June: That Was the Leica Film Only Month that Was

<p>Okay, here goes...</p>

<p>I tried an experiment in June of this year by putting away my M8 and using only film. I also invited all interested to join me. I'd like to hear from those who did join in. But first, my tale.</p>

<p>Even before I got started with this project my thread on the matter got some outside publicity (http://mostlyblackandwhite.wordpress.com/category/leica/) which meant I couldn't back out.</p>

<p>I used only Leica M camera and the M mount Zeiss Ikon. I had planned to use my Nikon S and Contax cameras but did not have time. <br /><br /></p>

<p>I'll pass over the obvious advantages of digital imaging over film. Notwithstanding film's disadvantages, I had a great time. I'll try to explain why.</p>

<p>There were a few immediate pleasures when I switched to film. Shooting full frame I felt as if I got my lenses back (to steal a line from someone else). I did not have to deal with scratching or getting dust on the delicate sensor. I did not have to recharge batteries every night. I did not have the camera suddenly quitting on me. I did not have to deal with noise, just film grain. And I appreciated negative film's exposure latitude.</p>

<p>Then, for some reason, I felt more comfortable doing candid street photography with film than I did with my digital M8. I don't know why.</p>

<p>At first, mindful of the expenses connected to film, I was parsimonious in my shooting. When I saw I was not taking chances--holding back unless I sensed a perfect shot--I let go of my inner Scrooge and began shooting the way I shot before I had digital cameras. That's when I started to have fun, get meaningful shots and felt old street shooting instincts come back into place. Result was that I wasted few frames.</p>

<p>I scanned everything with with my Konica-Minolta dedicated scanner. Scanning can take either a fairly short time or a long time, depending on how large you want your scan to be. How you deal with the time involved with scanning is similar to how you deal with time in the traditional darkroom. You have to enjoy it. (Eugene Smith once said something about having a whiskey with his darkroom work.) Importantly, a dedicated scanner can yield results that I can call sexy.</p>

<p>I even shot my scholarly organization's little conference in Kobe entirely with film. My wife thought I was nuts. The results were very good. Not sexy, but good.</p>

<p>I discovered Kodak Professional BW400CN film. It is color-based so I could have to processed at the local photo store and I can use ICE when I scan.</p>

<p>I also fell in love all over again with my Summicron 28/2 Asph. I used it as a 35mm substitute on the M8. I found that I really liked it full frame for the first time in a long time.</p>

<p>I mentioned that I put away my M8. I left my RD-1s at school in case something work-related came up. It did once, and that was the only time I broke my film-only rule. <br /> Shooting for myself, I was surprised that I did not miss digital photography. I had pictured myself going through some sort of digital withdrawal fits, but it did not happen.</p>

<p>These are very quick reflections written on a hot Sunday morning. Let me hear from other people. If anything else pops into my head I'll write it down.</p>

<p>Oh yes, I did some of my best work in month in June. Maybe good luck.</p>

<p>Below is a shot of a lady from the New Renaissance Party as she is campaigning on Motomachi, Kobe.</p>

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<p>What a wild and wacky idea! </p>

<p>Alex, I think it is ironic that, before there was digital photography, those who used 35mm cameras such as Leica Ms, etc., would shoot many more frames of film than say, someone who shot medium or large format. Those who shot the larger film say that using it 'slowed them down' and 'made them think' more, which I believe is very true. Now, someone with a digital camera can shoot hundreds of pictures without reloading, and not worry about the expense of film, which is also good. The irony is that now, for me, shooting with my M2 or M3 and Tri X as I always have, I am now very conscious of the film in the camera and I find myself 'slowing down' and 'thinking more' before I press the shutter, as if I am using my Rolleiflex. In other words, I am approaching the use of the Leica film camera much as if it were a larger format. I think I have fewer wasted shots. If I won the lottery tomorrow I might change my thinking. But I think slowing down and thinking has been healthy even in the small format.</p>

Nice clean shot there Alex, nice light.

<p>Really interesting Alex. My only rangefinder is the Yashica Electro GT, but I shoot film exclusively. I'm still thrilled with the journey I'm taking with my film equipment, primarily SLR's, and they all seem so straightforward and elegant compared to my friends' digital cameras. To me it's about patience and waiting for that special image, and I don't often shoot a lot of frames, so I don't see where owning a digital camera would confer any meaningful advantage at all for me. I work part-time as a freelancer for a local paper, and my scanned images reproduce at least as well as those from digital cameras.</p>

<p>I hope to someday purchase a Leica and would love to hear more. I'd also like to hear your thoughts about Kodak BW400CN.</p>

<p>I think that the real advantage of film comes out if you shoot something like Tri X and develop yourself. BW400CN looks like a poor man's digital substitute. XP2 is much better, but nothing matches silver film.</p>

<p>Yeah...nice and clean shot:) How much is film (triX for ex) and development in Japan if you don't mind me asking, Alex?</p>

<p>I've done that same experiment every month of every year since 1990 when I bought my M6.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone. Thanks for the nice clean shot complement Ray and Leslie :-). Development in Japan is around 500 yen. Don't price of Tri-X as I don't use it. My Kodak BW is around 460 a roll. I buy Fuji Color 800 for about 3400 in a box of five rolls. Gone way up in last few years.</p>

<p>For personal shooting, my digital use has gone way down since I started shooting Kodak's BW400CN for b&w. It's smooth and sharp, but fairly contrasty...I shoot outdoor daylight at 200ISO. In fact, Kodak's datasheet says you can shoot from 200 to 800ISO on the fly, without changes in processing (just dial the new ISO in, just like digital).</p><div></div>

<p>Data on that picture above: Leica M6 classic, Zeiss Biogon 35/2, Kodak BW400CN.</p>

<p>More examples (same setup):<br>