Comments on: Film’s Comeback? http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/ Thoughts on Photography, Digital Imaging, and Travel Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Phil Foster http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/#comment-11103 Phil Foster Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:05:24 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/?p=51#comment-11103 Hello. I didn't so much go back to film from digital as progress from digital to film. I use both but what clinched it for me with film was that I wanted a full frame camera because I felt it better suited my photography, landscapes preferably, but I couldn't afford one after the outlay I made on my D300. Then I realised that film is indeed 'full format' and that potentially it could outstrip the quality and the resolution of five and a half grand DSLRs like the D3X once you have carried out your own manual analogue to digital conversion with a suitable scanner. I don't think film is dead, I don't think it is a novelty either. It simply has some advantages over digital, not obvious ones but once you recognise them you get the point of film. So I dragged my old F501 out of mothballs and based on the results I have now got an almost 'as new' F100 and a beautiful old FM2. The pair cost me about £175. I spend maybe £30 a month buying film and getting it developed and at that rate it'd take me maybe 14 years to pay for a D3X. It makes me consider my photography more carefully too. If I need to point and shoot I use digital but I am doing the photography I want to do I use film. Hello. I didn’t so much go back to film from digital as progress from digital to film. I use both but what clinched it for me with film was that I wanted a full frame camera because I felt it better suited my photography, landscapes preferably, but I couldn’t afford one after the outlay I made on my D300. Then I realised that film is indeed ‘full format’ and that potentially it could outstrip the quality and the resolution of five and a half grand DSLRs like the D3X once you have carried out your own manual analogue to digital conversion with a suitable scanner. I don’t think film is dead, I don’t think it is a novelty either. It simply has some advantages over digital, not obvious ones but once you recognise them you get the point of film.

So I dragged my old F501 out of mothballs and based on the results I have now got an almost ‘as new’ F100 and a beautiful old FM2. The pair cost me about £175. I spend maybe £30 a month buying film and getting it developed and at that rate it’d take me maybe 14 years to pay for a D3X. It makes me consider my photography more carefully too. If I need to point and shoot I use digital but I am doing the photography I want to do I use film.

]]> By: Jim Ewins http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/#comment-10492 Jim Ewins Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:32:57 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/?p=51#comment-10492 Those who say they miss film, miss film intentionally, because it is still there - among those who value it's unique properties. Sheet film is still manufactured in ultra large format sizes and ultra large format cameras as well. Those who say they miss film, miss film intentionally, because it is still there – among those who value it’s unique properties. Sheet film is still manufactured in ultra large format sizes and ultra large format cameras as well.

]]> By: Marco Patino http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/#comment-10377 Marco Patino Sat, 14 Mar 2009 01:50:39 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/?p=51#comment-10377 I recently asked a fellow photographer who's been shooting for some 40 years what he missed about film; it's been a few years since he's used it for his clients (Honda, Toyota, etc.) His answer: "Respect. I miss the respect it gave us as artists." I can see his point. I miss that part of it too; but I still use it for my personal work and will do so until I can't anymore. Sure the medium we mostly use now is based on ones and zeros but at least we can have access to both. At least technology can't take away (my) skills and knowledge of film. I recently asked a fellow photographer who’s been shooting for some 40 years what he missed about film; it’s been a few years since he’s used it for his clients (Honda, Toyota, etc.) His answer: “Respect. I miss the respect it gave us as artists.” I can see his point. I miss that part of it too; but I still use it for my personal work and will do so until I can’t anymore. Sure the medium we mostly use now is based on ones and zeros but at least we can have access to both. At least technology can’t take away (my) skills and knowledge of film.

]]> By: Toni Moore http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/#comment-10344 Toni Moore Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:37:14 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/?p=51#comment-10344 I love digital, I love the instant gratification and how there's absolutely no limits to what I can create with digital images. I work hard with digital making the experience and the pictures the best they can be. I want to keep my digital. Yet I would set the digital camera on the back burner in an instant if society were able to see film as an equal. Media has done it's magic on minds with how we are to view film as a "dinosaur to roll our eyes at." I realize that to stay in the future I should see it that way. Yet I would have a sigh of joy and relief to be able to once again take a picture with a film camera and be rightly appreciated for doing it! Appreciated for it's own kind of quality of photo it creates. I love digital, I love the instant gratification and how there’s absolutely no limits to what I can create with digital images. I work hard with digital making the experience and the pictures the best they can be. I want to keep my digital. Yet I would set the digital camera on the back burner in an instant if society were able to see film as an equal. Media has done it’s magic on minds with how we are to view film as a “dinosaur to roll our eyes at.” I realize that to stay in the future I should see it that way. Yet I would have a sigh of joy and relief to be able to once again take a picture with a film camera and be rightly appreciated for doing it! Appreciated for it’s own kind of quality of photo it creates.

]]> By: JimL http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/#comment-10340 JimL Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:25:05 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/?p=51#comment-10340 Tim, May I say one word: infrared. Tim,

May I say one word: infrared.

]]> By: Derek Kennedyq http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/#comment-10328 Derek Kennedyq Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:52:15 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/?p=51#comment-10328 I am not a professional photographer but I've been taking photos for about 35 years now. I pretty much went digital only about 6 years ago when I got my first digital camera. Last few weeks not only did I go BACK to film - shooting B&W, but I went a step further and started developing my own film. Film is not dead. At least not as far as I'm concerned. It just took a short nap. I am not a professional photographer but I’ve been taking photos for about 35 years now. I pretty much went digital only about 6 years ago when I got my first digital camera.

Last few weeks not only did I go BACK to film – shooting B&W, but I went a step further and started developing my own film.

Film is not dead. At least not as far as I’m concerned. It just took a short nap.

]]> By: Anita http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/#comment-10319 Anita Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:14:32 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/?p=51#comment-10319 Film is not a novelty, nor is it dead. It is now another (older) photographic medium available to the photographer. Like other older photographic processes, film has it's own unique qualities. Photographers will choose the medium/process that best reflects their photographic vision. Film is not a novelty, nor is it dead. It is now another (older) photographic medium available to the photographer. Like other older photographic processes, film has it’s own unique qualities. Photographers will choose the medium/process that best reflects their photographic vision.

]]> By: Duncan Hartley http://timgrey.com/blog/2008/films-comeback/#comment-10316 Duncan Hartley Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:32:37 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/?p=51#comment-10316 Tim, As a former professional reviewer of high-end audio equipment for High Performance Review (Palo Alto), I follow the trends in serious audio equipment closely. In 2006 and 2007, there were remarkable gains in the sale of turntables and tube audio components in the U.S. Since these components often cost thousands of dollars, I do not see this as a novelty. Also, the Japanese are avid users of film cameras, and there is an annual fair in Japan where used film cameras are sold in large numbers. I use film and digital cameras, and tube/turntable and solid-state audio equipment. It is wonderful to have these options. Duncan Tim, As a former professional reviewer of high-end audio equipment for High Performance Review (Palo Alto), I follow the trends in serious audio equipment closely. In 2006 and 2007, there were remarkable gains in the sale of turntables and tube audio components in the U.S. Since these components often cost thousands of dollars, I do not see this as a novelty. Also, the Japanese are avid users of film cameras, and there is an annual fair in Japan where used film cameras are sold in large numbers.

I use film and digital cameras, and tube/turntable and solid-state audio equipment. It is wonderful to have these options. Duncan

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