5 Reasons to Shoot Digital

Lobbamobba said:

So a few days ago I started a thread asking “Why do you shoot digital?”.
My goal was to put together a video with a top 5 list.
It was very helpful and interesting to read. I was stuck at only 4 Reasons but the thread actually made it into 6.

So for this is how the list ended up:

#5 Budget
I’m not talking about price here. Because film is not expensive imo.
And you can buy a film camera for $10 and shoot thousands of analog pictures to reach the cost of a digital camera. Specially if we are talking Medium Format.
But no matter how we look at it, it is a running expense.
With digital you pay and that’s pretty much it. I recently had all my Sandisk SD cards fail all at once (the Extreme Pro 64GB U3 versions) and replacing them added some cost. But that was after years of good use.

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

Digital is easier to set a budget for.

#4 Video
It’s a great thing to have. Even if just for some short clips of the family.
One can of course use s8 or 16mm which )I play with occasionally.
But then you need to plan and take it serious. Video can be played with as well as used for mass producing.

#3 Speed
Developing takes time. Even if stand developed where one just sets and forgets it still needs to dry and scanning is a pain.
There are plenty of Instat Films. Instax is currently selling more than digital in the Fuji lineup.
Good old Packfilm is still available.
But again.. scanning sucks.

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

That’s why digital is what I use for work.
But if I ever where to shoot portraits and such I would use Large Format film

#2 ISO
And I’m not talking about the amount, even though that is also useful.
I’m talking about being able to switch it quickly and to use auto in manual (thanks for finally getting with the program Panasonic..).
This was supposed to be number one because it’s easily the biggest revolution with digital photography.
But when I couldn’t come up with a fifth and asked here and on Facebook I left it at two and let the people decide the winner.

Honorable Mention: Spray and Pray
A lot of people voted for the ability to just keep on shooting hundreds of pictures before having to switch card. As opposed to a 70 roll all the way down as low as 1 sheet of Large Format.

This did not make the list because it can also be a negative.
Shooting film has taught me be more efficient and get the job done on fewer shots.
This does not only save space and time for me. Also the clients/employers love an efficient shooter. Their time is also money..

And in reality it never is an issue for me when shooting film. I rarely run out of a 36 roll.
All analog shooters I know do the same, we take ten shoots at the end of each roll of our dog/cat/kid just so it ends. Because we want to develop now!

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

# 1 So we don’t have to take so much crap from film haters

Thanks to all those who gave input!
And remember, both are great, its about having a good time.

If one wants to hear it all again in broken English the video is here:

And my “5 Reasons to Soot Film”:

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

Great comments, I agree on everything.
And thanks for the link, I will check it out for sure

Click to expand...

absquatulate said:

Lobbamobba said:

So a few days ago I started a thread asking “Why do you shoot digital?”.
My goal was to put together a video with a top 5 list.
It was very helpful and interesting to read. I was stuck at only 4 Reasons but the thread actually made it into 6.

So for this is how the list ended up:

#5 Budget
I’m not talking about price here. Because film is not expensive imo.
And you can buy a film camera for $10 and shoot thousands of analog pictures to reach the cost of a digital camera. Specially if we are talking Medium Format.
But no matter how we look at it, it is a running expense.
With digital you pay and that’s pretty much it. I recently had all my Sandisk SD cards fail all at once (the Extreme Pro 64GB U3 versions) and replacing them added some cost. But that was after years of good use.

Click to expand...

The cost of film is a bit of myth if you shoot sparingly, especially if you shoot black and white. Once you've bought or been given your camera plus a lens or two ( I was given a mint condition EOS 50 by a work colleague for instance), and you've bought a changing bag, Paterson Tank and ancillaries etc, you're already much cheaper than digital. The main cost of film and chemicals is an ongoing very gradual cost. It makes me laugh when people will spend loads on beer/coffee and junk food on a daily basis then baulk at the cost of a film now and again. Or you can bulk load your own film even cheaper. Developing chemicals are also very cheap for Black and white and not much more for C-41. With digital you have big expenses all at once, so it's a different mindset that's all. However, you'll have uninformed people fight that battle for digital all day long, and I agree, if you shoot a lot then digital probably is going to be cheaper in the long run.

Member said:

Digital is easier to set a budget for.

