When I made the switch to digital, I traded my 3 F4s cameras in for digital.
Briefly comment on your reaction to Kodak's announcement of a new color negative film.
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I am glad to see that film lives on. Just because many people have switched to digital photography does not mean there is not still a place for those who wish to use film in what they do. I see this as artists just using different mediums.
I am an old photographer and I started out with 4x5 and 5x7 cameras. They were great but digital cameras and software gives so much more control over the final image its hardly fair to compare the two. The only advantage I can see for the new Kodak film is to be able to scan the negatives for print enhancement. I hope it sells well but I can't see myself using it to any degree.
I started shooting digital with a 1 mp HP camera back in 1997 while retaining my relatively new Pentax 35mm SLR. However, within 2 years and upgrading to a 3mp Nikon 990 I sold all my film equipment and haven't look back. I now shoot with a Canon 40D.
I have a digital and two film cameras but I shoot more in film than I do in digital. I love the idea of me taking the shoot and not the camera. To me doing my own lab work and shooting in black & white is the best also color photography to me is to shoot what you see and have the print come out the same way you saw it. This is what a photographer and photography is all about. Pure and simple.
I think Kodak had better wake up and smell the binary ones and zeroes! Sure there will continue to be a small market for film, just as people are still buying horse whips and wagon wheels today, but I hate to see yet another huge old American company holding on to yesteryear in a field that has clearly moved on. The Big Three auto makers come to mind, still today mass-producing huge gas guzzlers that next to nobody can afford to buy, let alone drive. The Digital Revolution is over, and digital is here to stay. I'm certainly not about to buy any Kodak stock with the expectation it'll grow. I'm as American as the next guy, but I don't see why so many of our core industries continue to invest in the past like this. I shoot Nikon. I'm not particularly fond of the Japanese, but they do get it.
Cave painting had its day and left us with some memorable images, but it's no great loss that most of today's painters have moved to oils and canvass. In fact, most art lovers think it's just fine. There will always be those who squeeze the best out of film. I can't wait to see their work. But none of that diminishes the outstanding images coming from the digital world. Anybody want to buy a closet full of film cameras?
I actually shot my last roll of film last June (2007) to get the full width of my wide angle lens while shooting slides for scanning and stitching together into a panorama. I still have the Canon EOS 3, a truly great camera, having better features than the 5D (including better spot metering). Yesterday, since I had time off from work, I did some chores, one of which was going through the fridge and feezer to clean them out. While in there, I took out the film that I had in ziplok bags from 2000-2002. My favorite films, but now that I got the 5D with full frame capability, I doubt seriously that I shall ever shoot film again. Too much trouble while traveling and going through airport security, cost of and spotty quality of processing, etc. That does not mention the ease of ISO and white balance agility with digital that we never had with film (I shot virtually in the dark without flash inside a kiva at Mesa Verde Natl Pk -- never could have handled that with film). In fact, the place where I had that last roll of film processed has gone out of business. I had called them to see if they knew anyone who might like to have my film as a donation. I asked a processor who (rarely) still processes film. He knew of no one who would want it. I emailed a camera club. No interest. I am also wondering what to do with my two film scanners, one of which is a Nikon 4000 ED/Coolscan IV ED. It all has brought back some pleasant memories of the film days, but I sold on eBay a couple years ago two other film cameras and will probably sell the EOS 3 soon. It has all been very difficult and emotional. I guess it is more changing technology. I had to get rid of my old LPs and 8 tracks, not to mention 45s. Soon I have to decide what to do with the cassettes.....