A Farewell to Film

[wildlightphoto]

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We need a film-vs-digital subforum

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[colin_d]

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?

 

You have a good point there lct, CD's are the equivalent of throw away cameras, cheap, unreliable, dodgy. I'm not much into music since my era has passed, but yes a memory card is a step up, just as a Leica is, on that we would agree .

[colin_d]

We need a film-vs-digital subforum

 

I believe the ongoing debate about film v. digi is moving into the nebulous field of philosophy and aesthetics, this could go forever .

[hamey]

We need a film-vs-digital subforum

 

This subject will continue for a long time.

 

Some like range finders the majority prefer Electronic or Film SLR's.

Some people like using Leicas, the majority prefer other brands.

A lot of people like myself still use Film, the majority use Electronic imaging.

I don't care if Leica stopped making Film cameras, I have enough of them.

Yesterday I had a flat tire on my car, so what, I just walked to the station, and enjoyed it.

The marketing gurus cannot convince me, as I only believe in what I see.

 

 

So it's each to his own, but perhaps this subject will be more interesting in 10 years from now.

 

Ken.

[colin_d]

.

Yesterday I had a flat tire on my car, so what, I just walked to the station, and enjoyed it.

The marketing gurus cannot convince me, as I only believe in what I see.

 

Ken.

 

Lol Ken, I pi55ed myself laughing, pure gold.

[maurometallo]

When I can no more buy a roll of B/W film to load my M4-P, and a pouch of D76 to develop it, then and only then, I will quit Photography.

[lars_bergquist]

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We need a film-vs-digital subforum

 

Yes, and it should be titled "The Sandbox".

 

The old man who just knows that everything since the wet plate is crap

[minks73]

Wow, I didn't know I have been missing out on such an interesting thread.

 

My two cents.

 

I have recently parted with my M8, my M6 and some money for an M9. I had started with an M8 and liked it but found the crop factor of the sensor limiting. With an M6, I found that having the ability to shoot all of what the lens can see was wonderful and certain nostalgic qualities of higher ISO/ASA film photographs were beautiful. But then again, I found myself not using the M6 as much due to being limited by: (i) the type of film loaded in the camera (sometimes I would want B&W and sometimes color but I would be stuck in the middle of a roll of film - obviously, I would not have had this problem if I had two film cameras but I wasn't about to get two film cameras just for that flexibility); (ii) the inconveniences of having to develop film and make reprints (I understand that if you have a darkroom, this can be fun but I don't have one and I am not about to get one - would be too costly and not time efficient for a amateur weekend photog like me); and (iii) the fact that I like having images on a computer to minimize clutter (with a scanned film, this is possible but not at a high resolution/image quality).

 

So between film and digital, convenience won the day.

 

As to the issue of grain, I think this is more of a personal matter. Sometimes I like grain sometimes I don't (regardless of whether an image is digital or from film). It just depends on the image for me - and digital provides more flexibility for it (although it still cannot fully achieve the graininess of film).

[MPJMP]

I'm having a tough time deciding which route to go. I love my MP, and I love the look of film, but my time is becoming more and more precious and I just can't spend hours developing, sorting and scanning film like I used to. A used M8 is starting to look attractive, but I don't trust their reliability. I'd have to sell my beloved MP to fund any purchase.

 

What to do, what to do??????

[adan]

I've been thinking about Lars' situation —*and frankly, I don't know what I would do at this point if my M9 had to go in for servicing (I have plenty of options, just not sure yet which I'd choose).

 

The cheapest interim option would actually be a film M body - the most expensive an additional new M9 (and who knows, that might still take longer than the repair). In between would be a) using my film Hassy exclusively; a used M8; c) a couple of wide/medium lenses for my D300 (which is strictly for tele use right now).

 

I could live with any of those so long as it was for a limited time.

[costakarl]

As I intend to tale colour slides forever, I would be interested to know what brands are least prone to fading or change.

 

My 52 year-old Kodachromes look as good as new but now I need a substitute.

 

Ektachromes of the same vintage lost some colours. You can remedy this in a scan however.

 

Any ideas?

[Guido]

I'm having a tough time deciding which route to go. I love my MP, and I love the look of film, but my time is becoming more and more precious and I just can't spend hours developing, sorting and scanning film like I used to.

Maybe redefine priorities?

[johnalex141r]

I've been thinking about Lars' situation —*and frankly, I don't know what I would do at this point if my M9 had to go in for servicing...

 

What I did when my M8 died in the cold, was to go back to Film. Last November, when the cold "shutter shudders" hit (just above freezing) I went into slow motion mode to get the camera fixed, and took out film cameras. (the M8 never worked well when cold, but it used to fail at -20, last November it was about +3 - time to send it in, as +3 was within "specified operating range")

 

I finally got my M8 back around the end of June (NOT Leica's fault for the delay in repair)

 

Now that I have a functioning B&W darkroom again; I'm looking at a film leica, as I'm shooting more film than digital right now, with the exception of trying to get a still photograph of my daughter's new puppy dog! There is a use for digital... ;-)

 

Really, both have their place, but in my current frame of mind, I really like turning off the computers and just doing things slow and sure.

 

JohnS.