I am thinking about shooting more film this year and I was wondering why this forum is only digital?
I've been tempted to buy a film SLR, just to use with my 17-40mm lens at it's proper focal length (it ends up being around 27-64mm on my Digital Rebel XT).
But then I think about all the money I'd end up spending on film - and having that film processed - and come to my senses.
Film is NOT expensive. It's cheaper than digital for most people. What did you pay for that Canon DSLR? Say $700? You could buy a good used Canon film Rebel for $75. So you paid $625 up front so as to avoid buying film later.
Film is NOT expensive. It's cheaper than digital for most people. What did you pay for that Canon DSLR? Say $700? You could buy a good used Canon film Rebel for $75. So you paid $625 up front so as to avoid buying film later. I can shoot film for $10 per roll easy. (I can shoot black and white for $3 per roll) So only after 62 rolls of film do I break even. Most consummers do not shoot 60 rolls in three years but they will replace their digital camera and spend far more on new cameras then they ever would have on film. I serious amatuer will shoot thousands of images per year and might make digital pay but not if he is shooting a high end DLR
One thing about buying used film bodies -- The list of features don't matter. If the shutter works that's all you need. All the technolgy is in the film the body only has to hold the film flat and have a working shutter. Nothing else matters as far as image quality is concerned. My 1970's vintage Nikon still outperforms my new DSLR
One thing my film SLR can do I can't with DSLR is shoot slides. People are now so used to seeing computer projectors and TV screens they have accepted to limited quality. When you show them a projected 35mm slide they are just blown away by the quality. I's worth it buy a cheap film body just for a few rolls or slides per year.
Over all I think you pay a premium for going digital but you gain the fast turn around and the images are easy to find and catralog and post on the web and all. To me it's worth the premium
But I'll not give up film for when I need it. It fact I'm shopping for 4x5 equipment. I don't see much need for 35mm film as it is so close to DSLR. 4x5 is very complementarty and the quality is unsurpased
I've been tempted to buy a film SLR, just to use with my 17-40mm lens at it's proper focal length (it ends up being around 27-64mm on my Digital Rebel XT).
But then I think about all the money I'd end up spending on film - and having that film processed - and come to my senses.
I'm sure film is wonderful and all... but I'd rather be saving my pennies for a Canon 5D or whatever model replaces it.