Using film makes me a better digital photographer ... I can't really put it any other way!

Gumby · 07-31-2012

Shoot with whatever gives you best results. I still shoot film most of hte time, but could likely do much of what I do with digital without much more (or different) effort. In the F v D debate, I feel quite ambidextrous... but I definitely have a preference.

back alley · 07-31-2012

why the guilt about not using film?
do you crank your car to start it in the morning or wash your clothes on a rock down by the river?
we learn and we move on, seems to be the natural flow of all humankind.

charjohncarter · 07-31-2012

If you don't know, try some film. And take your digital camera with you and shoot the same scene. Compare and if you like the the digital better then shoot digital, if you like the film better then shoot film. But film requires more skill in post processing so you will have to initially try harder with film than digital.

Gumby · 07-31-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by back alley

do you crank your car to start it in the morning or wash your clothes on a rock down by the river?

... only on weekends.

hipsterdufus · 07-31-2012

Why worry about it? Shoot what you enjoy and sell what you don't. Or keep it. Plenty of Leica collectors out there.

Gary Sandhu · 07-31-2012

If you have the M9 then no reason to shoot film, for you.
For myself, it would be to see slides on a viewbox or to project.
Not have to worry about batteries, computers and post processing.
Under water.
Shutter lag.
Different lenses.
Compactness.
Weather sealing.
There are film cameras that are better than the m9 in many circumstances.

loquax ludens · 07-31-2012

To the OP - Some people shoot only film, many shoot only digital, and a bunch of people shoot both. I have no idea of the distribution, but I'm sure the digital only folks way outnumber any other category. But does it matter? Shoot whatever makes you happy.

From your description it sounds like you mostly prefer digital, but some part of you is attracted to film. Or perhaps it is just the film cameras that appeal to you. Try to figure out what it is that attracts you, and perhaps you'll be able to answer your question.

ChrisN · 07-31-2012

Sometimes film will give me a result that is technically less good, but somehow more pleasing than a similar digital image. I shoot a lot with digital, but I really look forward to these happy accidents I sometimes get with film.

FrankS · 07-31-2012

These days, digital is the logical choice.
You should use film cameras instead of digital only if you want to.
For me, film is my passion and i dont need it to be logical.

umcelinho · 07-31-2012

film keeps us from taking dumb shots that are just too easy to be done with digital. i'm not saying that all digital shots are dumb, but at least ME, I feel that I've taken many shots with my R-D1 or X100 that I just wouldn't have taken with film, because they would be sort of silly or i'd just "save" the roll - even though I have like 25 rolls of portra 400 at home I still kind of act like uncle Scrooge McFilm...

I guess that does make me a better photographer in the sense that I - unwillingly, sort of - filter more what I photograph and what I don't. Could I do the same filtering with digital? yep, but then comes that though... "why not?".

where I live (São Paulo, Brazil) it's not that much of a big deal to develop film, but I only trust a couple labs. I usually develop only (pushing film only in one lab that I trust), then spend a whole afternoon scanning, cleaning, adjusting images. I really love film texture and how things can come out slightly different than how we envisioned them (be it for best or for worse), so for pure pleasure I mostly shoot film. For convenience I shoot digital. But I'm considering going 100% digital next year, because more and more being dependent to a lab becomes a problem, I have no idea if the guy from the lab will work elsewhere, retire, if the lab will stop having the same approach on film.. it's uncomfortable to depend on the quality of a service that gets rarer everyday. but bear in mind i only shoot colour, for B&W it's a different story, one can develop their own film and thus have a different experience.

jsrockit · 08-01-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by umcelinho

film keeps us from taking dumb shots that are just too easy to be done with digital. i'm not saying that all digital shots are dumb, but at least ME, I feel that I've taken many shots with my R-D1 or X100 that I just wouldn't have taken with film, because they would be sort of silly or i'd just "save" the roll - even though I have like 25 rolls of portra 400 at home I still kind of act like uncle Scrooge McFilm...

I guess that does make me a better photographer in the sense that I - unwillingly, sort of - filter more what I photograph and what I don't.

