I admit it: I miss film

Frank Version Two said:
Seems kind of silly to bemoan the loss of filmic quality with digital and then... shoot the negs with a bloody DSLR. I guess it is good to offer the option in case a an academic or government committee is ever tasked with determining photographic workflows though, because it is exactly what they would come up with.

If you simply want the Leica fondling experience, the silky winding and exquisite shutter release... then shoot the bodies without loading any film at all. Believe me, they wind on super smooth that way, it causes less wear and tear, it's the best of all worlds!
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It's not the IQ of film I miss. I like my digital images. I just miss using the stuff.

Believe me, I have probably cocked and fired Leica shutters more times without film than with!
 
Mabelsound, Raid...

I may recommend Minolta Elite 5400 series... either the former model or (little expensive) the II model.. Both are great... I have both, the II is only faster and having LED light.. Frankly I would stick to them until I find a drum scanner of reasonable cost.. (Reasonable ? Drum scanner? :rolleyes: )

Bob
 
mabelsound said:
It's not the IQ of film I miss. I like my digital images. I just miss using the stuff.

Believe me, I have probably cocked and fired Leica shutters more times without film than with!
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it doesn't really sound like you miss film...it sounds like you miss a mechanical camera, an old camera...i get that feeling at times. in fact, a while ago i bought a canon p body to help alleviate the feeling. and then sold it right away as the feeling left me.

i'd love an old m4-p again too, i keep looking at them...but i do not miss the film/procession thing...after 30 plus years i've had my fill of smelly darkrooms or paying for someone else to process my film.

i think this whole digital vs film thing is more about digital vs the darkoom thing. people feel better/more accomplished/involved when they soup their own film...poor HCB, never knew just how big he COULD HAVE BEEN if he only had gotten his own hands wet and smelly.
 
back alley said:
i think this whole digital vs film thing is more about digital vs the darkoom thing. people feel better/more accomplished/involved when they soup their own film...poor HCB, never knew just how big he COULD HAVE BEEN if he only had gotten his own hands wet and smelly.
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You forgot one word in there, Joe: "Enjoy"
I never could understand the hint of cynicism coming from people who never liked film. I am happy that you like digital so much, why can't you be happy for people like me who like film today, even though I started with digital?

As for mabelsound,
You said you don't have time for the process and you don't miss the image, so Frank's suggestion to shoot a blank camera seems to be more appropriate for you at this time. Don't laugh, I did exactly that when I pack up my camera cabinet recently.
 
back alley said:
it doesn't really sound like you miss film...it sounds like you miss a mechanical camera, an old camera...i get that feeling at times. in fact, a while ago i bought a canon p body to help alleviate the feeling. and then sold it right away as the feeling left me.
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Nothing wrong with that. I've owned 3 P's over the years...I keep missing the feeling of 'em! I think I'm done with that particular affliction though.
 
mabelsound said:
Nothing wrong with that. I've owned 3 P's over the years...I keep missing the feeling of 'em! I think I'm done with that particular affliction though.
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not trying to say that there is anything wrong with it...just that for me it's the feel of the machine and not the film part of the equation.
 
shadowfox said:
You forgot one word in there, Joe: "Enjoy"
I never could understand the hint of cynicism coming from people who never liked film. I am happy that you like digital so much, why can't you be happy for people like me who like film today, even though I started with digital?

