• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

digital or film?

J

jamestime88

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Messages
1,209
i know that this question has been asked hundreds of times, so i apoligize for the repeat, this is my first time on the photography forum. but anyways to my question....

what is better quality digital or film photography? what do the professionals use nowadays? what would be my best choice for a quality camera in the $350 price range(im looking for specific camera recommendations)?

i dont currently own a digicam and my current camera is 20 years old so i think its time to upgrade. my pictures are turning out fuzzy 50% of the time so its starting to cost me money in worthless prints. i ask all this because it is actually my dads money, and he seems to be certain that film cameras are still so much better than digital cameras, and im just trying to prove him wrong.

thanks for whatever links, comments, etc that you provide. and again, really sorry for the noob question :D
 
The vast majority of pros still use film cameras. But many of the prosumers, as it were, are using digital these days.

You won't be able to get a digital SLR camera for $350. If you want the ability to use various lenses and have the flexability of an SLR, your best bet is film.

But I'd probably recommend a digital camera based on what you're saying so far. No processing costs, no wasted pictures, plus you can get a nice digi for $350.
 
im mostly looking for a point n' shoot camera. the question about what the professionals use doesnt apply to me, it was just an off topic question.

i really enjoy the features of digital cameras, so thats what im looking for unless someone has a specific reason why i shouldnt.

so let me change my original questions.
1. does anyone have any links or know the major quality difference between high end digital and high end film cameras.
2. what is the best digital camera i can get in the $300-400 price range (im willing to go slightly higher if its REALLY worth it.

thanks for putting up with my ignorance :D and thanks for all your future help.
 
Personally, I prefer digital because of the ability to instantly see your shots and to take many of the same without printing them all.

The best camera depends on what you are looking for. I wanted one that had a large zoom (10x optical -- digital is useless) and 3-4 megapixels, so I settled on the Olympus C-750 for $430 (C-740 is about 50-100 cheaper and is similar). Don't forget that you will also need to factor in the cost of memory cards as most cameras only come with 16mb cards.
 
Originally posted by jamestime88
im mostly looking for a point n' shoot camera. the question about what the professionals use doesnt apply to me, it was just an off topic question.

i really enjoy the features of digital cameras, so thats what im looking for unless someone has a specific reason why i shouldnt.

so let me change my original questions.
1. does anyone have any links or know the major quality difference between high end digital and high end film cameras.
2. what is the best digital camera i can get in the $300-400 price range (im willing to go slightly higher if its REALLY worth it.

thanks for putting up with my ignorance :D and thanks for all your future help.
Click to expand...

well, if what the pro's use doesnt apply to you, why should this apply to you? you wouldnt be getting either a highend digital or film. it sounds like you want digital but just want to justify it....if you want to take "snapshots" instead of "pictures", its probably more worth it in your price range to get a digital. but quality wise- film has the ability to be much better. notice i said ability- because how you handle the camera makes a big difference.

i am not sure what the actual number is, but i think i remember reading somewhere that a 11MP camera is somewhere near the quality of film. maybe somebody here knows the actual number.
 
Well if you are just playing around then digital by all means. While depending on which camera you buy, the initial cost will be more but, the long term costs make digitals cheaper. If you take a bad pic so, what, delete it. Cant do that with film.
 
Originally posted by jamestime88
i know that this question has been asked hundreds of times, so i apoligize for the repeat, this is my first time on the photography forum. but anyways to my question....

what is better quality digital or film photography? what do the professionals use nowadays? what would be my best choice for a quality camera in the $350 price range(im looking for specific camera recommendations)?

i dont currently own a digicam and my current camera is 20 years old so i think its time to upgrade. my pictures are turning out fuzzy 50% of the time so its starting to cost me money in worthless prints. i ask all this because it is actually my dads money, and he seems to be certain that film cameras are still so much better than digital cameras, and im just trying to prove him wrong.

thanks for whatever links, comments, etc that you provide. and again, really sorry for the noob question :D
Click to expand...

