When do you take out the Analog camera versus the Digital?

[dennersten]

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I have this beautiful new Leica MP. But it's collecting dust so far. I have a M11 and M9. I need to produce a lot for my December exhibition. 

I enjoy it immensely every time I go out with MP. 

But before going out in the. I have this discussion: "Think if I need 5000 ASA"? "What do I do if I need the EV for a shot"? Etc.

The most apparent solution is to buy a giant photo bag to bring both, which I am possibly doing.

It would be interesting to hear your rationale for when to bring the analogue versus digital camera.   

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[a.noctilux]

At once, I tend to carry and use the two media.

Since two or three years, only digital M.

At first I did regret nice analog process but processing films afterward took me to digital.

 

[Tom R]

Depends upon several factors--not the least being what are you doing and for whom? If you're a working pro, I doubt that you need bother with any analogue equipment or process unless your clients request that technology. If you make photographs for personal pleasure, then bring the what makes you happy. Between these two poles you might be interested in making images about photography, e.g., how does the camera see versus how human beings see, or what is the nature of mechanical/analogue process versus electronic/algorithmic  ... think "art," and culture studies here; in this case, is the statement about photography and photographs you're making dependent upon the distinction between these two modes of creation/production?

Edited June 20, 2023 by Tom R

[unclejace54]

I go with film if I need to refresh for me the ritual of photography, composing, adjusting, anticipating the results from the developing tank and viewing negatives through a loop and/or making contact prints (which I now do digitally. Does that make me a heretic? 🤣).  Sometimes I want to make images with natural grain. I don't know if it's nostalgia or if I like the effect. Think it's the latter. Lastly, I have film cameras that are just fun to use and they create their own unique images.

[spydrxx]

For me film for B&W fun mostly, as I have a number of film bodies from Leica and others. For serious color shooting I always use digital these days, having migrated about 5-7 years ago. When easy access to color film processing literally disappeared where I live, the handwriting was on the wall. Dwaynes did a fine job, but the cost became prohibitive for me, and the turnaround time was unacceptable as well - so digital prevailed.

[LocalHero1953]

3 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Only bother with film if it is second nature and if you have an inner reason to do so.
If you can't do it on film simply do not push yourself. Digital is perfectly good enough for everything (as is film).
It is perceived here on the web that if one shoots digital only he/she is somewhat an inferior artist, an underdog.
It is not so.

Agreed. No point in doing it if you can't think of a reason and you don't enjoy it.

I can carry a Q2 and a film camera easily in one shoulder bag, but still it is rare that I actually want to use both when I'm out. I also spent more of my life with film than with digital, but only returned to film in the last couple of years. Much of that time I have been (re)learning technique (including developing and scanning) and what subjects work best for film. I have now, more or less, got through that stage and looking for spare time and opportunities.

[pegelli]

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If there's no specific project in mind that dictates a certain type of equipment I just take out what I think I'll enjoy using that day, can be film (mainly B&W) or digital (mono or colour) and the answer is different based on how I feel.

[hansvons]

I'm mostly doing journalist/editorial work and sometimes social media campaigning, which means portraiture. I don't consider myself an artist, nor do I exhibitions. Over a year ago, I contemplated buying a Q2 mono because I wanted a smaller B&W camera accompanying my SL2-S. After all, B&W was always part of my work. Before shelling out the money for the Q2M, I gave my old R6 a CLA, loaded it with Delta 400 and took it to my shoots. Initially, I shot the same subject on digital and B&W films because I felt insecure, and it wasn't clear yet where the train was heading. But quickly, I learned that a proper B/W image shot on film is more credible and tangible than digitally acquired images. On that journey, I relearned to develop B&W and later immersed myself in colour dev with rem jet removal. 

Now I own a pair of film Ms (an M4P and an M6), and my Sl2-S mostly digitises film negatives or joins me when I need the convenience and sensitivity of digital, which is about 15% of the time. Why did I take that route? People appreciate my film images much more than my digital stuff; that's not only true for B&W but also colour. One reason is that I work more focused when shooting on film, which greatly influences my work. Secondly, I have a background as a cameraman, shooting for over a decade on 35mm. Using my old film stock now for stills isn't only a thing of nostalgia (it somewhat is, for sure) but also a natural development of what I had to stop because video killed the radio star in 2009. 

3 hours ago, dennersten said:

I need to produce a lot for my December exhibition. 

This is an exciting task. Leaving the comfort zone often helps the outcome.

 

3 hours ago, dennersten said:

I have this beautiful new Leica MP.

I hate to cull good images because the focus is off. My Ms are brilliant focus machines. Soft film images are a thing of the past. There's no better 35mm camera than the M. Period. 

[Ouroboros]

3 hours ago, dennersten said:

I have this beautiful new Leica MP. But it's collecting dust so far. I have a M11 and M9. I need to produce a lot for my December exhibition. 

I enjoy it immensely every time I go out with MP. 

