Anyone "gone film?" Let's hear your story.

[MPJMP]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

We always hear about people "going digital," meaning that they have more or less abandoned thier 35mm film cameras and have switched over to exclusively digital capture.

 

But has anyone here done the opposite? Sold off an entire digital rig and gone back to primarily 35mm film (perhaps using a hybrid system of film + scanning with digital post-processing)?

 

In my case, I've been a Leica M user since 2003. Started off with an M6TTL and traded it a year later for my MP. Photography for me is a hobby. I'm not a pro.

 

In 2006, I added a Nikon D200 system with 18-200mm zoom lens and SB800 flash. The idea was that the Nikon woud become my primary photographic tool and the Leica would just fill a specialty niche. In the end, though, the D200's images just seemed sort of "blah" with a certain flatness to them. In six months I had taken hundreds of boring, uninteresting photos, most of which were ultimately deleted. By comparison, every roll of film I've ever shot through my MP has had at least a few real "keepers" and occassionally some very special shots, indeed. Now, I know a lot of people use these DSLRs to great effect. Most of National Geographic is probably composed of images from Canon and Nikon DSLRs. So obviously a lot of pros are making them work for them in a major way. But in the end, I was somehow left unsatisfied with the end result. I eventually sold off all the Nikon gear and bought another lens for my MP. My digital camera now is a pocket point-and-shoot that I use for casual snapshots or for when a don't want a camera hanging around my neck.

 

I'm not saying I won't ever give up 35mm. In fact, I keep looking for a digital SLR that is as satisfying as my MP. They don't make it yet.

 

And if the M8 didn't cost US$4000 used, crop the field of view on all of my lenses, and require IR filters to ensure my blacks stay black, I would consider getting one of those.

 

Has anyone else here traveled the same path as me? I figured if I was ever to find anyone in the same boat it would be here on the "Film Forum."

[Advertisement]

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

[O Driver]

100% agree, rekindled my photographic desires 3 years ago with an M7, then M8, also bought a D200 and sold the M7 but wow did I miss it, thought I'd get over it, and bought a D300, but no way, just bought a M7 again, ahhhh it feels good, back to photography.

 

To be fair the M8 if fabulous, no problems and wonderful, but still film beats digital for me.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Riccis]

I did it for all my professional work... Sold all my digital bodies (M8) and went back to film (M7). More on this thread (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/65958-who-still-shoot-films-professionally.html)

 

Cheers,

[Frank Sprow]

I've been using both my M8 and M7 for the last two years and find the proportion of use is about 2/3 M8 and 1/3 M7. The M7 is the clear preference for B&W and invaluable for quiet use (though the new M8.2 shutter surely sounds nice).

[JBA]

I didn't sell off an entire digital rig, but instead nixed the entire idea of digital in favor of film.

 

About a year ago, I wanted to get a compact digital and opted for the C-Lux 2. Wanting more control and versatility, I looked into getting a Nikon D200, which would have made sense given that I still have my old F2 kit with several great lenses. Ultimately, I hated the autofocus and all the fiddly little buttons, and so did about a month of due diligence for the purchase of my M6. I got a 35 Summicron asph and began shooting. It didn't take me long to realize the D200 never even could have come close.

 

Since then, I've acquired a 90 AA Summicron, 50 Summicron and pre-asph 'Lux, an MP and an SL2 kit consisting of 6 lenses. Also brought my F2 out of mothballs. Pretty well committed to film and couldn't be happier!

[MPJMP]

I did it for all my professional work... Sold all my digital bodies (M8) and went back to film (M7). More on this thread (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/65958-who-still-shoot-films-professionally.html)

 

Cheers,

 

Riccis,

Quite impressive (both your work and your decision to go with film). I never would have thought a working pro would prefer film. Is it mainly the simplified workflow that you prefer, or do you like the look better (or both)?