#4 Video
It’s a great thing to have. Even if just for some short clips of the family.
One can of course use s8 or 16mm which )I play with occasionally.
But then you need to plan and take it serious. Video can be played with as well as used for mass producing.

#3 Speed
Developing takes time. Even if stand developed where one just sets and forgets it still needs to dry and scanning is a pain.
There are plenty of Instat Films. Instax is currently selling more than digital in the Fuji lineup.
Good old Packfilm is still available.
But again.. scanning sucks.

Click to expand...

This is probably the biggest win for digital, no arguments there. However, I like enjoy developing film, trying different developers and recipes, it's all part of the fun, and nothing beats watching your negatives appear, nothing in digital matches that for me.

Member said:

That’s why digital is what I use for work.
But if I ever where to shoot portraits and such I would use Large Format film

#2 ISO
And I’m not talking about the amount, even though that is also useful.
I’m talking about being able to switch it quickly and to use auto in manual (thanks for finally getting with the program Panasonic..).
This was supposed to be number one because it’s easily the biggest revolution with digital photography.
But when I couldn’t come up with a fifth and asked here and on Facebook I left it at two and let the people decide the winner.

Honorable Mention: Spray and Pray
A lot of people voted for the ability to just keep on shooting hundreds of pictures before having to switch card. As opposed to a 70 roll all the way down as low as 1 sheet of Large Format.

This did not make the list because it can also be a negative.
Shooting film has taught me be more efficient and get the job done on fewer shots.
This does not only save space and time for me. Also the clients/employers love an efficient shooter. Their time is also money..

And in reality it never is an issue for me when shooting film. I rarely run out of a 36 roll.
All analog shooters I know do the same, we take ten shoots at the end of each roll of our dog/cat/kid just so it ends. Because we want to develop now!

Click to expand...

I know the feeling of wanting to finish your 35mm film, that's another reason for shooting Medium Format film for me, that does increase the cost a bit but nothing beats those huge negatives appearing I agree also that film makes you a much more considered shooter, I get more keepers working that way for sure.

Member said:

# 1 So we don’t have to take so much crap from film haters

Thanks to all those who gave input!
And remember, both are great, its about having a good time.

If one wants to hear it all again in broken English the video is here:

And my “5 Reasons to Soot Film”:

Click to expand...

A pretty good and fair appraisal, just ignore the film is dead crew, not worth attempting to debate anyone with that attitude. Also, I'm not sure of you've been there but there's a great site called Emulsive , which is really interesting for anyone curious about film and its recent Renaissance, I recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

Click to expand...

The Davinator said:

absquatulate said:

Lobbamobba said:

So a few days ago I started a thread asking “Why do you shoot digital?”.
My goal was to put together a video with a top 5 list.
It was very helpful and interesting to read. I was stuck at only 4 Reasons but the thread actually made it into 6.

So for this is how the list ended up:

#5 Budget
I’m not talking about price here. Because film is not expensive imo.
And you can buy a film camera for $10 and shoot thousands of analog pictures to reach the cost of a digital camera. Specially if we are talking Medium Format.
But no matter how we look at it, it is a running expense.
With digital you pay and that’s pretty much it. I recently had all my Sandisk SD cards fail all at once (the Extreme Pro 64GB U3 versions) and replacing them added some cost. But that was after years of good use.

Click to expand...

The cost of film is a bit of myth if you shoot sparingly, especially if you shoot black and white. Once you've bought or been given your camera plus a lens or two ( I was given a mint condition EOS 50 by a work colleague for instance), and you've bought a changing bag, Paterson Tank and ancillaries etc, you're already much cheaper than digital. The main cost of film and chemicals is an ongoing very gradual cost. It makes me laugh when people will spend loads on beer/coffee and junk food on a daily basis then baulk at the cost of a film now and again. Or you can bulk load your own film even cheaper. Developing chemicals are also very cheap for Black and white and not much more for C-41. With digital you have big expenses all at once, so it's a different mindset that's all. However, you'll have uninformed people fight that battle for digital all day long, and I agree, if you shoot a lot then digital probably is going to be cheaper in the long run.

The Davinator said:

Digital is easier to set a budget for.

#4 Video
It’s a great thing to have. Even if just for some short clips of the family.
One can of course use s8 or 16mm which )I play with occasionally.
But then you need to plan and take it serious. Video can be played with as well as used for mass producing.

