A Farewell to Film

[StS]

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Sure, but this doesn't influence my personal choice. The CD was invented almost 30 years ago, however, It is still possible to buy newly pressed Vinyl CDs. If one choses to continue to use this technology, it is still possible.

 

With film, it is even easier, since it is one's personal choice, what to record on it.

As long as two decent* Black-and-White films are produced, I have what I need.

 

Stefan

 

 

*footnote - thinking about it, I could do with one pushable 400 and one low sensitivity fine grain film. If you want to spoil me, add BW400 to this list.

[giordano]

Sure, but this doesn't influence my personal choice. The CD was invented almost 30 years ago, however, It is still possible to buy newly pressed Vinyl CDs. If one choses to continue to use this technology, it is still possible.

 

Listening to a "vinyl CD" - neat retronym, back in the day most of us called them LPs - is not like using film, it's like looking at a print or photogravure from a silver halide negative. Using film means making pictures, listening to recordings is just consumption. Using film is like recording music with one of these:

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or for Leica users maybe one of these:

Photo by Hens Zimmerman from Wikimedia Commons

[Robert Hooper]

Although I still have not weaned myself from film completely, Lars. As one old photographer to another, I understand your attitude completely. I hope you get your M9 back soon and I also hope it is being repaired under warranty.

[lct]

...Using film is like recording music with one of these ...

Or using digital is like recording music with this little gem.

You can even use the memory cards of your DSLR!

Conservatives vs. Progressives... Eternal debate.

 

[Nicoleica]

Or using digital is like recording music with this little gem.

You can even use the memory cards of your DSLR!

Conservatives vs. Progressives... Eternal debate.

 

 

Digital music has been around for a century now.

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[lct]

I prefer this one.

 

[colin_d]

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Haha, well my analogy with recorded music seems to have hit a tune with some of the more humorous .

[plasticman]

Or using digital is like recording music with this little gem.

You can even use the memory cards of your DSLR!

Conservatives vs. Progressives... Eternal debate.

 

 

This is absolute rubbish.

 

I'm not in any way conservative - I use the latest technology in almost every part of my life, both at work and at home.

 

I PREFER the look of film.

 

Can't people get that into their skulls without always resorting to the usual knee-jerk 'luddite' rubbish?

[hamey]

[quote name=andybarton;

 

Call me a luddite if you like - frankly I don't care - but I do not see a digital camera being an acceptable complete replacement for a film one. Useful when you want to shoot something and pass it on to others quickly' date=' but no fun at all.[/quote]

 

 

I am with Andy on this one, If I am unable to obtain my slide film, I will give up on serious photography as I know it.

 

However I will probably use the little P&S electrocam to snap my future grandchildren but that will be it,

 

Film-Slides for ever, anything else is temporary.

 

Ken.

[lct]

This is absolute rubbish...

Conservative is not an insult, Mani. Fact is those who dislike digital in music are often the same who dislike digital in photography. But it is not necessarily your case so keep cool my friend this is simply an internet forum.

[colin_d]

...when CD's first arrived, we were told that they would not last more than 10 years and that digital recordings would never be on par with analogue ones. This of course has proven to be just conservatives spin...

 

Commercial reality lct, no-one is suggesting everything will wind back and film and vinyls will rule the world again. The unsavoury fact is digital everything is here to stay because that's what people want. Digital cameras take nice photos, yes, but is the experience the same, no, and for a lot of people who are tired of the fast paced, convenient disposable plastic everything, souless, unrewarding life we lead, film offers something more satisfying, more substantial and longer lasting in its appeal.

 

And as for CD's, cheap trash, film and vinyls rock.

[jacarape]

Lars, your posts are always great, so why start trolling?

 

So hey man, have fun where life takes you. I have always viewed mine through a viewfinder even if teh view wasn't very interesting and I suspect that you do also.

 

Film is part of who you are, you'll be back!

[lct]

...And as for CD's, cheap trash...

CDs are only a medium, Colin. Would you say that memory cards are "cheap trash" when there have AIFF instead of TIFF files on them?

[plasticman]

I don't feel that film is 'part of who I am'.

I don't use film cameras because of any nostalgic longing for a previous age.

