My opinions on Art

digital vs film, dslr vs point and shoot

December 3, 2007

 Aside from the everlasting ‘Is photography reallyart?’ and ‘Nikon or Canon: which one rokz the hardest?’ debates…let us ponder…’Digital or film? Which is better? DSLR or Point and Shoot: Which should I get as my first camera?’

Let’s start off with the rhetoric of the statement:

 ’Digital or film? Which is better?’

Better? How can we state which is better when it is such an opinion based word (or ‘up to interpretation’ as some may put it). A better question may be ‘Digital or Film? Which one will suit my needs the best?’

Let’s get down to the advantages to each. (disadvantages you should be able to logically figure out for each when you put the two halves together)

Digital::

advantages-

• instant results
• cheaper (depending on the camera, but all that film + lab fees or chemicals etc really adds up and clears out the wallet fast!)
• faster turn around time (from click of the shutter -> computer upload -> printing
• wider range of ‘modes’
• easier to make ‘duplicates’
• less grain at higher ISO speeds
• space saver

Film::

advantages-

• better quality
• dynamic range
• wider range of colors(easier to obtain pure colors)
• multiple exposures
• helps to advance your abilities (when you pay for every single shot you learn to look at things differently and think about the shot, you don’t think ‘I’ll fix that later in photoshop’)
• more possibilites

(hundreds of types of film to choose from, color, bw, slide, negative, 120/220, Polaroid etc)

 (more different types of cameras than digital. 35mm SLR, 35mm disposable, TLR, medium format, lomography (toy camera), large format, Polaroid, pin hole, panoramic etc)

• more involvement

(film gives you the ability to be involved from start to finish. click the shutter, develop the film, pick out your negatives, develop into prints, mount and frame!)

So back to the argument. Is digital better than film? Is film better than digital? No. No. Neither is better than the other, the each have certain weaknesses and certain strengths. However, one may be better for you are trying to do, but that is entirely up to you to decide.

Myself? I use both. I love both. I initially started my journal through photography with digital (a point and shoot) and soon graduated to a 35mm SLR, soon advancing to a DLSR. Which do I use more now? Digital, because it is very expensive to purchase film and develop it. However, I adore film. I wish I could use it more often. When I do shoot with film, I end up with maybe 15 out of 24 shoots kept while with digital I end up with maybe 20 from 300 photos. And in recent months I have noticed a significant difference in the way I take photos on my DSLR. The last time I went out to take photos, I took maybe no more than 100, when before I would take 300+ on a shoot. Not for lack of ideas or angles, but for the fact that I sit and compose the shot, I think about it, I wonder how it will look when I’m done and try to use as little photoshop/editing as possible.

I am not advocating for one or the other. I love both, I use both and always will.

Onward!

(as I don’t know much about any other ‘film’ cameras besides 35mm I will not be debating the types of ‘film’ cameras.)

DSLR vs Point and Shoot.

I know and have talked to many photographers who think it is stupid and pointless to own a Point and Shoot camera. I disagree.

How many times have you seen those people asking ‘What camera should I get?” (first of all, we can’t really answer such a question, get the facts and try them out. No one else can tell you what you will like or what will function best for you. I might give you a suggestion *coughnikoncough* but further than that, it is your responsibility). And it is always a question of ‘DSLR or Point and Shoot’.

Now I’m going to address this as if this person is asking as a first time buyer. Never used a camera besides for family snapshots and the like. Someone just starting out, becuase I think that is where this is most important.

People ward off PS cameras like they will bring the plague upon the world. I feel like I’m surrounded by people holding their fingers in crosses at the sight of one sometimes.

Like I said earlier, when I started photography, I used a point and shoot camera. 

 Sony DSC-P93A.

 

It was a good camera. For the first few months, no I did not use Manual mode, but as long as you continue to shoot and READ  about photography. LEARN  what composition is, what shutter is, what f/stop is, what aperture is, what DOF is, what the rule of thirds is…and comprise as much of that as you can into the PS without using manual mode, I am all for a PS.

However, after a while, I began to use Manual mode and take more control over my photos. I learned how changing shutter affected the photo, etc. While still keeping down the cost of buying a $1,000+ DSLR or a few hundred dollar 35mm and then paying for film costs. I was learning, I was taking it seriously, I wanted to know how to use it.

I admit, even with that knowledge I had, when I first got my hands on a 35mm SLR (Nikon N50) I was very nervous to start shooting, what if I messed up? What if I broke it(it was my brothers)? What if something didn’t turn out how I wanted it to? What if…What if…What if…

I got the Nikon N50(also called the F50/F50D) 

  

after the sony

It was a real pleasure to learn the art of film. (still learning). I got to work in a darkroom and develop my own film and then prints. It’s a great thing to do!

But without having a PS first I would have been lost to all hell! And wasted so much film (and therefore money!) that you couldn’t even imagine it.

Yes I think PS are good, as long as you are being productive and active in your search for knowledge. Do not laze back and think just because you own a digital camera you are a ‘photographer’ (but I’ll get into  that debate another time).

Want an alternative? Why not try a DSLR-like camera? They offer more control than most PS but not at the price of a DSLR. They have non-removable lenses, several shooting modes, wider range of ISO and more depending on the brand. (try the Fujifilm FinePix line if you want to check one out.)

And then we head into DSLR territory. A little over a year ago I bought a wonderful

Nikon D70s

  

However, I’ll get into that another day.

Disclaimer: This entry is based mainly off my experiences and overall opinions on the subject. I tried to present links and tangible information to support the facts (as I see them). Remember these are opinions, read it, learn from it, make up your own mind! I’m sure my advantages lists are incomplete. If you have anything you would like to add please tell me and I shall add it or I personally will add on later.

That’s all for now!

Edit: Added info

http://photo.net/learn/point-and-shoot-tips - great tips on how to use a point and shoot camera but still make fantastic images

My photos:

 

Sony PS

Nikon N50

Nikon D70s

(last three photo -> ©KendraJ.K. All Rights Reserved )