Who still shoot films professionally

[Albert4321]

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With the new firmwares, the M8 is getting better and better.

 

There are a handfull of wedding photogs shoot 100% films. I wonder if any M8 users or ex M8 users shoot films professionally. What is your reasons and what is your work flow?

 

Anyone care to share?

 

The reason I asked because I still have my Contax N1 and Contax 645 system, but now I have a desire to try out the M7 since I have already spent $$$ on my Leica lenses

[KM-25]

I shoot film but I don't do weddings. I like the entire process, the look, the consistency. I like the waiting or the developing of black and white at home.

 

I shoot digital too, but I will never give up film.

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[Albert4321]

Daniel,

 

Your Kodachrome project seems very interesting. It reminds me how rewarding looking at the chrome films on the light table.

 

As much as I love chrome film, it appears it is very difficult to be scanned. When I was in school, I had used pro-lab to scan my medium format films for two years and negative films worked better as chrome films were just too contrasty.

 

Perhaps I should give it a try again.

[Vieri]

I do - I just sold both my M8s and my M kit is now 2 x MP, 1 x M2. I also just got a IIIc just for kicks (I love the little bugger already!). I also use Hasselblad & Mamiya 6.

 

Long live film!

 

P.S. Of course, I also use DSLR - a D3, mostly for concert work & architecture and I also got a D300 as a backup.

[martinb]

The biggest trouble I'm having with film is that I don't have any good labs in my town any longer. Trouble no. 2 is finding a good scanner. Yes, Coolscans are good, but to really squeeze everything out of film (especially 35mm!) an Imacon/Hasselblad or other pro scanner is needed. Trouble no. 3 is that those scanners are way too expensive.

And the last trouble or it really isn't a trouble, is that the M8 is very very good compared to film. Yes, subjectively I love film, but the ability to import images to my computer and not bother with all the trouble and cost of film and scanning is just great.

If the scenario was different, I had good labs with sensible prices and Hasselblad scanners were 1000-2000 euros I might have shot film instead..

[Guest noah_addis]

I love film, especially black and white. It's hard to match the look of tri-x and wet prints.

 

However, as I contemplate leaving my newspaper job to do freelance documentary work, I find it's hard to justify shooting film anymore. If I'm trying to balance personal projects with paid jobs to pay the bills, it's much more efficient to shoot digital.

 

I figured as I go forward I would shoot personal stuff on film and paid jobs on digital, but with the M8 I can have the advantages of RF shooting with digital. Since I got my M8, I haven't shot a frame on my MP or M6ttl bodies, and I'll probably sell at least one MP.

 

The last time I shot film was on a trip to Istanbul in May. I just cut up the negatives today, and still have to edit and scan the film. In the meantime I've been working on three other projects with the M8, and I have finished prints from those already. The 12x18in. prints from my epson look incredible.

 

So sadly I don't know how much I'll be shooting film in the future, though I hope I can always find time once in a while. I do love the process and the results.

[Michael-IIIf]

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A question about film; might get more answers in the Film sub-section

[Photoskeptic]

I'm with KM-25. However, I just picked up a 6x9 and am seriously thinking of going all film and selling my M8. Or trading it for another film M and some cash for drum scanning money

[Baxter]

I shoot film, process it myself B+W, E6 and C41, all in a Jobo ATL. Volume of shots is relatively low since shooting 5x4. Scanning takes lots of time, so it's a pain if lots of pictures to do, remove dust etc. Yes I too love the look of film and have spent ages struggling to get digital files to look something close. Capture One won in this respect.

 

Agree new firmware has improved the M8 enormously in the 18 months I've had the camera.

[budrichard]

I'm not a pro anymore but I did use K films for my wedding work and still use them for friends. I did two weddings last year with K64 and K200 and while the K64 is not as good as the K25 of many many years ago, I still like the results. I use two M7's with Motor M's and ASPH lenses.-Dick

[photogdave]

The last time I shot film was on a trip to Istanbul in May. I just cut up the negatives today, and still have to edit and scan the film. In the meantime I've been working on three other projects with the M8, and I have finished prints from those already. The 12x18in. prints from my epson look incredible.

 

So sadly I don't know how much I'll be shooting film in the future, though I hope I can always find time once in a while. I do love the process and the results.

 

Goes to show you how subjective the whole photography process truly is. My experience is pretty much the exact opposite of yours!

I shoot film on a regular basis, typically drop of film at the lab once a week, get them back the next day, edit and scan what I want to work with. So I can end up with a finished project usually inside of one week.

Whenever I shoot digital I just can't be bothered to sit in front of my screen and go through all those frames one at a time. I always get bored or tired and close it down, intending to come back to it later or just work at it in short bursts. Consequently I still have shoots from over a year ago that I haven't completely edited.

Good job I'm not on deadline!

[grober]

I've shot 140 weddings or so with M6 and M7 (with reliable Fuji NPH film) but now have shot two weddings with the M8.

 

Overall, the results from my film days were much better and more personally satisfying.

 

I have yet to master all the variables for good, consistent color after the shots are taken with the M8 (Photoshop CS2) and, of course, Leica is no help. ALL the available books on the subject only speak about something called "Camera raw" which, of course, is not DNG.

