In this "everyting has gone digital" world, I was just wondering if there were any diehard "Film" usesers still out there! ALthough I have been "forced" to join the ranks of the Digital crowd, I still have strong affinity for film. Anyone else out there? Or, am I a voice crying in the winderness.
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 1, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Film? What's that?
Posted by Ed Cordes on February 1, 2009 at 3:45 PM
"Film? What's that "
Phillip, that's the stuff we used to have to pay to buy, take extra good care of, and pay to be processed, then throw most of it away. It's the stuff that is taking up cabinet after cabinet of storage space, and usually fades over time. It's the stuff that is always the wrong ISO in the camera for the killer image that jumps out at you. It's the stuff that, when full, made your camera make this loud buzzing noise during rewind scaring the timid animals away. It's also the stuff that even the best has less resolution than modern digital sensors.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea!
Oh I almost forgot - it is the stuff in that museum in Rochester, NY that has created wonderful images over its life time. It's the stuff that laid the foundation for everything we do in photography today. It's the stuff that masters like Ansel Adams used to make images we still marvel at.
Sanford, while I have no desire to continue to use film, I am very glad there are those like you who will keep the "good old days" in our conscience for a long time. Kind of like the audio guys who still love vinyl.
Posted by Buck Ward on February 1, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Don't almost all LF shooters still use film? I know a couple of fellows who still shoot film and develop it in their own darkrooms and print it themselves. One of them has an 8"x20" camera. Where ya gonna get a digital back for that?
Posted by Mark Stahlke on February 1, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Film user here: 4x5 (mostly) and 6x4.5cm. Digital backs for LF and MF are insanely expensive! Some pro shooters use digital backs for MF (along with a smaller number of LF) because they have enough clients to support it.
Personally, I am very picky with what I shoot using 4x5, so very, very few shots wind up in the round file. I also do most of my own scanning, PS work, and printing.
And, I just have to say it: a large format color tranny on the light table is a thing of beauty! There's nothing on a computer screen that can compare to it, in my very humble opinion.
-P
Posted by Dan Borzynski on February 1, 2009 at 8:02 PM
I'm still shooting film. Mostly it is large format (4x5), but on a rare occassion, 35 mm based. I have about a dozen rolls of print film in the freezer.
And I'm even looking at getting a 6x17 system, in some form or another.
Film really is a different medium that digital. As much as I like digital, film can do things digital can't. Large prints, BW with the dynamic range of BW film, movements more extensive than that of Canon's and Nikon TS lens, etc. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there is Helicon Focus, HDR and $$$$$ digital backs, but why not get it right in camera the first time at a price normal mortals can afford?
But realistically, I'll probably never give up digital. For much of what I do, it is just the right medium to work in.
Another MF & LF film shooter here. The cost can be daunting at times, but if it's in your blood it is hard to shake. I started out like most with 35mm, then jumped to 6x7cm MF about 15 years ago, and now shoot a mixture of MF along with 4x5 inch LF. I find both platforms work well for my personal tastes and style of work.
Posted by Ron Pullen on February 2, 2009 at 7:08 AM
Shooting film only here, 35mm and 6x7cm Medium format. Probably forever. Ron
Film for me. Almost all 4x5, some 6x6 cm and a bit of 35mm. There is nothing like working with a large format camera…magic. The large prints they allow are hard to beat too.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on February 2, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Film + scanner for me as well. 4X5, 6x7cm, and 35mm formats. I shoot the majority of my 35mm shots on film these days. I have the time to do this and I enjoy the process and the creative options that it provides. I'll admit however that the time required to get one film image to print is much greater than the time required to do the same with a digital shot.
I love film photography...Despite to have condition to buy a nice digital camera I love my Nikon F100 and while I can find film to be bought in Brazil I will be a film shooter..
Posted by Gary Tozer on February 3, 2009 at 6:34 PM
While I love film, it became much too costly to use, especially if you live any distance from the lab. Film purchase, shipping, processing, shipping, scanning, shipping, hours, days, weeks, garbage!!!!
Cost became such an issue, that I found myself taking photos which were nowhere to be found on the processed roll. I have shot film for 30 years, 110 to 4 x 5, I resisted digital and then one day I let my guard down and last week, for the first time in my life, I had a 48" wide print made from a DX format CMOS sensor. Three years ago I would not believe it was possible. Tiff file, 600 dpi, fantastic.
Anybody looking to buy 6 film cameras and a bag full of Velvia? I loved Velvia, but there is an old Gaelic saying which simply states, we get too soon old and too late smart.
Discussion
13 repliesPhillip, that's the stuff we used to have to pay to buy, take extra good care of, and pay to be processed, then throw most of it away. It's the stuff that is taking up cabinet after cabinet of storage space, and usually fades over time. It's the stuff that is always the wrong ISO in the camera for the killer image that jumps out at you. It's the stuff that, when full, made your camera make this loud buzzing noise during rewind scaring the timid animals away. It's also the stuff that even the best has less resolution than modern digital sensors.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea!
Oh I almost forgot - it is the stuff in that museum in Rochester, NY that has created wonderful images over its life time. It's the stuff that laid the foundation for everything we do in photography today. It's the stuff that masters like Ansel Adams used to make images we still marvel at.
Sanford, while I have no desire to continue to use film, I am very glad there are those like you who will keep the "good old days" in our conscience for a long time. Kind of like the audio guys who still love vinyl.
You are not alone.
Cheers,
Personally, I am very picky with what I shoot using 4x5, so very, very few shots wind up in the round file. I also do most of my own scanning, PS work, and printing.
And, I just have to say it: a large format color tranny on the light table is a thing of beauty! There's nothing on a computer screen that can compare to it, in my very humble opinion.
-P
And I'm even looking at getting a 6x17 system, in some form or another.
Film really is a different medium that digital. As much as I like digital, film can do things digital can't. Large prints, BW with the dynamic range of BW film, movements more extensive than that of Canon's and Nikon TS lens, etc. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there is Helicon Focus, HDR and $$$$$ digital backs, but why not get it right in camera the first time at a price normal mortals can afford?
But realistically, I'll probably never give up digital. For much of what I do, it is just the right medium to work in.
Cost became such an issue, that I found myself taking photos which were nowhere to be found on the processed roll. I have shot film for 30 years, 110 to 4 x 5, I resisted digital and then one day I let my guard down and last week, for the first time in my life, I had a 48" wide print made from a DX format CMOS sensor. Three years ago I would not believe it was possible. Tiff file, 600 dpi, fantastic.
Anybody looking to buy 6 film cameras and a bag full of Velvia? I loved Velvia, but there is an old Gaelic saying which simply states, we get too soon old and too late smart.