#3 Speed
Developing takes time. Even if stand developed where one just sets and forgets it still needs to dry and scanning is a pain.
There are plenty of Instat Films. Instax is currently selling more than digital in the Fuji lineup.
Good old Packfilm is still available.
But again.. scanning sucks.

Click to expand...

This is probably the biggest win for digital, no arguments there. However, I like enjoy developing film, trying different developers and recipes, it's all part of the fun, and nothing beats watching your negatives appear, nothing in digital matches that for me.

The Davinator said:

That’s why digital is what I use for work.
But if I ever where to shoot portraits and such I would use Large Format film

#2 ISO
And I’m not talking about the amount, even though that is also useful.
I’m talking about being able to switch it quickly and to use auto in manual (thanks for finally getting with the program Panasonic..).
This was supposed to be number one because it’s easily the biggest revolution with digital photography.
But when I couldn’t come up with a fifth and asked here and on Facebook I left it at two and let the people decide the winner.

Honorable Mention: Spray and Pray
A lot of people voted for the ability to just keep on shooting hundreds of pictures before having to switch card. As opposed to a 70 roll all the way down as low as 1 sheet of Large Format.

This did not make the list because it can also be a negative.
Shooting film has taught me be more efficient and get the job done on fewer shots.
This does not only save space and time for me. Also the clients/employers love an efficient shooter. Their time is also money..

And in reality it never is an issue for me when shooting film. I rarely run out of a 36 roll.
All analog shooters I know do the same, we take ten shoots at the end of each roll of our dog/cat/kid just so it ends. Because we want to develop now!

Click to expand...

I know the feeling of wanting to finish your 35mm film, that's another reason for shooting Medium Format film for me, that does increase the cost a bit but nothing beats those huge negatives appearing I agree also that film makes you a much more considered shooter, I get more keepers working that way for sure.

The Davinator said:

# 1 So we don’t have to take so much crap from film haters

Thanks to all those who gave input!
And remember, both are great, its about having a good time.

If one wants to hear it all again in broken English the video is here:

And my “5 Reasons to Soot Film”:

Click to expand...

A pretty good and fair appraisal, just ignore the film is dead crew, not worth attempting to debate anyone with that attitude. Also, I'm not sure of you've been there but there's a great site called Emulsive , which is really interesting for anyone curious about film and its recent Renaissance, I recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

Click to expand...

Oddly enough, quality is missing from the list

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

Exactly, they cant copy each others qualities. And image quality is not measurable and can not be stated as fact.
Marks and charts don't mean squat. A sharp lens can make an uglier picture than a soft. And its all in the eyes of the viewer anyway.
Image quality is not nor will ever be an exact science.

This is why its not on the list

Click to expand...

The Davinator said:

Lobbamobba said:

Exactly, they cant copy each others qualities. And image quality is not measurable and can not be stated as fact.
Marks and charts don't mean squat. A sharp lens can make an uglier picture than a soft. And its all in the eyes of the viewer anyway.
Image quality is not nor will ever be an exact science.

This is why its not on the list

Click to expand...

Exactly. I use film for the look it gives, in various formats.

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

Its another tool and/or medium. I wonder if people who sculpt in clay go on to forums and bash people who use wood or ice?

Click to expand...

HRC2016 said:

I think a benefit we should all rank highly is the lack of chemicals that we, and the environment, are exposed to from not using and processing film.

Does anyone think playing with developer will improve your health? Yes, producing digital equipment does have an environmental cost, but that needs to be mitigated at the manufacturing point, not consumer use (except for eventual disposal).

Healthy body and planet vs cost of toys? What's your priority?

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

Health is one thing. But I still wonder whats worst for the environment.
Me using camera made from mostly metal and other natural materials 20 years ago with the small amounts of developer I use.

Or a brand new digital camera made from plastic which is oil, silicone, different alloys, rubbers and plastics. Acid. A huge factory with hundreds of workers. Big ships to haul the camera, the oil, the paper for the box. The trees for the box. The food for the workers in the factory, the marketing folks, the adds, the stores, store owners....

I mean the old camera is just sitting there at the local flee market.

Im in no way claiming one to be cleaner than the other.
Im just simply curious how many rolls I have to shoot before I reach the environmental footprint of a modern camera bought today?

Click to expand...

absquatulate said:

HRC2016 said:

I think a benefit we should all rank highly is the lack of chemicals that we, and the environment, are exposed to from not using and processing film.