I don't see myself as a conservative, or anti-progress in any conceivable way.

I have no illusions about the ephemeral quality of my photography - so whether it lasts 1000 years is immaterial to me.

I don't like the smell of chemicals or the isolation of the darkroom, but luckily the option of paying someone else to perform this part of the operation is still available to me.

 

Aside from the fact that my film cameras are built so much better, and feel better in the hand than their digital equivalents, the one and only reason I prefer film is because it looks so much better than digital.

 

One thing that has thrilled me this summer, is being able to take gorgeous photographs of family and friends sitting in the deep shadow of trees on the brightest sunny days, and maintaining the beautiful subtle gradations of dark and extremely bright light at both ends of the range simultaneously.

The bokeh produced by lenses like the Noctilux and Summilux50 wide open glow and merge in ways that are so subtly entrancing that I just sit and stare in speechless wonder.

 

No doubt that film is more hassle. Talented photographers can do wonders with any camera - film or digital. But if and when film does finally disappear (and I doubt it will actually happen), a whole irreplaceable aesthetic will disappear with it.

[andym911]

perfectly summed up Mani.

[Nicoleica]

No doubt that film is more hassle. Talented photographers can do wonders with any camera - film or digital. But if and when film does finally disappear (and I doubt it will actually happen), a whole irreplaceable aesthetic will disappear with it.

 

To me, the film versus digital debate is rather like the difference between a real fire and modern central heating. For one, you press a button, it's instant, and it's all controlled by digital electronics. For the other, it may take a little more care to prepare, but all you need is a hearth, a match, an-a-log(ue).

[jaapv]

I don't feel that film is 'part of who I am'.

I don't use film cameras because of any nostalgic longing for a previous age.

I don't see myself as a conservative, or anti-progress in any conceivable way.

I have no illusions about the ephemeral quality of my photography - so whether it lasts 1000 years is immaterial to me.

I don't like the smell of chemicals or the isolation of the darkroom, but luckily the option of paying someone else to perform this part of the operation is still available to me.

 

Aside from the fact that my film cameras are built so much better, and feel better in the hand than their digital equivalents, the one and only reason I prefer film is because it looks so much better than digital.

 

One thing that has thrilled me this summer, is being able to take gorgeous photographs of family and friends sitting in the deep shadow of trees on the brightest sunny days, and maintaining the beautiful subtle gradations of dark and extremely bright light at both ends of the range simultaneously.

The bokeh produced by lenses like the Noctilux and Summilux50 wide open glow and merge in ways that are so subtly entrancing that I just sit and stare in speechless wonder.

 

No doubt that film is more hassle. Talented photographers can do wonders with any camera - film or digital. But if and when film does finally disappear (and I doubt it will actually happen), a whole irreplaceable aesthetic will disappear with it.

Sheesh - since when do we have to justify an esthetic or artistic preference:confused: - for me it suffices that you state you prefer film, Mani. Although I knew that all the time and appreciate you taking your time to explain your reasons

[wattsy]

but all you need is a hearth, a match, an-a-log(ue).

 

Blimey, Tommy Cooper lives on (or is it Basil Brush?).

[razerx]

I remember the first time I ever printed blank & white and how watching that image form in the tray of Dektol brought me immense delight. I learned to print with 5x7 paper because mistakes could be discarded at little cost. When I got better I printed 8x10 and then larger and larger. As soon as I got to 11x14 some of the magic started to fade because tonally it started to get challenging, so I standardized into 6x9 full frame prints and only printed bigger if the negative was perfect. Then came medium format. I was astonished how much easier 6x6 printed on 11x14. It was nearly effortless and the tonality was equal to 135 negs onto 5x7. I still shoot film but only large format. When I develop 5x7 negs the magic is still there when I hold it up against the light after fixing it; or going over a 4x5 Velvia slide with a lupe.

 

The quality of the 135 format is limited and shooting film in that size is no longer worth my time. Besides the purpose of my Leica is to capture the moment and they do not need to be sharp nor technically perfect. I don't really care for the arguments about quality when comes to this format because if is quality you want then a real step up would be the next format up.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[tgray]

We did the audio for our last film short with a Nagra. Sounds pretty good.

 

The crap load of D batteries that it took was the sucky part.