I shoot about 50% film and 50% digital these days. For digital, I shoot with the Fujifilm X series cameras and lenses. Fujifilm cameras appealed to me several years ago because of the retro styling and film camera like controls for shutter speed, ISO and aperture. I also loved the ability to use Fujifilm film emulsion filters on the in-camera jpgs such as Velvia, Acros, Provia, Astia, Classic Chrome and PRO Neg to name a few.
The pros and cons of shooting both film and digital for street photography
Street photography can be a lot of fun, and it’s something that a lot of people all over the world really enjoy doing. But street photographers can be a strange bunch, usually very set in their ways. They have a workflow that works for them, and they don’t want to differ from that. Many still choose to shoot it only on film, while others are happy to just work digitally. Some do both.
But what are the advantages and disadvantages of each when it comes to shooting street photography? Photographer Robin Schimk shoots both and in this video, he talks about the pros and cons of shooting both film and digital for street photography.
How dynamic range compares on film vs digital
The film vs digital argument has been going on since DSLRs first hit the market a couple of decades ago. But it doesn’t seem to be dying any time soon, especially with films popularity growing again. One of the big debates between the two formats that regularly pops up is that of dynamic range.
So, photographer Bill Lawson put it to the test. He shot some Kodak T-Max 100 in a Nikon N90s vs the more recent Nikon D750 DSLR using the Nikon 135mm f/2 AF-D DC lens on both to see how they compare.
Shooting film vs. digital in music photography
Film is very rarely used in music photography anymore. Primarily the reason for this is because of social media and instant news. There’s no time to go home and start pouring chemicals onto film to develop it, or wait until the morning until a lab opens to do it for you.
For festivals or stadium gigs we would bring our laptop with us and start sending out photos minutes after the artist stepped on stage. This is what people expect with modern technology.
35mm film vs. medium format vs. full frame digital: is shooting film really worth it?
Although it has been a while since digital cameras took over the market, some photographers still prefer shooting film. But is shooting film really worth the money, time and effort you put into it? How different it really is from shooting digital? In this video from Shutterstock, Logan Baker compares 35mm and medium format film with a full frame mirrorless camera to show you how they compare.
Film vs. Digital: here are some advantages and disadvantages of both
Film vs. digital is hardly still a debate if you ask me, but there are still reasons to think about which option is better for you. You may want to switch from film to digital or the other way around. Or perhaps you want to shoot both. If you’re wondering about the pros and cons of film and digital, Irene Rudnyk has an interesting video. She photographs her model using both a film and a digital camera and discusses some plus and minus sides of both kinds of photography.
Can you tell the difference between these film and digital photos?
I’m sure you’ve seen many photographers trying to emulate the “film look” in their digital photos. There are different techniques to achieve it, but you’ll often hear that the “film look” is a lie and only actual film can give you this effect. Photographers Jay P. Morgan and Kenneth Merrill have decided to do a little test and compare some film and digital images side-by-side. Can the “film look” be successfully replicated in digital photos? Or you can see the differences straight away?
Shooting a 300MP photo of a Hotrod – full frame digital vs large format film
Recently, I was tasked with shooting a hotrod. It was exciting from the beginning, because these kinds of cars are pretty rare here. The owner also wanted his dog sitting on the fender. When you hear that (from a photographer’s point of view), it does not sound that difficult to do. But the picture also has to be huge – 100 megapixel are too few.
Three times of that is the minimum requirement for the print. A digital medium format camera gives you 100 Megapixel, maximum 200 in one shot. These are not that easy to rent and they are very expensive too.
My solution was to do a stitched panorama digitally with Canon 5D mkIII, Canon 100mm Macro and the Nodal ninja. Additionally, I shot with my large format camera, a Linhof Mastertechnika with a Kodak Portra 160 VC sheet film.
The never ending debate of Film vs Digital; Top DPs discuss the differences and evolution
It’s the debate that just won’t go away. Whether photography or cinema, film vs digital is a constant source of both controversy and amusement. In this video from Cooke Optics, we hear some insights from a different perspective. Heavyweight DPs such as Phil Meheux (Casino Royale), Sean Bobbitt (12 Years a Slave), John Mathieson (X-Men: First Class) and many others offer their insights.
While some of their opinions are of a technical nature, a lot of it boils down to personal preference and workflow. Some prefer the look and character of film. Others prefer the efficiency of shooting digitally.
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