| Digital
|
vs.
|
35mm
Film
|
Digital
media can contain hundreds or even thousands of images on each memory
card. |
|
Limited
to about 36 exposures unless your camera supports a large roll back. |
Taking
pictures is basically free. Once you have paid for your digital
memory cards, you can shoot until you're satisfied. Printing the
images still incurs a cost though, many times higher than 35mm.
Fortunately, you can pick which images you want to print instead
of printing them all and shoving a bunch in a shoebox in the closet. |
Taking
pictures costs money. First you must buy the film, and at a minimum
process it, such as with a transparency. Then you must pay for prints.
You could save some money by spending hours in a darkroom, pouring
chemicals all over yourself and breathing toxic gases, thereby shortening
your lifespan. You pay before you view your images. |
Instant
gratification. Our society thrives on getting what we want RIGHT
NOW! Digital imaging gives you your images RIGHT NOW! |
Let's
see. Take the roll to the processor, come back later. It is nice
that Wal-Mart offers a one-hour photo place now though. Most will
wait a week though. |
Your
images can be kept safe by keeping multiple copies of the original
image in different places. Digital images can easily be copied to
the latest storage media as it becomes available, so you never really
have to worry about losing your images. |
Film
fades, gets eaten by bugs, gets dusty, bent, and fingerprinty. You
could make copies of the original, but eventually the original will
fall apart. Degradation is a guarantee. You could scan the image,
but that would still not give you the dynamic range a good digital
camera image will provide. |
You
can relax and take pictures. Instead of wondering, "Did that
one come out alright?" You just look at the image. If it was
a dud, no one but you will ever see it. Blow it away immediately.
No client will ever see a bad picture under any circumstances. Your
images will all be nicely exposed, fully sharp, or they will be
deleted! |
Takes
skill, timing, experience, and all the other things that take years
to develop. Not that this is a bad thing, but, it is a bit disappointing
when only one or two out of thirty-six images makes the grade. What
could you do with your real skill, if you could see each image as
you made it? Think about it! |
The
camera costs more than a comparable 35mm camera. But, it costs much
less to use it over the long run. Digital imaging is reducing in
cost. |
The
camera costs less than digital cameras, but costs much more to operate
over the long run. You pay with your money, or you pay with your
time. |
You
have a variable ISO setting, and can change your camera's light
sensitivity mid-roll. One image can be made for one light level,
and another made almost immediately for another. If you are chicken,
you can even let the camera decide what ISO speed to use. |
You
must use one film ISO sensitivity until the roll is finished, unless
you are willing to change film mid-roll, or use a camera with a
replaceable back. But, that leaves the 35mm world, doesn't it? Always
have that flash unit ready, unless the preacher won't let you use
one! Trouble! |
You
can use your camera until the lens falls off, or you decide to buy
the next gigapixel wonder. Don't listen to the filmers when they
tell you your camera will soon be obsolete. It will only be obsolete
when we start doing 16x20's for album snapshots. If it makes a nice
4x6 today, will it not do so tomorrow, or five years from now? If
an 8x10 looks great from your camera today, will it not look great
six years from now. |
Your
camera will last forever, or until you drop it, or until film is
no longer available, or until you finally buy digital. I understand
that they are making an insert that makes a regular 35mm camera
into a digital. In the meantime, film cameras are gradually becoming
obsolete. eBay is full of ads for film cameras right now. Many of
them make the statement, "I am only selling since I am going
digital." Why is Kodak leaving Rochester NY? |
