BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Photography Digital vs. FIlm!!

I love photography - I took it throughout high school and college and it remains a serious hobby of mine...

Was wondering what everyone out there thinks of the digital vs. film debate...I have a film SLR and i love it and wouldn't trade it for the world, however i'm thinking of getting a pocket-sized digital for point & shoot purposes.

What do you think out there?

Well, I'm also devoted to film cameras...I had a huge Nikon film SLR with one of those huge zoom lenses. Took gorgeous photos. But I'm living here in Europe for a few years, and that thing got so cumbersome to carry around, not to mention the neck pain it caused, even with a padded strap on it.

I decided to get a small digital for a trip to Istanbul. I figured I was already conspicuous enough there without the huge camera slung around my neck. And you know what? I was amazed at the photographs. I took some of the best photos of my life there. And there was no waiting and wondering how the pictures were going to turn out. I also carry a mini tripod. It's so much easier to take that on my travels now.

I still have the SLR film camera. But I haven't used it in about a year. I'm going to use it for experimenting with black and white film.

(By the way, I got a Kodak EasyShare CX7530...not one of the better cameras out there, but it has 5.0 mp and I've been pleased with it. I just recently went to Venice for Carnival and took some incredible shots there of the costumes. Having PhotoShop helps too, to doctor up anything that you think looks bad).

Thanks for the reply, Karyn...

Appreciate other photographers and their useful advice! I know I have to get a digital camera - I want one that isn't too expensive but that will take great pictures, like you said...I just don't want to end up using only that and abandoning my film SLR...There's something about developing and printing your own pictures (I'd like to find a darkroom around where I live that I can access to do some of this again - it's been a while!).

I know this is terrible, but something about me feels like I'll be "cheating" by using a digital point & click...

I recently went to a crafts fair and was disappointed by the number of photographers displaying digital work...I am afraid that one day no one will even remember using film!! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well I know, according to Discovery Channel, that if you catch the Loch Ness Monster, or Bigfoot on camera they prefer film over digital...LOL

I have both, and there are some things I can do with my Minolta SLR (like use my Cokin filters) that I can't with my digital Sony.

I like that the digital allows me more control over what I can do with each photograph, such as printing and manipulation (without having to scan each one). I've had great success with my [censored] Digicam, taking pictures that were used on album covers.

The Sony is also easier to tote around, as it fits right in my pocket, and takes high-rez pictures. I can see through the LCD screen which pictures are worth keeping and those to delete. So it's an instant-gratification thing, always in vogue <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

~ Michelle.

Instant gratification - my only reason for wanting to get a digital camera (and also for the convenience of easily toting it around in my pocket).

These days, though I love photography, sometimes I find it easier to relinquish photo duties to friends...They take their cameras out on the town, and a couple of days later I get e-mails from photo sites telling me my friends have posted their pics...I pick the ones I can't live without and purchase them online...I'm getting lazy!!!!!

I have a Nikon film SLR too. My father in law gave it to me when he upgraded about 5 years ago. I love it. I have used it so much that I have to tape it together in a few places. I really want a new film camera, but they all feel like toy cameras because mine is so heavy. I have a digital for Ebay, but I don't like it as much. My family thinks I am crazy because I don't want to give up my film camera. The only way I will part with it is if I get another hand me down that is better.

So glad others can share my anxieties about digital vs. film!!

I used to have a really old Minolta SLR (my dad's!) that I used throught high school and college classes - I loved it but the light meter broke and so did some other helpful tools! I got a new Canon Rebel FILM SLR a few years ago for college graduation and I love it!!

I still have my Minolta and a few other really old cameras (including an old-school polaroid) displayed on a shelf in my room to show off my favorite hobby!! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have loved my film SLR's from day one, and I'll never get rid of them. But digital offers me an opportunity to sharpen my teeth so I can really dig in. With the instant preview I know if I got the shot. And if I didn't, I know right then and there what went wrong. Correcting mistakes as I make them has allowed me to have a better understanding of photography. Knowing how to take good pictures gives me confidence, and inspires me to keep shooting, regardless if it's film or digital.

Yet another great advantage of digital cameras - in addition to instant gratification, you have an instant learning experience as well.

Do you have a digital SLR or a digital point & click? I don't think I'm ready to spend the money quite yet to get a digital SLR - they are really pricey and for the time being, if I'm going to be paying attention to aperture, etc. I'd rather be doing so with my film camera.

Can anyone shed insight into some good point & click digital cameras?