Digital has won, but Oh, Film!

Over several months, one camera a good bit longer, I ran half a dozen rolls of film through four Nikon cameras as a function test prior to getting back into doing more film. Cameras were F Photomic TN, F2, F3, and recently acquired F4. The films were XP 2 and one Tri X, the last long expired. The Tri X was in the Photomic, I have no idea for how long. I still have a Photomic FTN and an ELW to try next time.

Got the films back yesterday morning and did some fast & nasty scans last night - scanner the Canon Canoscan 9000F Mark 2.

All of the cameras worked fairly well, and I didn't make as many errors as expected due to time away from mostly manual cameras, and dependence on digital wonders.

What I was impressed by was the visible difference between the media. There are still (of course) things that film does particularly well. Since these were test rolls, mostly I was just walking around the property, or doing errands, or going somewhere with a film camera in addition to digital -- no particularly important subject matter. I was impressed by the XP 2, and will get some more when I run out. My collection of expired films will be reserved for early processing experiments, if that.

Though I scanned these straight out of the package, some junk is present. I will clean and rescan for future use, but for now, without spotting,a few samples.

Very nice !

 

I've been re-enjoying playing with film for the last year or so. I'm really a novice photographer so using old cameras and film has helped me learn. It's definitely a slower process than using digital cameras and not the best choice for all situations. But I've been happy with the results.

A very nice collection of shots. I've always really liked XP2 and have been shooting with it on and off for the past 17 years - great stuff.

Shame on you !! No puppy shots !

I've been shooting film since 1974. I wouldn't touch digital with a ten foot pole.

Shame on you !! No puppy shots !

Actually paid for the processing the day we left to pick him up, got the film yesterday!

I've been shooting film since 1974.

I understand -- I shot film from the mid '50's till the mid '80's. Obviously I miss something about it or I wouldn't be starting again. I think digital will be the main part of my photography, just scratching the film itch along the way. I think each has strengths, I was trying to show a hint of what film can offer in the images I selected. I'll likely get better with practice.

Be kind there Mr. Peri. Each has it's virtues & it's warts. I pick & use what suits me. Oh, got you beat on the years. . .Dad's Argus C-3 "Brick" in 1955 started me off. He started with it in 1951 when recalled for the Korean "Action". Bill

V2.2 is spazing again with the doubles!!!

V2.2 is spazing again with the doubles!!!

I posted a "how to get out of the 2X trap" -- I think it was moved to Site help.

That's a really nice shot of that PBY Bill - I didn't know they used those in Korea. Is that your Dad in the pic?

Yes. Within a week of the UN moving US troops into that mess, my father was "recalled" & shipped to Midway Island where he worked on Navy planes as an electrician. He bought the "Brick" in the Navy BX just before leaving. In the year or so before our family moved to Midway, he taught himself just about everything about photography. I was 8 & got a ride in one of the PBY's during a July 4th celebration on base.Midway had 7 of them for patrol between Midway & Hawaii. Fun! Bill

XP2 is really nice film, scan really well. Over here, it has gotten quite a bit more expensive than most other Ilford films, though, so that makes quite a bit less attractive compared to their other emulsions.

 

And yes, I think any claim that film does not have a different 'look' from digital is lacking quite a bit in nuance. Digital and film both have their place, and their different strengths and weaknesses. Luckily we're not forced to choose between either one :-)

I shoot Tri-X at 800 in my Mamiya 645. I have a lot of fun with it and enjoy processing the film at home. For digital I just use my cell.

Sandy

The next step is to setup a wet darkroom.

The next step is to setup a wet darkroom.

Yes, I still have everything necessary, and a small guest bathroom with adequate counter space. Believe I am going to do it in stages, first film, then we'll see about printing. I'm fairly satisfied with my scanner and printer. If I want to make some archival prints I'll have to go the whole route.

Yes, I still have everything necessary, and a small guest bathroom with adequate counter space. Believe I am going to do it in stages, first film, then we'll see about printing. I'm fairly satisfied with my scanner and printer. If I want to make some archival prints I'll have to go the whole route.

 

I thought with digital, I could not have to deal with a wet darkroom :-)

 

ha

 

One semester at the local community college, and I was HOOKED again.

Now I have plans to build a darkroom under the house. Until then, I use a "small" half bath as a makeshift darkroom. But setup and breakdown is a PiA.

But setup and breakdown is a PiA.

Unless we were having stay over family or friends, I would not have to tear it down -- a drop cloth over everything would do. Pure inertia is more likely to be the problem!

Sounds like that new puppy is wearing you out?? (( went to enter this blurb and got an error msg: "You must wait 371 seconds. . .))That's a new one. & it' still counting down!

Sounds like that new puppy is wearing you out??

He's busy around my feet in the office, just now munching on a Kodak film canister - that at the end of a high energy puppy centric day. He's probably going to be the hottest Lab since my first one.

Just what we need "new" error messages!

I have a roll of HP-5 I shot yesterday. I think I'll soup it tonight.

 

Rick H.