[MPJMP]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Ultimately, I hated the autofocus and all the fiddly little buttons...

 

Looking back at my old D200 pics, when enlarged to 100% they are not very sharp. My scanned MP shots are often much more clear and precisely focussed. I suspect auto focus is not as accurate as manual rangefinder focus.

 

But I suppose that's not so much an argument of "film vs. digital" as much as it is "autofocus SLR vs. manual focus rangefinder."

[Riccis]

Riccis,

Quite impressive (both your work and your decision to go with film). I never would have thought a working pro would prefer film. Is it mainly the simplified workflow that you prefer, or do you like the look better (or both)?

 

Thanks, man... My decision was based on both look and workflow...

 

Cheers,

[sinwen]

, ....And if the M8 didn't cost US$4000 used, crop the field of view on all of my lenses, and require IR filters to ensure my blacks stay black, I would consider getting one of those.

 

Has anyone else here traveled the same path as me? I figured if I was ever to find anyone in the same boat it would be here on the "Film Forum."

 

I followed another path. Up to now I am still with film because I didn't find any objective reason to switch to digital, IQ and prices weren't just fitting the bill. Needless to mention the M8....and Leica in general see here :

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/64771-leica-angry-customer.html

 

Today I think things have changed and digital is mature enough to be considered seriously. The bunch of new cameras we see on the market or ready to be launched are very challenging, sadly Leica isn't in the game.

So I am selling some of my equipment to enter digital.

[Photoskeptic]

I pulled out my M8 for the first time in four months yesterday. I shot film all summer. I am drawn more to film than ever before and purchased a Fotoman 69 this month to expand those capabilities.

[andym911]

my M8 is my least used camera..I shoot more film than ever simply because I enjoy it more and prefer the prints I get from a hybrid workflow (scanning and epson B&W).

I shoot CL/IIf normally with older lenses and am happy.

Every now and then I take another run at the M8, but whilst the images are fine, the fun factor and "feeling" isn't.

 

Just me and am not criticizing the M8 or any other digital device.Film is special and thanks to Digital I think many of us can appreciate it's qualities even more than before.

 

Andy

[JBA]

Looking back at my old D200 pics, when enlarged to 100% they are not very sharp. My scanned MP shots are often much more clear and precisely focussed. I suspect auto focus is not as accurate as manual rangefinder focus.

 

But I suppose that's not so much an argument of "film vs. digital" as much as it is "autofocus SLR vs. manual focus rangefinder."

 

A friend and I traded cameras for an afternoon. He took out my M6 and 35 'Cron and I took out his Nikon autofocus SLR. The convenience was nice and so was the zoom, but the autofocus clearly failed on a number of occasions when timing was critical. It simply failed to function at all. I also did not find the experience of shooting with a DSLR particularly gratifying compared with the Leica.

 

Anyway, his roll of film ended up having one or two decent shots, while I got about a dozen passable pics with the digital. Later, when I mentioned depth of field, he confessed that he had no idea what that meant. Clearly not rangefinder material.

 

When I complain about the poor performance of autofocus, people almost always remind me that it's possible to focus AF lenses manually, at which time I invite them to turn the focusing ring on one of my M lenses and then ask them if the ergonomics are anywhere close. They always concede that point.

 

As for optical quality, I have yet to see anything that matches M lenses.

[enboe]

I have the blessing of owning both film and digital equipment. That being said, the film equipment gets exercised regularly as I find I learn more from it. Having three or four rolls to last the day forces me to slow down and wait for the right moment. I also spend more time getting my composition correct. These lessons serve me well every time I pull out the digital setup.

 

One other thought. One film setup I use is worth 1/10th of what the digital setup is worth. It is somewhat liberating not to worry so much about accidental damage or theft. Reminds me of some wise words of a friend long since passed, "you own the (fill in the blank), it doesn't own you."

 

Enjoy the hobby.

