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Do you miss film?

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Zach

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Hi all!

Lately i have been looking through tons of film images on Flickr, and the last 100 or so images i've marked as favorites were shot exclusively on film.

I've been shooting digital "actively" for a little over a year now, and i have to admit that IMO film just looks amazing compared to digital.
It has the look and feel that i think just can't be replicated with digital in Photoshop. Or can it?
If anyone knows of a good method or a plug-in please let me know.

I sold my film gear about three years ago, and now i've decided to start shooting film again!

It would make sense for me to buy a Nikon AF body since i have quite a lot invested in Nikon glass, but i really don't feel like shooting 35mm again.
I've been wanting a Hasselblad for 18 years, so that's what i've decided to get.
Right now i'm waiting for a 500cm to arrive that i got from eBay!
Those 6x6's will look amazing on the light box!

Does anyone else feel the way i do? Do you miss film?

Zach (long time lurker :))

Posted 3 years ago #
aprillejanine

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I miss film a lot....I started on digital, but went back after a year and learned on my parents's old Minolta cameras. The photos just look and feel better when you develop the film and make the prints yourself in the darkroom too.

Does anyone know if there are photo labs where you can do that?

Posted 3 years ago #
astrophotographer

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I bought a used 500cm over 20 years ago. I loved B&W and still occasionally shoot T-Max100 on it. Problem is finding the time. Digital is too easy. I find that setting up the 'Blad forces me to think about the shot.

Posted 3 years ago #
snaketail

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I miss film, but I miss developing my own film more. None of the labs I've used (and I've tried them all over the US) will do custom processing and this means I get middle-of-the-road performance...might as well use digital. Yes I miss film, my 1953 Oldsmoble, $5 6-packs of Buswiser, Piper Cubs, small Cokes and my hair - none of which are comming back.

Posted 3 years ago #
bernard

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snaketail said:
I miss film, but I miss developing my own film more. None of the labs I've used (and I've tried them all over the US) will do custom processing and this means I get middle-of-the-road performance...might as well use digital. Yes I miss film, my 1953 Oldsmoble, $5 6-packs of Buswiser, Piper Cubs, small Cokes and my hair - none of which are comming back.

I don't miss film at all and I have a Piper Cub :o)

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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I don't miss film for a second. I find the image quality on sites like Flickr and Photo.net to be based the photographer, not the equipment. All of those shots eventually involved a digital transfer and a reduction in quality in order to be posted (most jpegs are about 1 mb).

I personally think film is an expensive anachronism and a lure to create "art", separate from a well crafted image. Unless you intend to print from your negatives, all your images becomes 1's and 0's at some point. When printing from negatives, you are limited in distribution and potential quantity. Fine for limited editions, but not if you want to influence a mass audience.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Hi Zach and welcome to the forum :^)

I've notice a "surge" of interest by young photographers to go back to film. It seems to be the "cool" thing to do now. I recently met a group who sold their digital equipment to shoot film exclusively. We old timers however enjoy the memories but welcome the benefits of using new technology. You would have expected it to be the other way around :^)

Do I miss film? Well yes and no. I do miss the "touch and feel" of developing my own prints but I don't miss being limited to 12, 24, and 36 exposures at a time. I hate carrying so many rolls just to equal what I can shoot with one CF card. A good processing lab is also hard to find now.

My wife got me some old Polaroid film equipment for Christmas and I look forward to using it for creative personal projects but it's waay too expensive for me to justify it's repeated use. Especially since even film users scan their film digitally to share online. I love the freedom and relative low cost of digital but I do enjoy going back to film every now and then.

I still do my own BW printing but not very often. It's frustrating and time consuming process and my computer gives me the results I want instantly. Also I don't like having all the chemicals lying around and the hassle of properly disposing them after use.

The funniest thing about it all is that when I'm using my film cameras, out of habit, I tilt the camera forward to look at the LCD screen that's not there! lol :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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There are a lot of photoshop actions that try to mimic film. Try this. ;-)

I agree with the last few comments. Just like I'm never giving up my digital music collection for vinyl, I will never go back to film.

Posted 3 years ago #
nau

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hm dont miss it one bit... - No I never had bada55 film camera (point and shots only - good ones) but digital gave me so much
as far as dark room goes - Photoshop (and tools alike) give so much more to the game - IMHO

Posted 3 years ago #
astrophotographer

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The one thing I do miss is the media. I love the look of fiber based,matte dried, glossy B&W paper. I have yet to see a digital print media that has that look. It's hard to describe why. But B&W darkroom work it tedious and that's one reason I don't work in the darkroom much anymore. I appreciate the end results but not getting there.

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Hell yeah I do!

I'm happy my family is dumping all their film gear on me now. I have a Mamiya DSX 1000 and a Canon Elan now.

Plus my dad's FM2.

Yay!

Now I need film and expensive weird batteries.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Nope. I don't miss something I never really used.

That's why I want to learn to develop my own film this summer. It'll get my interest up. I want to get to know film better. That way I can miss it. I'll report back in a few months ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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You'll love film alpha! You'll just hate the long process of realizing all your pictures are crap :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
ChrisLange

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I exclusively shoot film pretty much.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Yeah, I'm afraid of that. I'm going to be happily developing my film, hanging it up to dry, going to bed for the night, waking up the next day, and then realizing I had a small "leak" and all my photos are black!

I can predict my next few words: **** **** ****! ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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alpha, if you're going to use language like that on this forum, you should probably warn alpha before you do. He's often complaining about that.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Looks like I'm gonna have to bust out some authority on some of you! :^) You've been too carefree while I've been gone, lol.

Hey Chris what are you going to do when film cost over $40UDS a roll!!! and that's before you factor in processing! I am shocked at the current prices for Polaroid film packs! $25UDS for 10 exposures!!!

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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jonnyapple said:
alpha, if you're going to use language like that on this forum, you should probably warn alpha before you do. He's often complaining about that.

LOL, I haven't filled in the words yet, but it's the thought that counts. Better mark this thread NSFA ;^)

NikoDoby said:
Looks like I'm gonna have to bust out some authority on some of you! :^) You've been too carefree while I've been gone, lol.

Hehe :^D

Posted 3 years ago #
JMCS

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Na, I don't miss it... I shoot it!!! The only thing that I don't like is that I can't get real local processing anymore for E-6. I now just send it to NCPS, both 35mm, and soon 120...

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Did I mention how much I hate the long wait times with film processing? My local 1hr labs are almost nonexistent so I hate shipping and tracking and receiving my film only to find it's all blurry, underexposed, overexposed, poorly composed crap!

All hail digital! Except you Chris :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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NikoDoby said:
My local 1hr labs are almost nonexistent

It's your own fault—shoot more film and get it developed at your local labs to support them! ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I do! But when it's only Chris and I who go there it defeats the purpose! Besides I often know more about the processing machine then the kid running it behind the counter. When it's working that is!!!!

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Fine, then instead of complaining about shipping it off develop it yourself! Sheesh.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I develop my own B&W film but color film has to be done through a machine, unless you're going for the artsy funky colors look!

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Really, color film has to be done by a machine? Blast it all—I was hoping to learn to develop that too! Well, if you know how to operate the machine better than the guy behind the counter I say snag the machine when they trash it!

Posted 3 years ago #