Why I Shoot Film in a Digital Age
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 พ.ย. 2023
- Here are 5 reasons that I think film is better than digital and why it can improve your photography.
Film photography offers a tactile experience full of life that the soulless digital cameras lack. I prefer to shoot film instead of digital because of this.
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Film takes a lot of thought, and it should! Every step and adjustment you make is manifested in each exposure. I've been shooting film since the mid-1970s; never stopped. But I did take up digital about 22 years ago. The event of digital has allowed me to practice composition in real time without the expense of buying more film. Then that allows me to preserve film photography as a very creative part of my hobby. For me the relationship between film and digital is very symbiotic. Thanks for sharing!
I have a K-5 DSLR that I hardly use anymore, but my analogue flock is quite satisfying to me: K1000, KM, KX, K2, MX, LX and 2 MEs. Love these machines to bits...
I have a full Nikon film system, which includes my first SLR and lens purchased in 1981, and several FE2s and other glass acquired much more recently. I definitely agree with you on how deliberate film shooting is these days. However, back when film was the only option, and digital was non-existent, I shot much more like I do digital now. I took more shots of the same subject, changing perspective and bracketing in an effort to capture the perfect image. As with many photographers, if I was very happy with three to five shots out of a roll of 36 exposures, that was typical. Nowadays with film, I am more deliberate, and this results in a higher hit rate, but there are several primary reasons for this. The first is being more deliberate, and one cause of this is the high cost of film today. The second is my experience gained over the years, which includes via the use of digital cameras. I would not refer to digital as "soulless", as it has resulted in many valuable images captured on the years - it is just another tool in my bag. Several years back, I was in Washington State on a quick trip to visit my wife's aunt. While there, we decided to take a few hours to see a local landmark. Not having planned to do any sightseeing, I did not bring my DSLR system, so was taking shots with my iPhone. That's when I overheard a young lady, who was holding an entry level DSLR, comment to her dad that shooting with a cellphone was beyond her - obviously referring to me. Although I had a mind to, I did not bother to correct her. As any photographer worth his salt knows, it is the person behind the lens, not the camera, that makes the shot.
From my humble perspective, I believe you are a photographer worth his salt. I just think as a content creator seeking a larger audience, it is better to avoid judgmental wording, or explain your choice of words if you truly believe that way.
To be honest, I mostly shoot because I enjoy the tonality that colour negative brings, but I still appreciate the resolution of digital, which is why I mostly shoot 6x7. For me the fun of shooting something well made and mechanical feeling is just secondary to the results.
I don't have a digital camera. Problem solved.
Wow what a high level production for someone with only 650 subs!! 100% deserves more.👍
I think the thing that separates film from digital is that shooting film makes you stop and think on every frame.
I agree.
With digital, you can always delete it and try again. But with film, it's a "PASS or FAIL" medium. As a result, you pay WAY more attention to what you're doing becasue there's no real fail-safe for mistakes.
It's wonderful how you demonstrate and obviously appreciate the old Spotmatic. This was my first SLR and I have been shooting with this equipment for about 20 years. But that was a long time ago and I can't imagine shooting analogue again, even though I love the feel and sound of mechanical cameras. I don't think I approach photography any differently with my digital camera. Looking for the right angle of view and framing - same! From time to time I take the old Pentax, look through the viewfinder, release the shutter, and all mechanics still work (>50 years old). Some times I adapt the old Pentax Takumar lens to my digital Canon camera.
I grew up with film cameras but than stopped for over two decades. Was using digital. Found myself snapping away and didn't like that I wasn't taking my time. I walk here snap I walk there okay that looks good snap little blown out or a bit to dark no problem I can edit that. Went back to film. Olympus om1. Boy my shots were horrible at first but after a while I was back at it, slowing down, observing a scene a bit longer, making sure my settings were just right. I get more pleasure with the film and the anticipation of waiting till the roll is done and you develop it is part of the excitement.
Glad to see you appreciate the tactile, total control aspects of classic manual cameras, and the personalities of various film stocks. Most who grow up with digital have no idea of the experience, such as how an image POPS into focus on a microscreen while manually focusing. I wish my digital cameras had the feel and operational characteristics of classics like the Nikon F, F2, Pentax Spotmatic, Leica M3, or Hasselblad 500c.
I agree! I love how each film stock has a unique “personality,” it makes the whole process so much more fun. I know that Fuji’s digital cameras have some of the physical dials if that’s what you’re looking for but I don’t think it’s possible to perfectly match the feel of a fully mechanical camera. Hopefully I’m wrong though because I would definitely shoot a digital camera that perfectly mimicked the feel of shooting an slr.
Happy shooting! 👍
So refreshing to see a young man achieve photographic enlightenment! ❤
I just watched this video, went down to subscribe and was stunned by how few subscribers you have. I expected like, 2 million not five hundred! The quality of everything in this video is phenomenal! And your narration is really relaxing. Seriously great job!