[mooky]

I've 'invested' only in 7 to 10 MgP point and shoots and they have a place - but I couldn't see investing all the money into a high-end digital.

 

I'm still primarily a film shooter - certainly for my 'serious stuff'. Years ago, I worked in the College Photo Production Department and this was pre-digital. It was really cool, I mean, developing 8x10 inch B&W negs with custom, exotic chemistry. It was so hands-on. Then I took the obligatory Photo Shop courses and while interesting, I was pretty bored with it all. I felt, and still do, that once it's inside the computer, I'm just pushing buttons and keys.

 

Film still gives me that 'part of the image' feeling. I still love the look of film. Though I am amazed at what a small sensor, point and shoot can do, I still like my Leica C3 for casual stuff, I have it processed and put to disk - there, it's done - I have both the negative and a 'disked' images that I won't doctor. Just what I saw, just the way I wanted it to be. If and when, I can shoot with a digital that looks like film with no post image processing then maybe, I'll start to see it differently.

 

So, until then, I'll enjoy my recently acquired, Chrome SL with a very sharp second generation, 35 Elmarit. Oh yeh, living large in camera-land.

[blatent liar]

Late to the game. I have Owned the M8 since the dawning age, which I thought would replace my M Film. Struggling through firmware issues, lock-up issues, and other OS Idiosyscracies, forced my hand to buy back my M Film. whilst the M8 got repaired. This spring I re-bought an M7 used, and have shot this almost exclusively with pleasure. I know this sounds odd, but the feel is much better, and the ergonomics along with the grip material lend a better work-flow. I now prefer it to my M8, mostly for the sound it makes, and the Black and White images it takes. I have one solitary issue; and that is remembering to remove the infernal e39 IR/UV filter before putting the 28 asph. back on my M7.

 

Last night I shot a Gallery opening and the guests were drawn to the M7 hanging from my wrist, rather than the art hanging on the walls. This made for better more willful candids.

 

I think the M8 may have gotten me there as well, but noone knew when I fired the shutter on the M7.

[andym911]

so here a film shot from today, Liam on a bench.

 

IIf, Elmar 3,5/50 and Neopan 400

 

Film rocks:D

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[MPJMP]

Thanks everyone for your posts. I think I need to hear these sorts of stories to reassure myself that I'm not crazy for still prefering my film camera over the digital ones I've tried. This can be kind of a support group, I suppose.

 

Case in point: I had a panic moment today when I was buying a roll of color slide film at a local camera shop (the only one in town that still stocks properly refridgerated professional grade film of various formats). The sales clerk and I were talking about the sales of film and he thought that it would not be readily available in 2-5 years outside of a few boutique online dealers, and that there would only be a few processing labs nationwide. I immediately started thinking of ways to scrape together enough cash for a used M8 or <gasp!> another Nikon DSLR. Then I came back here, read that I'm not alone in loving my 35mm Leica and the images it produces, and all is once again well with the world.

[MPJMP]

Today I think things have changed and digital is mature enough to be considered seriously. The bunch of new cameras we see on the market or ready to be launched are very challenging, sadly Leica isn't in the game.

So I am selling some of my equipment to enter digital.

 

So do I understand correctly that you are going to sell some (all?) of your film Leica gear to get into a digital system? What are you switching to, or do you know yet?

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[NB23]

I hate digital. It never occurs to me to even shoot in digital (except weddings). No matter what I do, I see in film-ways. Digital is just crap. (I still own a M8 and I love it, but I just don't take it out and my vision is just not the same as opposed to when I hold my M4P or M7).

[thomasw_]

I agree largely with Ned's sentiments. I strongly prefer the look of silver halide to digital rendering of the greyscale; the same with kodachrome colours. I don't have a M8 and my preference would be to obtain another MP or an a la carte M7 than a new M8.2. Yes, I have gone back to film like the prodigal image-capturer. I prefer the look that lenses give on film, particularly the non-asph lenses.