Batman v Superman; PC v Mac; Digital v Film: the Age Old Conflict Finally Resolved
Apr 28, 2026
David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
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For some reason, human beings just can’t leave “well enough” alone. Does it really matter who or which is better in any arena of differing similarities?
Does one type of personal computer have to reign supreme over all others? Can’t different superheroes coexist? Isn’t film ALWAYS superior to digital imagery? WHAT? How’d that sneak in here?
Imagine the amount of competitive anger that is generated whenever one of these comparisons is instigated. This “mine is better than yours” attitude is so prevalent that social media forums have to literally stipulate the no “flame wars” will be tolerated.
So be it. Let’s wage our own personal flame war, right here, right now, with an attempt at resolving the digital versus film debate. In this context, you will be the judge of this contest.
Throw Down the Gauntlet
A series of photographs taken with either a digital or a film camera will be displayed. The rules are very simple. Study the photographs and you judge whether it is a digital or film image.
Your final tally will give you the answer to which is better, digital or film, in your own eyes/mind. And that’s all that really matters, right?
The challengers in this contest couldn’t be more equal/similar to each other. In one corner we have the Camp Snap Pro camera. A screen-less, 16MP competitor to our film contestant in the other corner. Here, ladies and gentlemen, we have the Kodak Snapic A1 film camera. A similarly screen-less, focus-free champion that will make photographs on ADOX HR-50 film.
No attempts at deception have been made to these photographs. Each image is completely unedited except for sizing to fit into this competition format.
Ready, set, go!
1. Which photograph is Digital and which one is Film?
2. Which photograph is Digital and which one is Film?
3. Which photograph is Digital and which one is Film?
4. Which photograph is Digital and which one is Film?
5. Which photograph is Digital and which one is Film?
6. Which photograph is Digital and which one is Film?
Are you ready to know the results from this competition?
Answers: All photographs labeled “A” are digital images, while the “B” examples are film photographs. EXCEPT with challenge #6. Both of these samples are film photographs. In fact, they are double-exposure photographs.
How’d you do? Based on your results are you ready to concede your preconceived photographic opinions in favor of the challenger? Or, did this competition just reinforce your current opinion?
Oh, and Linux computers are better than either a Mac or a PC!
Enjoy.
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David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.
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