Film...ancient stuff that it may be

[Vitamian]

Anybody use film for their photography?

I'm sure everyone has forgotten about poor film now with memory cards and various other doo-dads.

Personally, I love using film--that visceral response to seeing an image develop in the tray of chemicals.

Otherwise, the cameras are much more interesting to look at than most new cameras; some of the old lenses are also superior--in terms of image--to a majority of what's being produced these days.

Of course, some of the older lenses can be used on more contemporary cameras as well through specialized adapters and such.

[wEstSidE]

I do. I think I started a retarded thread about this. I have no idea how to take good pictures with it.

[aziz]

I have an old kodak...I should bring it out again.

[Vitamian]

I like the totally manual aspect of old cameras.

To me, they are more practical than "Auo-Focus" cameras--I find auto-focus very annoying, totally pointless.

Of course, most electronic cameras also have a manual function.

[Carl]

When the Leica comes out its Delta 400 alllllllll day long.

Love that shit. Tones for days.

[Vitamian]

When the Leica comes out its Delta 400 alllllllll day long.

Love that shit. Tones for days.

Out of mainstream film, I really like Delta Ilford 100.

For more niche films, I prefer Efke which uses the old silver-heavy formula for increased tone and contrast.

[Carl]

I prefer 400 for the versatility and the fact that it seems to be a little easier to develope.

Also, changed your thread title...the original made me think of movies, not photo.

[Vitamian]

I prefer 400 for the versatility and the fact that it seems to be a little easier to develope.

Also, changed your thread title...the original made me think of movies, not photo.

I was never as obsessive as some about precise development times and that sort of thing--most of the time it turns out very nicely.

I've used 400 before and liked it but the grain was a little too much for my tastes.

Yes, the new one is certainly catchier.

[airfrogusmc]

There are things that film does that digital doesn't come close to. Large format B&W photography is one. Theres nothing in the inkjet world that comes close to a platinum or silver gelatin print. The metal in the emulsion is the reason. It reflects light back to your eye much different than ink on paper does. And the tonal range of a properly exposed and processed 4X5 negative can be over 10 stops. I think Adams claimed he could get 14. 7 maybe 8 with digital. So you have almost twice the tonal range with B&W 4X5 negatives and silver gelatin prints.

[corter]

you'll also never get the amazing DOF in digital as you will from a hassy or bronica. What gets me is looking at my parent's photo albums, every picture was amazing because it's all film stuff, which is quaity. now you get these stupid digi p&s's that have no DOF, crap color, crazy flash...it's upsetting.

[Vitamian]

you'll also never get the amazing DOF in digital as you will from a hassy or bronica. What gets me is looking at my parent's photo albums, every picture was amazing because it's all film stuff, which is quaity. now you get these stupid digi p&s's that have no DOF, crap color, crazy flash...it's upsetting.

What I feel is that digital tends to encourage bad photography.

WIth film, most people never had the time to actually learn all the aspects so bad photography wasn't necessarily a point--you either knew how to manipulate DOF, etc. or not.

Given how convenient digital is, there is lots of slapdash stuff being produced and touted as "art" or something equally and painfully ridiculous.

Any whore who isn't blind can believe themselves a "photographer" now.

[Vitamian]

One thing I've never quite understood is the pretentious Holga camera.

[st_]

One thing I've never quite understood is the pretentious Holga camera.

Yeah, either. Everyone seems to be seduced by their super slick marketing, which they do very well.

Linky to some of yours?

[2000dB]

I used to develop my own films and it was a lot of fun. I don't even have a camera now, sadly.

I also remember two photographers I used to work with in japan who had amazing vintage camera collections. I forget the particular names and models though, but it was pretty cool to look at.

[Vitamian]

Yeah, either. Everyone seems to be seduced by their super slick marketing, which they do very well.

Linky to some of yours?

What I suspect is that people who are "Holga masters" are people who otherwise couldn't master a regular film camera.

Unfortunately, I don't have much of my images scanned onto the computer.

I used to develop my own films and it was a lot of fun. I don't even have a camera now, sadly.

I also remember two photographers I used to work with in japan who had amazing vintage camera collections. I forget the particular names and models though, but it was pretty cool to look at.

The Japanese are especially fond, if not fetish-prone, to Leica and some other high-end German brands like Rollei, Zeiss Contax and also early Nikons.

[hawkeye]

I used to use my Grandfathers old Rolleicord quite a bit, really love medium format. Unfortunately it is out of comission and right now I'm trying to decide whether or not I should spend the money to have it repaired now or invest in another... I would eventualy repair it, becuase of the sentemental value, but I think the repair + CLR would be around the price of a used Rollei on ebay.

I also have everything for a darkroom. It's all just sitting in my Grandmother's garage, just need a spot to set it up in and some time, one of these days...

[airfrogusmc]

What I suspect is that people who are "Holga masters" are people who otherwise couldn't master a regular film camera.

Unfortunately, I don't have much of my images scanned onto the computer.

The Japanese are especially fond, if not fetish-prone, to Leica and some other high-end German brands like Rollei, Zeiss Contax and also early Nikons.

Images from a Holga have a certain look to them and can be used by the right photographer to create stunning images. I have a very good friend thats a photography teacher (MFA in photography) and had a show of her work at a major gallery in New York and she shot everything in the exhibit with a Holga.

Film and digital both have a place its knowing which to use in what situations and for what end purpose thats important. Cameras are just tools to help you express your view of the world. Knowing how and when to use the right tool to make your visual statement and to have mastered that tool is the key.

A Holga in the hands of a great photographer can be better than a Hasselblad in the hands of a hack. Remember that some of the greatest photographs were made with the most humble equipment. There was a point when Weston didn't have an enlarger so he made contact prints in a closet with a bare bulb and his timer was one one thousand, two one thousand. And those contact prints that he made were absolutely stunning.