BootsnAll Travel Community

Ah, the evergoing modern rivalry in the photography world:

Film vs. Digital.

Both have their pros and cons...

Film cameras are generally cheaper, and you can even get cheap decent ones that you can just throw out. Film resolution beats out any digital resolution (well, the consumer-level inexpensive ones anyway), but all that processing...and all those rolls of film!

On the other side of the spectrum, nothing beats the instant gratification of digital pictures (and the lack of processing fees), but they require computers and wires and permission from internet cafe owners to hook them up. Plus, one flash card/memory stick goes kaput, and there goes all your memories.


So, in the rivalry between film and digital, where do your allegiances reside?

e.

http://www.theglobaltrip.com

can't we just all get along and bring one of each?

Funny you should say that; on my recent trip to Oz, I brought both (plus a video camera). I used an old 1970s Canon AE-1 SLR for my "artsy" pictures on slide film, a Canon s40 for my quicky digital "tourist" shots, and the camcorder (sparingly) for images that I am putting together in a video, narrated with music.

e.

http://www.theglobaltrip.com

Has anyone had many of their digital pictures processed even? It seems like they just sit on your computer and you never actually get them developed. I like being able to hold the picture and leaf through them.

I also like how with digital, you can just delete the picture when a bad one comes. That way, you get all choice pictures that you could potentially develop. Oftentimes I will get a role of film developed and they are all shite. (Maybe I have to work on my photography skills )

This year I've started having film put onto disc due to my years old cheap digital dying on me.

The digital I had was only good for pics being posted on emails or internet, not enough pixels for getting a decent print from.

I've found a place that processes at a reasonable price and if I like a pic then I have a print done.

Must admit I love playing with my Minolta SLR more and I'm happier with the results

Mind you when I get the cash I will get another digital and am always stopping into camera store to check out what they have

I've been shooting digitals for about 2 years now while vacationing. I spend an average of 3 months a year overseas and I take alot of pictures. As far as getting good quality prints the best place I've found is ofoto.com. This is a site run by Kodak. You can post your pictures in a personal photo album and e-mail it to anyone you like. This service is free. If you want hard copies they can be purchased on line for a very reasonable cost. They'll even do poster sizes. I order prints from them on a regular basis and I've had no reason to complain.

Mike Richards

quote:

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Originally posted by Dewbie:
Has anyone had many of their digital pictures processed even? It seems like they just sit on your computer and you never actually get them developed. I like being able to hold the picture and leaf through them.

I also like how with digital, you can just delete the picture when a bad one comes. That way, you get all choice pictures that you could potentially develop. Oftentimes I will get a role of film developed and they are all shite. (Maybe I have to work on my photography skills )

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Mike Richards

Another good site for printing is Shutterfly.

e.

http://www.theglobaltrip.com

Advantage of film:
Cheaper cameras
easy processing (if done commercially)
Better dynamic range/tonal range
Lighter
Don't have to worry about battery as much
More reliable

Advantage of digital:
Cheaper operating cost
Instant gratification (live review and histogram)
Better versatility and control while shooting
Better versatility and control during post-processing
Selectable ISO setting
Less noisy (no film winding, non-DSLRs have no shutter)
Looks "Cooler"

A few other points:
-High end digicams (1Ds) and digital Backs (20+mpxl) have more resolving power than 35mm film.
-High end digicams have less noise/grain than film, especially for ISO 800 or above
-High end digicams have better color accuracy than film.
-Film SLR users don't have to worry about sensor dust as DSLR users do. CCD/CMOS chips generates static electricity that sucks in dust and it is difficult to remove them

Digital cameras are way more delicate and require more TLC. Not a great companion for a bumpy bus ride in whatever country. My SLR has been dropped and smacked around numerous times, and comes back just fine.

If I had a snazzy kick ass high end dig, I'd feel compelled to guard the thing with my life. I don't think I could enjoy that market or temple or beach as much if I always was concerned that someone was going to gank my prized possession.

PC

To second PC, digital media (CF cards, SmartMedia, Memory Sticks) can sometimes be temperamental... I know someone who lost all their data on a stick due to moisture and lost 100+ images in an instant.

e.

http://www.theglobaltrip.com

It's like you just can't win.....

PC

but traditional SLR's are bigger and heavier, no? the little digital ones are slightly more appealing to me b/c it's not so obvious.

but I can see in terms of wear/tear how it's better to have the old fashioned kind. As well as the film issue.

hm....

Well it depends if you get a digital point and shoot or a digital SLR. A digital SLR is just as big as a film one and a heck of a lot more money!