35mm Film vs. Digital Photography

This video is an excellent choice for anyone interested in film photography. In this episode, I discuss 35mm film vs. digital photography and why I still shoot 35mm film. After briefly reviewing the Nikon FE, I discuss how past photographers focused more on composition and less on the camera itself. Throughout the video, I talk about tools of the trade and share many tips and lessons learned while practicing the art of landscape photography.

Links to mentioned videos:

Light seals replacement:

Mentioned article:

Website - scottymanphoto

[teleaddict]

Film will always be the best. It was the norm for photography for over a hundred years. We don’t actually need the dozens of menus on digital cameras because we managed without them before. Going back to basics makes it much more simpler. There’s a whole different mindset to shooting film than digital and I think it definitely improves your photography.

[Spekplant]

I've been shooting for 40 years, started with film, went to digital and now back to film. Film is just so much better than digital. If you don't understand that rethink your perception of photography and art.

[Nando-gckb]

I'm 21, so I grew up as my parents were slowing moving away from their pentax 35mm point and shoot and invested in early CCD digital point and shoots. My dad picked up a DSLR around 2006 and after that we never really took any new film photos. Recently, I travelled to Europe and picked up an antique (but fully working) Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B (an old SLR), shot some rolls of kodak gold, agfa apx, fomapan and now kodak pro image. I have to say, this film photography thing is really fun, I think it really lets you just stay in the moment instead of looking back at the DSLR screen with your image preview. I might even pick up a Nikon FM to get into some of those great nikkor ai lenses!

[clarkbarrow]

I began my photography with a film camera, the Canon AE-1 Program camera; those were the days. Although I never did any film processing, I did enjoy waiting for the return of my photos after I sent them off. This is a great video and CONGRATULATIONS on 1000 subscribers, it’s well deserved!

[markodenda]

So spot on description. Shooting again film on nikon fm2 and never been happier.

[ZhaliaNovantaquattro]

From my own experience, I learned more about photography shooting with my Nikon FM2 rather that with my digital reflex. As you said, more options easily distract us from what's important, like composition; also most of the times, I wasn't satisfied with the photos I was taking with my digital reflex, because they looked awful on the lcd screen... not to mention that with digital photos you'll have to post-produce them on Photoshop to get the result you want, which means you have to learn how to use the software, which in my case means more stress that led me to delusion and giving up on photgraphy.
I'm glad that I decided to go back to film and rely on my smartphone (an S23) as a support.

[Narsuitus]

I have been shooting film for decades. I started with medium format film and purchased my first 35mm camera just before I started shooting professionally.

Most of my favorite film cameras are manual/mechanical as opposed to automatic/electronic.
Battery independent Nikon F and F2, Leica M1 and M6, Pentax Spotmatics, Mamiya C3, C22, and C220, Mamiya RB67, and Calumet 4x5 inch monorail view camera were some of my favorite film cameras. The Leica M6 and the Pentax Spotmatics needed batteries for their built-in light meters but were able to capture images without batteries. My other favorites did not have built-in light meters.

When I started shooting digitals, I did not stop shoot film.

[robdixon]

Love the video and so true. My wife recently kicked me out of our main fridge and bought me a little freezer as my film was overtaking too much space. I shoot 120 and 35mm and mostly slide films. I also have digital bodies for some sports and action. I will never stop shooting film unless it goes away. Its so relaxing, so challenging and so rewarding when you get a few great shots!

[ManyDoors]

I started my photography journey back in 1999 with a Nikon FM10. I got to develop in college a bit, and that was exciting! I shoot both film and digital today. I like the grain structure and other characteristics of film over a digital image. The light roll off is also much more magical in film.

[Falcrist]

There's two separate concepts here that are overlapping somewhat.
1) Analog vs digital: the process you need to use to expose film makes your workflow much different from digital spray-and-pray.
2) Mechanical vs automatic: I recently inherited a Nikon F2 in good condition and immediately ran several rolls of film through it. Mechanical controls change how you think about composing a shot. I subsequently purchased a Minolta Alpha 9 (with SSM update), and shot on that, and it's substantially closer to digital.

[peterfritzphoto]

This is an outstanding video, Michael - I absolutely loved it! I just bought a Nikon FE2, and I can’t wait to try it!

[chriscard]

I love the developing part of film photography. I shoot mainly with wooden land cameras 5x7 from 1900's with brass lenses on glass plates.

[moozarksphotos]

Another great video. I think what I miss most about film photography is the darkroom side. There's nothing more magical than putting the paper in the developer and watching your image appear. However, when I was doing weddings as a film photographer, it was very stressful, waiting a full week just to know if you've got, a good set of images. I do like the instant feedback of digital photography when I was doing weddings.

[DessieTots]

Don’t disagree with the points you’re making but have you seen the price of film these days? You only have to look at the used film camera market to see that a lot of photographers have been left behind by repeated increases in the cost of buying film. I love the Nikon FE too. I’ve had a lot of FE’s over the years.

[brianbeattyphotography]

A lot of great points here Michael. With evolving technology, it’s easy to get drawn into the tech specs game. I’ve eyed a few medium format film cameras for this very reason, but for now I’m just focusing on enjoying the process and ignoring “new releases”

[andretim]

Wonderful Video again !
I am rediscovering the joy of film-photography more and more this year !
Nikon F3 and Leica M2 and 6 are the tools and I quite love both system ( which complement my Nikon digital system really well ).
The relatively slow process of taking the shots, composing them properly and taking care of good exposure makes it such a great and almost therapeutical experience !
I consider a 6x4.5 format film camera now -- even have some old stock medium format film still from the time, when I wanted to try out medium format years ago already.
Looking forward to your next videos and to my experience with this even slower form of taking pictures soon !

[neilpiper]

It's just the cost and the inconvenience with film.
I use Fomapan 200 black and white film and develop and print my own film.
For colour I use an older ccd sensor D40X digital camera.
18 70 afs DX f3.5 F4.5 lens.
For serious black and white I use a medium format twin lens reflex camera. A 1953 Rolleicord with a Schneider Xenar lens
I develop and enlarge film from this. Top quality, big enlargements.

[pluggedfinn-bjhn]

Never gotten a chance to shoot film properly, aside from once in school for a photography course. My style has developed to be such that don't think I ever can properly get into film photography, but I am interested in trying some day. Maybe use it for some vacation photos or something.

The advantages of digital are all in the speed. And not in the exposure sense, in the single photograph sense. All the settings are just to fine tune automation to help you get the quickest shot, really beneficial for action, which is very much what I enjoy the most.

[michaelcase]

I look back on photography in the 60s when i had one camera and one lens. It was because it is all i could afford. It was simpler and exciting.

[Frank-todp]

Fantastic video. I think my phone has been listening to me, because I've been out shooting film today (Ilford XP2) with my M42 system (Pentax Spotmatic F). It's not as advanced as your Nikon and I may have under and over exposed a couple of frames. Here's a challenge for you: shoot a whole roll of 36 frames in a day without wasting shots or duplicating. I've got three shots left after scouting the following locations near me: (1) run-down part of town (2) old canal (3) inside the house (4) farmland (5) waterfall and trees (6) derelict rural buildings. It's got me really thinking hard about my compositions and focussing on what I enjoy.