Why doesn't digital capture capture me?

samuelphoto

samuelphoto

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I've owned a number of different higher end digital cameras over the last 7-8 years, starting with a Olympus C8080 (awful) to a LX3 (excellent), and a number of DSLRs from Fuji and Nikon, most recently a D300s (outstanding). But digital capture somehow isn't clicking with the right side of my brain and I can't figure out why, it certainly isn't a technical issue, I can handle this stuff fine. I have no issue like this with film, in fact it is the other way around. Maybe it's just because I was reared on film (I'm over 50). Anyone else have this issue?
 
I'm 60, shot film cameras for 40 years, but much prefer digital, which I've shot primarily for the last 10 years. Digital solved the frustration I had with film all of those years. I guess it's whatever floats your boat. :)

While I still have film cameras and shoot some film, I wouldn't miss it if it disappeared forever.
 
In 10-20 years, we'll be saying "Those 3D Holo-Cams just don't capture me. Good old 2D DSLR with local strage card is the real camera. You can't replace traditional RAW developing! It's just that finding those SD cards and batteries are next to impossible nowadays..." :D
 
When acrylic paint was invented, not all painters switched away from oil paint. One is not better than another. Pros and cons for each medium. Some painters prefer oil, some prefer to work with acrylic. Same with film and digital. Just different.

On a painting forum, the oil paint guys should still be allowed to have threads about why they prefer and stuck with oil paints and didn't make the switch to the new acrylic paints.
 
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Digital? or Film? Maybe film

Digital? or Film? Maybe film

coelacanth In 10-20 years, we'll be saying "Those 3D Holo-Cams just don't capture me. Good old 2D DSLR with local strage card is the real camera. You can't replace traditional RAW developing! It's just that finding those SD cards and batteries are next to impossible nowadays..."
Click to expand...

coelacanth, you are probably right. I have shot both. I have Nikon D300, D700 and a M8 and while they are really excellent cameras and I have gotten some excellent B&W and color shots with them and I have enjoyed them immensely. I still have a preference for film. I have been shooting film for 50 years and it still just feels right. I like the wide latitude of film. I thought it was my age but apparently there are quite a few younger photographers that like film as well. Don't really know what to make of it but I guess it's like lots of other things different people just have preferences for different things. I don't really think about it. I just got 20 new rolls of Tmax 100. - Jim
 
Film is therapy!

I agree, that digital capture has of late failed to "capture" me, that is why I have dusted off the various rangefinders I have had in glass display cases for the past...God knows how many...years, and now I am asking annoying questions on this forum about which film people like and whether to develop & scan my own or pay to have it done.

The excitement of digital was the instant gratification of seeing the end result of the picture. Much like everything in life that has achieved instant gratification status, the lack of wait has taken the "specialness" out of the effort. Since I gave up the wedding photography business last year, there is no need to rush to the end of the story, but to experience the journey instead.

Today I am photographing almost 50 pieces of Nikon (D3) equipment for sale on eBay - its time to go back to my roots...b&w film, a hand held light meter and a purpose.

J.D.
 
samuelphoto said:
I've owned a number of different higher end digital cameras over the last 7-8 years, starting with a Olympus C8080 (awful) to a LX3 (excellent), and a number of DSLRs from Fuji and Nikon, most recently a D300s (outstanding). But digital capture somehow isn't clicking with the right side of my brain and I can't figure out why, it certainly isn't a technical issue, I can handle this stuff fine. I have no issue like this with film, in fact it is the other way around. Maybe it's just because I was reared on film (I'm over 50). Anyone else have this issue?
Click to expand...

I do.

Still get a thrill every time I load my Leica with film.

John
 
I know this will sound like a clique, but we all come to a "crisis point" in our lives where something simply helps. To me it is the very first camera I every bought, an Olympus Trip 35.

The "rewards" of being an executive are over rated and most litigious. Entitled 20-something year old staff members, political debates, ex-wives, train cancellations and traffic jams are taking their toll on me - even a 3 olive martini cannot help. A 35-year old camera, $4.32 worth of b&w film and a Saturday's stroll through NYC is the cheapest therapy I can ever hope for.

My biggest excitement for next week will be the anticipation of scans coming back from the lab around the corner from my office. My hope is that nothing can sour that.'

J.D.
 
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