Does anyone think playing with developer will improve your health? Yes, producing digital equipment does have an environmental cost, but that needs to be mitigated at the manufacturing point, not consumer use (except for eventual disposal).

Healthy body and planet vs cost of toys? What's your priority?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

HRC2016 said:

absquatulate said:

HRC2016 said:

I think a benefit we should all rank highly is the lack of chemicals that we, and the environment, are exposed to from not using and processing film.

Does anyone think playing with developer will improve your health? Yes, producing digital equipment does have an environmental cost, but that needs to be mitigated at the manufacturing point, not consumer use (except for eventual disposal).

Healthy body and planet vs cost of toys? What's your priority?

--
Another proud member of the growing Atheist
community.

Click to expand...

Sure think of all those batteries and precious metals, not to mention polycarbonate bodies that are going into landfill. Chemicals for black and white are minimal, just alkaline and acid in very diluted quantities, bleach for colour, but every household in Western Society uses that, amongst a whole host of other chemicals. Film cameras last for decades and are mostly metal, which is easy to recycle, so no, you don't get me on that guilt trip.

Click to expand...

No, not every household in Western Society uses bleach. You make some good points but a lot of generaliztions.

Click to expand...

HRC2016 said:

I think you are already on that guilt trip. Bon voyage!

Click to expand...

HRC2016 said:

--
Another proud member of the growing Atheist
community.

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

So a few days ago I started a thread asking “Why do you shoot digital?”.
My goal was to put together a video with a top 5 list.
It was very helpful and interesting to read. I was stuck at only 4 Reasons but the thread actually made it into 6.

So for this is how the list ended up:

#5 Budget
I’m not talking about price here. Because film is not expensive imo.
And you can buy a film camera for $10 and shoot thousands of analog pictures to reach the cost of a digital camera. Specially if we are talking Medium Format.
But no matter how we look at it, it is a running expense.
With digital you pay and that’s pretty much it. I recently had all my Sandisk SD cards fail all at once (the Extreme Pro 64GB U3 versions) and replacing them added some cost. But that was after years of good use.

Digital is easier to set a budget for.

#4 Video
It’s a great thing to have. Even if just for some short clips of the family.
One can of course use s8 or 16mm which )I play with occasionally.
But then you need to plan and take it serious. Video can be played with as well as used for mass producing.

#3 Speed
Developing takes time. Even if stand developed where one just sets and forgets it still needs to dry and scanning is a pain.
There are plenty of Instat Films. Instax is currently selling more than digital in the Fuji lineup.
Good old Packfilm is still available.
But again.. scanning sucks.

That’s why digital is what I use for work.
But if I ever where to shoot portraits and such I would use Large Format film

#2 ISO
And I’m not talking about the amount, even though that is also useful.
I’m talking about being able to switch it quickly and to use auto in manual (thanks for finally getting with the program Panasonic..).
This was supposed to be number one because it’s easily the biggest revolution with digital photography.
But when I couldn’t come up with a fifth and asked here and on Facebook I left it at two and let the people decide the winner.

Honorable Mention: Spray and Pray
A lot of people voted for the ability to just keep on shooting hundreds of pictures before having to switch card. As opposed to a 70 roll all the way down as low as 1 sheet of Large Format.

This did not make the list because it can also be a negative.
Shooting film has taught me be more efficient and get the job done on fewer shots.
This does not only save space and time for me. Also the clients/employers love an efficient shooter. Their time is also money..

And in reality it never is an issue for me when shooting film. I rarely run out of a 36 roll.
All analog shooters I know do the same, we take ten shoots at the end of each roll of our dog/cat/kid just so it ends. Because we want to develop now!

# 1 So we don’t have to take so much crap from film haters

Thanks to all those who gave input!
And remember, both are great, its about having a good time.

If one wants to hear it all again in broken English the video is here:

And my “5 Reasons to Soot Film”:

Click to expand...

Lobbamobba said:

I suspect if one just cut back a little on white wash detergent it makes up for the bleach.
Its proven that 99.9% of all people over use it anyway, the instructions is always a very small amount. They even brag about it in commercials, you know, "One teaspoon is ally need to...".
And still people throw in a fistful just to wash a shirt

Click to expand...

• 1000ml (1l) Water.
• 12 levelled teaspoons Washing Soda.
• 3 teaspoons of Vitamin C.
• 18 teaspoons Instant Coffee