Great video! Couldn't agree more! Let's keep film alive :)
I appreciate you brother, took me a second to realize why I prefer film over digital. As I am still at the beginning of my photography journey haha. But it just feels completely different. It’s like driving a manual car over an automatic. I’ve always preferred manual things. It allows me to focus. So, thank you!
Great video Noah! Love the images. I agree with the points you made. I prefer my film camera more nowadays!
Great video clearly and creatively articulating the benefits of film!
Awesome!
I just shot a concert with digital and film. When I had my film camera in my hand I often didnt take the shot. Just waching everything unfold in front of me was so peaceful.
Awesome vid
Use a leaf shutter if you want quiet!
Great video
Yashica 35 GT and a 36 rolls of HP5+ is my perfect match for a sunday walk ! Have a nice day people and make beautiful photos 🤗
I like the film cameras. I picked up a Minolta srt 101 Wednesday. Time to load it and run a roll through. Digital has its place but film is what I grew up with, so I like to shoot the film cameras as often as I can. Minolta update....the mirror is locked up. I guess it on its way to the fix-it shop!
I’m with you, Noah! I’m a commercial photographer and shoot digital for my clients. I shoot film for me.
I love your channel. What's the name of that crossbody bag you use? Looking for something similar :)
Thanks!
I bought it to be able to have a camera and a lens or two without having to use a large backpack and it works well for that.
If you search Ulanzi crossbody bag on Amazon you should be able to find it.
Hope that helps! 👍
The pros you mention about checking more the composition, be more careful and getting more nicer photos aren't consequences of film per se but of it being quite expensive. I started with film in the digital era when a consumer roll was just less than three dollars, the same roll now is 15 dollars. That means that in the past you could take hundreds of photos with the same abandon as digital. I am sure if the cellphone camera would charge your credit card 1.20 dollars per each photo suddenly you would have many more keepers. I don't comment this antagonizing you, I use a Canon EOS 7 and a Fujifilm DL MiNi Super. I only think that much of what I like with my film photos is because of the economic pressure to not waste a frame.
I find that the more digital I shoot the more my photography skills deteriorate. I seem to get into spray and pray mode. So when I notice this I shoot a roll of film.. seems to get my head right.
Cool intro dude
Thanks for the video.
I shoot film and I shoot digital.
I have been shooting film since 1952.
I have been shooting digital since 2012.
I have a wet darkroom and a digital darkroom. I love them both.
I love the images I get from my film cameras and my digital cameras.
I prefer to shoot with battery independent manual/mechanical cameras and lenses.
Mechanic dials for most imporant settings is what makes me enjoy film photography more. With my canon new f-1 I shoot only in manual mode but with my digital canon it's pain in the ass to manually change settings and automatic modes don't look good most of the times. My experience with the digital is constant fighting with poor UX in menus, terrible ergonomics and photoshoping every image because it doesn't look good enough :/
I have been shooting film for nearly 50 years. Digital is not true photography, I consider it digitography because you are looking at arranged data. With photography you are seeing a specific moment in time which was formerly a latent image then brought out for viewing.
For shooting film in the experimentation issue is part of the reason I like digital. I scared of being in the situation of shooting a great photo that I really like the effects… then I am asking what were my settings. Speed of fil,m, shutter speed, etc.
Another question I have is suppose you have ISO 100 film in your camera and ISO 500 or faster would be better.
And then I just ran out of my last roll of film at that ISO.
I’m not saying one is inherently better than the other, those are my concerns.
I also do get to experiment with digitalal it’s just that the experimental process is different.
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music was loud in the beginning
There is NOTHING wrong with film. It was all there was when I took up photography. I still own several film cameras, and I sometimes manage to shoot, a couple of rolls a year.
The rest of the time, I shoot DIGITAL. That's my opinion.
I enjoyed your video!
what SP series is?
I believe it is the original SP, so just Spotmatic SP from 1964.
How come your video shots look like Red Dead Redemption 2 ? 🤔
Amo la fotografía analógica " pero hoy dia es un lujo como lo fue en sus principios.....no apta para jubilados pobres.tengo mi coleccion de camaras que hago funcionar en seco" de vez en cuando, y eso es todo.....😢😢😢😢
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Film is expensive, but I can afford it 🤑
Seriously: shooting film requires much more skills than using a modern digital camera or smartphone. So it's more the photographer who creates the picture, and not the fully automated camera.
Nice video !
But try to speak slower.
Did you get rid of your modern washing machine and buy a twin tub ?
Because you got money to siendo it
Because you're a hipster?
Let's keep film alive but what a load of crap reasons, I despair for photography after watching this video
Wonderful film!
Would you like to collaborate with us?
I appreciate the kind words and a collaboration sounds fun. What did you have in mind?
Can you reach out to me on Instagram?
instagram.com/noah_larson_photography/
If not I could give you my email instead.