 

In the old days, my lab did all the work; I just sorted and delivered in nice packaging to a happy bride. Now I'm a slave to the bloody computer and its printer with few epiphanies happening along the way. (Not to mention the loss of time devoted to shooting more images!)

 

-g

[chris_tribble]

The last time I shot film was on a trip to Istanbul in May. I just cut up the negatives today, and still have to edit and scan the film. In the meantime I've been working on three other projects with the M8, and I have finished prints from those already. The 12x18in. prints from my epson look incredible.

 

So sadly I don't know how much I'll be shooting film in the future, though I hope I can always find time once in a while. I do love the process and the results.

 

Noah - with you there. Can't bear to part with my M6 and M7 (or my Canon 1v) but I don't use them... I also rarely use my 5D and 1D2 - but I'm not getting rid of them as there are times when they're invaluable...

 

In the old days, my lab did all the work; I just sorted and delivered in nice packaging to a happy bride. Now I'm a slave to the bloody computer and its printer with few epiphanies happening along the way. (Not to mention the loss of time devoted to shooting more images!)

-g

 

A familiar lament - I have a friend who's a working pro who insists on shooting JPEG only because he hates working on a computer and prefers to treat digital like slide film - shoot, select and leave it to the lab to sort out... Problem is the bottom's dropped out of his business as he's just not able to get the work he used to get...

 

It's tough but it seems to be the way things are going...

[Shootist]

I have yet to master all the variables for good, consistent color after the shots are taken with the M8 (Photoshop CS2) and, of course, Leica is no help. ALL the available books on the subject only speak about something called "Camera raw" which, of course, is not DNG.

 

-g

I think you may have something confused. Inside Adobe Photoshop there is a program called ACR (Adobe Camera Raw). It is used to read, display and do some edits on RAW data camera files. The Leica M8 DNG files are RAW data files just like any other makers Raw files.

With the latest version of ACR for PS CS2, actually IIRC from ACR 3.6 which is not the latest version ACR available, you can read M8 DNG files.

When the books you are reading refer to Camera Raw I think they are talking about the program that comes with PS.

[Riccis]

It's no secret that I have dumped digital and have gone back to shooting film for all my wedding work with M7s...

 

All my new work on the blog (Riccis Valladares Photography Blog | Latest work from Riccis Valladares | Fine Art Wedding Photography | Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Miami) is film...

 

Cheers,

[grober]

I think you may have something confused. Inside Adobe Photoshop there is a program called ACR (Adobe Camera Raw). It is used to read, display and do some edits on RAW data camera files. The Leica M8 DNG files are RAW data files just like any other makers Raw files.

With the latest version of ACR for PS CS2, actually IIRC from ACR 3.6 which is not the latest version ACR available, you can read M8 DNG files.

When the books you are reading refer to Camera Raw I think they are talking about the program that comes with PS.

 

Thanks for the direction. I'll follow this suggested trail and see what I can learn!

 

(Would that Leica -- or someone! -- came out with some M8/Photoshop instructions on pro color management!!!)

 

-g

[Shootist]

Thanks for the direction. I'll follow this suggested trail and see what I can learn!

 

(Would that Leica -- or someone! -- came out with some M8/Photoshop instructions on pro color management!!!)

 

-g

Color management is color management. Not that one set of profiles work for all cameras but dealing with color management is basically the same no mater what camera you are using.

[Albert4321]

It's no secret that I have dumped digital and have gone back to shooting film for all my wedding work with M7s...

 

All my new work on the blog (Riccis Valladares Photography Blog | Latest work from Riccis Valladares | Fine Art Wedding Photography | Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Miami) is film...

 

Cheers,

 

Great stuff Riccis as always.

 

Did you normally use daylight film to shoot reception shown in your blog?

[martinb]

It's no secret that I have dumped digital and have gone back to shooting film for all my wedding work with M7s...

 

All my new work on the blog (Riccis Valladares Photography Blog | Latest work from Riccis Valladares | Fine Art Wedding Photography | Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Miami) is film...

 

Cheers,

 

How's your workflow? must be a nightmare? do you scan yourself? do you have good labs around? Just interested..

I like your work by the way!

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Hallo,

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[Albert4321]

A familiar lament - I have a friend who's a working pro who insists on shooting JPEG only because he hates working on a computer and prefers to treat digital like slide film - shoot, select and leave it to the lab to sort out... Problem is the bottom's dropped out of his business as he's just not able to get the work he used to get...

 

yeah, I have start shooting RAW + JPEG with the D3 and get good result with the JPEGs. Using the JPEG files along cut my computer time more than in half. The quality of JPEGs from the D3 is good but no match for RAW though, I am afraid eventually it will hurt the business. Or it may help the business because of faster turn around time. I guess success in photo business is more than just the medium we use.

 

One of the main reasons I am thinking to switch back to film for weddings work is because I don't want to spend way too much time in front of the computer, and I love films. The pro & con for comparing digital vs film is so over years ago, but it is time for me to revisit the issue.

 

Thanks for for your comments.