I have to wonder what you think is wrong with taking dumb, silly, or easy photographs? Sometimes those things work for a photo.

Museums, galleries, magazines, etc. don't keep statistics next to your photo saying how many photos you took to get the photo shown. This shooting less = better photographer belief around here is facinating. It's not an archery competition.

kanzlr · 08-01-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsrockit

It's not an archery competition.

wow, I love that quote

I find it convenient that I produce less photos when using film with a similar netto amount of keepers, but that's just my lack of discipline when shooting digital...about 10 years ago I had the luck to speak with a guy working for Vogue magazine who told me that he was lucky when 1 out of 100 images was to his liking...that was with 220 film

boomguy57 · 08-01-2012

It really doesn't need to get philosophical: shoot what you like.

Personally, I shoot film for a variety of reasons (I like using film cameras, I like the process a bit more, I like to be different than everyone else, it's more challenging, etc etc) but you may have your own reasons. Relax, and remember that it's just a hobby.

thegman · 08-01-2012

I use both film and digital at the moment. I like film because it tends to give me what I want without post processing. I've nothing against post processing for other people, but converting colour to B&W is just not for me right now.

I also like the wait for my processed images to arrive via post, deferred gratification works for me. I also prefer the cameras themselves.

I like digital for the sheer ease of use, I can take 100 shots without changing rolls, and if it's all crap, it's not cost me anything. I also like not having to take lots of spare film of the right kind/ISO.

Use what works for you, maybe use film when you only expect to take a few photos, and enjoy the experience.

It think it's much easier to consider film when you're into the larger formats, which digitally is cost-prohibitive for most of us.

Vincent.G · 08-01-2012

I like to shoot film because it feels like "having home-cooked food".

FrankS · 08-01-2012

Home cooking, I like that!

ColSebastianMoran · 08-01-2012

I'm dealing with the same question. Pulled out the Contax Aria with Ektar to make some photos of a 2yr old with parents in good light. But, she just moved too fast for manual focus and careful shooting. Would have been much better shooting several clips at 4fps with the DSLR.

My lesson: use film for things that aren't moving so fast.

And, I'm noting that my photos of kids are different now in the digital era than in the film era. More captured motion. Perhaps another lesson is to make some more of the older style photos.

Pherdinand · 08-01-2012

you know what i think? If you need to ask this, then you should not shoot film.

bugmenot · 08-01-2012

If you shoot digital, and already have a few M mount compatible cameras, then there is no justification we can give you to keep the Leica M7, because you said you do not like seeing cameras sit still, so no collecting.

On the other hand, I'd say put a couple of 120 slide rolls of your choice in the Rolleiflex and you might see the film magic again

For me, 35mm/135 film holds minimal appeal nowadays. Digital just does it better in every way. I have begun to do what the OP did, and started selling all my 35mm film cameras and some extra unused lenses. The only camera I cannot bring myself to sell is my Nikon F3. It is truly a smooth camera (smoother than the Leica M3). Most legacy lenses can be adapter to my Canon DSLRs or my NEX-5N, so most lenses shall stay for now.

To me, film only holds an appeal in medium format. I wish large format didn't cost so much, or I would have given that a try as well. I recently acquired a Rolleiflex, and I am enjoying MF photography even more.

agianelo · 08-01-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

Using film makes me a better digital photographer ... I can't really put it any other way!

+1 I think they both can help the other.

raid · 08-01-2012

It feels natural to use film, and it feels artificial to use digital. I need to get over it somehow. I was looking to buy an M8 when I mentioned here the fact that a SWC was another option. I bought the M8, but I quickly followed up with the SWC, a film camera.

taskoni · 08-01-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by back alley

why the guilt about not using film?
do you crank your car to start it in the morning or wash your clothes on a rock down by the river?
we learn and we move on, seems to be the natural flow of all humankind.

Yeah, why to practice yoga when you can do Doga (yoga with your dog - so popular in LA now!)? We truly learn and move on as this is the natural flow of all humankind.

To OP - If you shoot film to scan it and software post-process it, then you are better off shooting your digital...

Regards,

Boris