Growing up, I had always used film cameras. Even in college, I preferred film cameras to digital ones. This was in the early ’00s, and at that time, I really enjoyed the process of developing film on photo paper. I had fun using the different filters in the dark room, and controlling the contrast and tonality of the images based on the timing of the light exposure on photo paper.
Twenty years later, I’ve been using the same film camera that I used in college. But more recently, I had done so less given how expensive it has gotten to develop the rolls. The cost to buy the film, plus the cost to develop it, not to mention the wait time as it’s being developed, has made me reconsider using it compared to a digital camera.
A digital SLR camera has the same functionality as a film camera, and more. Instead of the images being stored on a negative, which has to be developed, the images are stored on a memory card, which can be plugged in and downloaded onto a computer in no time. Essentially, a digital camera gives you instant access to the photos, whereas a film camera cost time and money before the images can even be seen.
One of the main reasons that I had been using a film camera all these years was because of the reward I got after picking up the photos from a store and seeing how great they turned out without any edits on a computer. When snapping a picture with a film camera, I have to imagine what the photo will look like based on the aperture setting, the lighting, etc. To see that the a photo came out great based on the settings is a rewarding experience. If a photo comes out under or overexposed, I use it as a learning experience–of what to avoid or do differently next time.
But with a digital camera, I can see what the image looks like it the second after I take it. And if I’m not happy with it, I can simply delete it–try again. There’s no cost in time nor money to develop the roll and see that I took a bad photo. Just reshoot it on different settings there on the spot.
As technology continues to improve, the gap between digital vs. mechanical technology (i.e., film cameras) will widen. The bells and whistles that are added to newer technology will make the older ones seem primitive and outdated in comparison. Similar to a car that has a cassette tape player versus one with a CD player versus one with bluetooth.
But that’s not to say that mechanical devices, such as film cameras, aren’t effective or are obsolete. On the contrary, the film camera that I’ve been using is well over 20 years old, and it still works fine, giving me excellent results. It’s durable too, and I haven’t had to repair it. It does exactly what it’s designed to do, no more, no less. But for now, it can retire.
Fallton Havenstonne 