DSLR Digital Photography Vs. SLR Film Photography

DSLR Digital Photography Vs. SLR Film Photography.

There's no way I would EVER want to go back to film EVER.

There's really not one single thing I miss about film.

I really reckon we've got it made with digital. It's just perfect for the instant gratification world we live in. You get to combine photography and computers....how much better can it get than that

Would you like to go back? Anything you really miss about film? Still shoot a bit of film?

Going to the store to buy film. Going to the store to get film developed. Going to the store to pick up prints. Repeat.

No, don't miss that at all!

Actually thinking of purchasing the Mamiya 645E medium format camera today...
I'm having second thoughts though because it'll cost a lot to buy film and develop it.
I would love to learn how to develop film and process them though...

Decisions, decisions!

To me, the entire process of using film (and using it well) is/was a much more intimate experience than I find digital to be.

The really talented film photographers rose above the rabble because they knew the film itself is a tool and choice of film/speed/grain could impact the image nearly as much as the quality of light itself. The little tricks and tweaks that could be done in a darkroom were also a part of the overall equation. Now, there's a NIK Filter for this or an Action for that. It's much less crafted and much more programmed.

I think photography is sliding away from an art where people want to learn and perfect a craft to the photographic equivalent of 1000 Chimps with Typewriters hoping to luck into the complete works of Shakespear.

But then again, I've always been something of an optimist...

I want to go to film to really test my abilities, think it is far too easy on digital really

I somewhat miss the anticipation of waiting for my film to be developed and picking up the prints. Not saying that I want to go back to shooting film, though. I also enjoyed processing and printing my own black and white stuff, way back when...

I like both. I recently got a Hasselblad 201F and have been developing the film at school. It's insanely sharp and enlarges so much. And the larger dynamic range is nice too.

highbarger wrote in post #9074999
I somewhat miss the anticipation of waiting for my film to be developed and picking up the prints. Not saying that I want to go back to shooting film, though. I also enjoyed processing and printing my own black and white stuff, way back when...

Yes that anticipation is lost somewhat. It's exciting loading your CF card into the card reader and downloading your images, but not exactly the same as waiting for your roll of 36 exposures to come back from the lab.

I did used to like processing B&W, it was a very relaxing part of the hobby.

One huge difference in shooting film compared to digital is the amount of frames people shoot. I have a few 'tog friends who have never shot film. They find a nice flower and they'll shoot 50+ frames of that SINGLE flower.
They would never have done that with a film roll of 36 exposures !!!!!

Film takes a deeper inherent understanding than digital does. As mentioned, the right film characteristics for which job (ISO, color saturation, color balance and lighting, grain, contrastiness, ability to be push processed well, etc.) were thought about BEFORE the shot. Now we largely think (if at all) during the post processing phase and manipulate after the shot. Less of a thinking photographer's approach is possible with PP, greater afterthought and at the expense of foresight. The 25000 shot per year hobbyist is a strong indication of 'push the button and hope for a good shot' mentality at work.

But digital also brings capabilities out of the reach of film, and for that we are grateful.

I don't miss trying to write down shot settings so I could see how my experimentation worked out nor do I miss wishing I could change ISO's on the fly.

I would say though that to execute either film or digital it still takes a lot of knowledge, different kinds of knowledge but definitely still a lot.

I wouldn't want to go back BUT I am making it a point of trying to print lots of pictures. There's something about sitting down with friends and family around an album that simply can't be replicated around a computer monitor.

Started digital, switched to film. No desire to shoot digital ever again.

ConDigital wrote in post #9074746
You get to combine photography and computers....how much better can it get than that

+1 on the photography part. Not so much on the confuser part. Oh, I guess it's fun being able to manipulate photos on the computer but, damn, it sure has a steep learning curve and is infuriating when the hardware/software doesn't want to cooperate.

merlin2375 wrote in post #9075254
I don't miss trying to write down shot settings so I could see how my experimentation worked out nor do I miss wishing I could change ISO's on the fly.

I would say though that to execute either film or digital it still takes a lot of knowledge, different kinds of knowledge but definitely still a lot.

I wouldn't want to go back BUT I am making it a point of trying to print lots of pictures. There's something about sitting down with friends and family around an album that simply can't be replicated around a computer monitor.

The points in the first paragraph are huge conveniences and I too find myself wanting to print more. It just seems like a more concrete realization of one's photographic efforts.

ConDigital wrote in post #9074746
DSLR Digital Photography Vs. SLR Film Photography.

There's no way I would EVER want to go back to film EVER.

There's really not one single thing I miss about film.

I really reckon we've got it made with digital. It's just perfect for the instant gratification world we live in. You get to combine photography and computers....how much better can it get than that

Would you like to go back? Anything you really miss about film? Still shoot a bit of film?

ConDigital,
No way would I want to go back to film!.....
With Exif, free development, free preview (like combining a Polaroid with a 35mm camera) and no chemicals needed for the do it your self person..... why go back?
The prints still look beautiful! (to my eyes)

The only bit I miss about shooting film is when you get to the end of the developing process, take the lid off the tank, and pull a roll of transparencies of the spiral.

You can't beat that sense of satisfaction you get looking at the developed roll for the first time and seeing if your pictures have come out as you anticipated. Digital has no equivalent.

Sorarse wrote in post #9076021
The only bit I miss about shooting film is when you get to the end of the developing process, take the lid off the tank, and pull a roll of transparencies of the spiral.

You can't beat that sense of satisfaction you get looking at the developed roll for the first time and seeing if your pictures have come out as you anticipated. Digital has no equivalent.

"Look What I Found On My CF Card" just doesn't have the same ring to it, eh?