But before going out in the. I have this discussion: "Think if I need 5000 ASA"? "What do I do if I need the EV for a shot"? Etc.

The most apparent solution is to buy a giant photo bag to bring both, which I am possibly doing.

It would be interesting to hear your rationale for when to bring the analogue versus digital camera.   

I took a look at your Flickr link.  From what I see there I don't know why you think you might need iso 5000 or why using film might be the wrong choice or why you would need an evf for the photography that interests you

This is mainly a confidence issue for you, you're used to using digital cameras with the instant confirmation of having made an image.  Unless you step out of your digital safety net, your MP will continue to gather dust and will ultimately become a pointless purchase.

My advice is forget taking both digital and film cameras out with you, it will only lead to confusion and further erode your confidence so, make a decision to take only one camera  

Let your digital camera gather some dust for a while and use the time to get to know your MP. 

Edited June 20, 2023 by Ouroboros

[hansvons]

 

5 hours ago, dennersten said:

I need to produce a lot for my December exhibition. 

Perhaps for inspiration, an NYT article of today. Mrs Steiner used Leica Film M cameras (so did many others, of course). https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/18/arts/lisl-steiner-dead.html

[Mikep996]

If I am specifically planning to create black and white images, I go out with a film camera.  Otherwise, digital.

Edited June 20, 2023 by Mikep996

[Topsy]

I have an ongoing project that I am commited to using film but Medium Format not 35mm. I have 3 film M bodies that I never use as I prefer my M9s, reading this thread has made me decide to sell 2 of my film Ms my MP and my M4-P I will keep my M2 because I can't hand on heart say it works correctly the slow shutter speeds (1 sec) sound wrong (I will do some experimenting).

Most of my photography is done digitally with Fuji GFX 50S and X-T2s, my project work is done with Bronica SQ-Ais and Portra so in answer to the original question I take out analogue when I am shooting for my Project (but always take a digital along for the ride) and whenever else I take digital.

IMHO full frame digital is now better than 35mm in terms of image quality, the convenience of digital has, for me, killed 35mm film photography sadly.

I will as I said keep the M2 and use my remaining film stock up slowly but I can't see myself buying any more 35mm film. Medium Format however I will likely stay with even when I am not on my project.

Sorry for the ramble but as I said the original question made me think hard about my analogue photography.

[Sailronin]

When I purchased my M8, I alway carried the M6 as well in case the M8 failed (being a new technology at the time). I traded the M8 for an M9 and still carried an analog M for the same reason. Over the years I just grew accustomed to having a digital and analog M in the bag at the same time and continued that habit until I parted with my last digital M. Now I carry the an MP for just wandering around street shooting and when I "go out" for photography with the car it's usually a medium format digital and the MP, often with a Sinar 8x10 in the trunk "just in case".

My name is Dave, and I'm an (camera) addict.

[madNbad]

The only cameras I regularly use are film bodies. The digital stays on the stand for scanning.

[logan2z]

The choice is easy for me as I don't own a digital camera.  I shoot 100% B&W film using my M-A, M2 and M4 - and sometimes my Nikon F.  For medium format I shoot a Hasselblad 500 C/M.  If I shot professionally or did a lot of personal work in color then I would almost certainly choose digital.  But I much prefer film and the analog workflow to digital. 

I may purchase a digital camera to camera 'scan' my negatives for making 'zines/books since I'm not happy with the results from my Epson flatbed.  But, as @madNbad said, it would likely be permanently affixed to a copy stand.

[jakontil]

I always carry both, M digital and film and sometimes my hasselblad 503cw, my camera bag is huge but not always filled up

when traveling i tend to shoot films and digital acting as my backup and used mostly for scanning my films 

[Smudgerer]

For me my camera choice "rules" are:.........Black and white-shoot film. Colour-shoot digital

But hold on .............I've a Q2M that I do like, so that throws that rule out of the window.

[250swb]

It's usually not a choice, by default I'll take a film camera, often medium format, sometimes large format. If I choose from the outset to take a digital camera it's because I anticipate a 'social' occasion with friends, family, or dogs where I'm limited in doing my own thing. If I'm out with my film camera I don't take a digital backup, if I'm out with a digital I'll often take a film P&S or a Holga 'just in case'.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[intangiblethings]

Generally speaking, this is how I break it down: 

DIGITAL
M10M - Going out at night or shooting indoors 
GRIII - Always on me, to capture moments, and when it's pair with my M10M, it's my color option 
M10-P - Shooting family photos that need color (it gets minimal use these days)

FILM
MP - When there's good light and during the day (only B&W)
M6/CLE - Traveling and shooting color

[Eclectic Man]

If you shoot colour, then one great advantage of digital over film is that it is much better at recording artificial greens.  I had some holiday photos where the green tents were rendered blue on the photos.  Really quite strange when I first looked at the images.

Even for Black and White digital is very good.  Check out Carsten Egevang's books of b&w images of Greenland 'Unseen', some of which I believe were taken with a Q2M.