I tried digital & I'm back!

<p>True James...but it won't look like film.</p>

<p>Wow only 6 pages until it happened... it was knocking on the dooe for a few other pages.... Oh well</p>

<p> I have a large collection of negatives and positives. I want to keep adding to it as I enjoy it. However I do think that a DSLR point and shoot camera is handy. I have a D200 and that thing is a snapping fool. I think photography is just kind of fun whatever way you go about it. </p>

<p>I have yet to get a Nikon Coolscan, have a Epson now. <br>

With a flatbed even a 6MP provides better technical images but I prefer slides, they have the wow factor, and cos I do scapes, I can take my time, shoot less etc etc .. and be happy. No PS'ing, no cropping, no rotating. Plan to pick up a cheap projector and lightbox used.</p>

<p>I don't dispute the finds that digital is better than even dedicated scanners in technicalities, but all I print i s 11x15 perhaps for club work and I am a amateur.</p>

<p>The winds of change have blown and we now have atom bombs in the hands of those who will never know their wower. oops Power Thing is all the MP in the world will never make up for learning photography from the beginning to the end. I am glad i stayed with processing my own film as I am not perfect nor have I made the Million $ shot but it makes me happy and well Knowing all the details of why I am happy makes me the happiest guy around with a camera.</p>

<p>Its funny. I am the same way. The very thing that makes digital so appealing to some (its immediacy) takes all of the fun out of it for me. Picking up film (for those of use who don't do all of our own developing) is like a little bit of Christmas with every roll-and who'd want to take that away?</p>

<p>Welcome back, Steve! Paris on film, how cool is that? --Sally</p>

 

<p>Thank you all for the very interesting discussion. I wish there was a site for film fans, like the tousands they have for digital... I tryed to find some good discussion about this subject, but all I saw had more then 5, 6, 7 or even 10 years old, that's why I'm so happy to read this (few) 6 pages in this post. I also have a similar question (and maybe hundreds like me and Stephen). I shoot film for more then 30 years, and about 10 years ago moved to digital. And now, i'm thinking going back to film, since i'm not pleased with the results. Since i sold all my gear (film and digital), i don't know what to buy, since things changed since i left film. I was thinking about F80, F100 or F5 by Nikon - last one I had was a F70 (sorry, but cant afford a F6, and even these last two, might be too bulky and heavy). And then some good lenses (we can use the new VR lenses in a film camera?). I read recently that film sellings raised a lot this summer (good news indeed). Are there any news about films? I mean, wish are the best choices? Thank you all again.</p>

<p>Hi Nuno, glad to hear that you are looking to enjoy film photography again. Actually there are a few dedicated film sites out there. They probably just don't get as much press as the digital ones. If you google a bit then you will find them. A good forum to start with is:</p>

<p>APUG: http://www.apug.org/forums/home.php</p>

<p>As it looks like you are a Nikon person then two sites which have high respect among most other Nikon shooters are:</p>

<p>http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm (Good for film and digital body reviews as well as lenses)<br>

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html#top1 (Probably one of the best Nikon Lens review sites)</p>

<p>An F6 is a very nice camera if it is in your budget but if not then an F4 or F5 are great Pro Bodies too. I used to use an F80 and it's great value for money for the features and flexibility it offers. Check KEH (www.keh.com) for a guide on second hand prices.</p>

<p>Regards, Rick</p>

<p>Thanks Rick, that was very helpfull and refreshing! I'll be reading those to learn something more about the state of art in film photography. By the way, you didn't mention the F 100, waht do you think about it? Thanks again. NS</p>

<p>Well I love my F100 it is a great camera and I got mine for under $200.00 it is most likely used more now than by the previous owner.</p>

<p>Yes, you're right. The F100 is also considered a great camera. Here's Thom's review in which it comes out with full marks: http://www.bythom.com/F100.htm<br>

Rick</p>

<p>Nuno,<br>

Get away from microchip technology and layers of menus...even in film.<br>

Get an FM2n or FE2 and have a jewel that will retain its value. Add some inexpensive AIS primes and you are in business.<br>

I also have an F4s from my news days which I love. Any of these will cost you only $300 for a good one.</p>

<p>Thanks Rick (Thom's Review is just perfect) and Stephen, I didn't knew those Nikon models, they just seem like my first film camera the Minolta X300 with an alloy chassis! Had great pictures with that one, and very good GT lenses. I was very impressed with the F4s. Too bad it cant work with VR lenses. I'll try to find one here.</p>

<p>I'm not a Nikon Guy (Pentax, Bronica, Olympus and a smattering of cheap Rangefinders) I've been moving back to film over the last 2 years for various reasons. It started by being tempted into MF because the prices had dropped so far It made it an affordable hobby camera<br>

Now I'm back with 35mm because I fell in love with rangefinders and the simplicity<br>

of course then I had to go get some old SLR Bodies to complement that<br>

I still use digital where I need it for quick turnaround (ie concerts and other functions where i need to submit quickly) but for me shooting Film, particularly in B/W there is a magic i don't get from digital - and the next show I'm shooting Is Glen Matlock (The real Sex Pistols Bass Player) and that I will shoot on Tri-X just like when I was 16 in 76 and I shot all the early bands. I will shoot some digital at the show nonetheless for the fast turnaround<br>

Digital I hate the PP work but am getting better at it<br>

Film I love the darkroom but hate Scanning (so I rarely do)<br>

Welcome back to Film</p>

<p>Hi Eddie! Thanks, this Forum isn't dead yet! (:-)) I just received yesterday my new (old) F 100! Started to shoot film again. What can i say? I just rediscovered the pleasure of Photography, instead of doing simple digitography! By the way, what are the best film in market these days (color and B&W)? By what i've read before, Kodak Gold and Fuji Superia are to avoid?</p>

<p>Who told you that? Gold 100 and 200 are great films Are you processing your own B&W yet as I won't even venture into B&W until you are. If you want B&W from your camera get some Kodak CN C-41 film.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot Larry. I'll try the CN C-41, since i cant process it yet. Bought an Ilford 50 this afternoon, but i'll keep it for a rainy day then :-)</p>

<p>I shoot Kodak Gold and Fuji Superia all the time. The pro-grade films do have a bit of an edge (but you need to keep them refrigerated!) but there's no reason to avoid Gold or Superia.</p>