As for mabelsound,
You said you don't have time for the process and you don't miss the image, so Frank's suggestion to shoot a blank camera seems to be more appropriate for you at this time. Don't laugh, I did exactly that when I pack up my camera cabinet recently.
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and i don't mean to take anyone's joy away, honestly.
i love film, used it since i was a kid and processed my own/made my own prints for 30 years...more power to those that still do.

what i resent is the attitude of those who use film as a weapon against those of us that have embraced digital...trying to tell me that film is the light and the way and digital is the domain of the dark side. my images are no less now than they might have been before when i made them on film.
 
back alley said:
and i don't mean to take anyone's joy away, honestly.
i love film, used it since i was a kid and processed my own/made my own prints for 30 years...more power to those that still do.

what i resent is the attitude of those who use film as a weapon against those of us that have embraced digital...trying to tell me that film is the light and the way and digital is the domain of the dark side. my images are no less now than they might have been before when i made them on film.
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Unfortunately it works both ways, Joe. When I went back to film several years ago, I was shocked at the hate generated by the digital crowd. I guess I was so busy with my full-time job and using my D2X and D2H for sports photography, that I never went on forums and saw the digital v film silliness.

Personally, I have never developed my own film or printed a single print. Even today, I would like to but no one ever offers to show me how. So, I send the work out. I would never scan except that sometimes I share some of what I do (nothing professionally though as it is between me and my clients) and lately it seems that I need to scan for my books. But I still love film, both the cameras and the final results.

I still shoot digital but not as much anymore as anyone with money can buy a D3X and get a decent photo although it has no character IMO. So what? Try that with a film camera, a character lens and without a meter. Then, it becomes fun again.

Or, use a Nikon AF with slide film. These are the sort of things that I enjoy. I never really have enjoyed either digital camera gear or the final images. It was just what I did for clients.

Hopefully, I may be able to have enough income for an M9 but it is not likely. If it happens, then I hope to use my character lens (lenses if I can ever buy any more) and see what I can do with the M9. Short of that, point and shoots, DX, FX (with the exception of the cameras that use M lenses or R lenses) are not for me.

I love film and can care less about the digital aspects, it's just a tool. Big deal.:angel:
 
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I wouldn't buy an M9 because the VF magnification is too small for me and the price is just too much for something with an FCC sticker on the baseplate ;-)

I'd probably grit my teeth and buy a Nikon D300. At least the lenses are 1/10 Leica prices. I do hate carrying an SLR though, and I don't want any of the clever-clever electronics like matrix metering or even AF. If my hand meter says 1/250 at f/8, that's what it's gonna be and I don't care what the camera's opinion is because it can't measure incident light.

Only an option if the sky falls and I can't get decent film.
 
back alley said:
what i resent is the attitude of those who use film as a weapon against those of us that have embraced digital...trying to tell me that film is the light and the way and digital is the domain of the dark side. my images are no less now than they might have been before when i made them on film.
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Amen to that...
 
mabelsound said:
I'm trying to figure out a way to make it feasable to bring film back into my life. My present fantasy goes like this:

1) M4-P.
2) Replace advance lever with M2/3/P style.
4b) Send film someplace for developing and scanning.

Is there anyone who does a really good, affordable job with 4b?

Thoughts?
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That's what I did. I run film that offers something my digi gear doesn't, like slow speed B&W. I like NCPS for processing. I don't shoot many rolls, so the expense is not too bad.
 
You know, as soon I finish the current roll in my M7, I'm going to leave it empty and just shoot it for a while. It's not really a silly idea at all.
 
what a strange thread ...
you buy a m4-p because you like the use of the advance lever?
and although you hate everything else about film?
:confused:
but well, your decision...
 
haempe said:
what a strange thread ...
you buy a m4-p because you like the use of the advance lever?
and although you hate everything else about film?
:confused:
but well, your decision...
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A complete misrepresentation of everything I said, for no purpose that I can imagine.

back alley said:
so, did you sell the m8?
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I did! It bankrolled the M4-P, a VCII meter, and a v3 cron. I think this camera will be a much more frequent companion to the M9 in my bag.

BTW Joe I have an EXCITING NEW RANGEFINDER BAG RECOMMENDATION that I will post about later.
 
mabelsound said:
I did! It bankrolled the M4-P, a VCII meter, and a v3 cron. I think this camera will be a much more frequent companion to the M9 in my bag.
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... I think that your purchase is a "better" value than the sold M8. :) Enjoy your new set-up !!
 
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