Get a digital. You will not be happy until you do. I find that people that post this question are usually seeking justtification for the purchase of a new technology (relativly). Just get the digital, and start snapping. Remember if you are shooting film prints 4X6, or 5X7 then it doesn't really matter if you get digital or film anyway!

Get the digital.

Cheers,
 
thanks for all of your comments.
1. does anyone have any links or know the major quality difference between high end digital and high end film cameras.
Click to expand...
it was just a side topic that i wanted clarified. it had nothing to do with my purchase decision.

im still shopping around for a digital camera in the $300-400 price range and could really use some recomendations. i want it to be small and durable, i want it to be simple enough for the parents to use it (laughs out loud), extra features are good, and i would like a nice auto focus (ive used digital cameras that none of my shots were focused).
 
Originally posted by bromide
well, if what the pro's use doesnt apply to you, why should this apply to you? you wouldnt be getting either a highend digital or film. it sounds like you want digital but just want to justify it....if you want to take "snapshots" instead of "pictures", its probably more worth it in your price range to get a digital. but quality wise- film has the ability to be much better. notice i said ability- because how you handle the camera makes a big difference.

i am not sure what the actual number is, but i think i remember reading somewhere that a 11MP camera is somewhere near the quality of film. maybe somebody here knows the actual number.
Click to expand...


A 6mp DSLR can resolve more detail than film, if you are comparing scanned film with RAW digital images from say, a Canon 10D.

Originally posted by jamestime88
thanks for all of your comments.

it was just a side topic that i wanted clarified. it had nothing to do with my purchase decision.

im still shopping around for a digital camera in the $300-400 price range and could really use some recomendations. i want it to be small and durable, i want it to be simple enough for the parents to use it (laughs out loud), extra features are good, and i would like a nice auto focus (ive used digital cameras that none of my shots were focused).
Click to expand...

Canon A80
 
A camera such as a Canon 1Ds is roughly as near quality as a decent slide film, an expensive slide film would be around the 30M pixel range. Best thing to di is to buy a 35mm film scanner and a 35mm camera. When you can buy an affordable DSLR with quality like the 1Ds then I may think of switching.
 
I think it has finally reached the point where quality is generally not a valid criteria in the film vs digital arguement. It is just a matter of what you prefer to use, what type of workflow you want, and how much you are willing to spend on your equipment (including or excluding film).

This is not to say that film is dead... far from it. It is just not practical for most people anymore. It is far cheaper to take snapshots with a digital camera. However for real photography, film will remain a valid artistic option. Film will still be the easiest way to do certain things. If you want to play with the effects of different types of light sources have on film, you will need to use film. Sure, this can be faked in photoshop afterwards, but why not let the film do the work for you? Also, film grain can be an interesting thing to play with. However, digital grain does not have such pleasant characteristics.

So, it really depends on what you want from your photography.
 
If your not getting an SLR then go digital...you'll get much better pictures and in the long run it'll be much cheaper
 
ya i'd say if your going to spend alot of money get a digital (canon) unless you dont have a computer, but digital is just so much easier. plus you can take as many pictures as you want!
 
Not going SLR? Go digital. Especially since it seems it's just going to be a point and shoot camera.
 
i decided to buy the kodak DX4530 off ebay today. i payed $221 for it NIB, so im pretty excited. its being shipped 2 day air so i will be sure to post pictures for you all when i get the camera. thanks for all the help everyone.

if anyone has anyone has had any experience with the camera than let me know.

BTW, for anyone who wants it, heres the link http://kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier....Submit.y=13&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=210201
 
Well congrats you went digital. Another point I thought of is one my aunt made. Digitals are more enviromentally friendly, as far as, picture processing. She used to teach photography at ASU and, is now teaching in another field at UofMi. So that is another aspect.
 
i got my digital camera today. shipping was amazingly fast. i will be sure to post pictures soon. whats a good place to host my pictures at? ive never done it before.
 
Free there are several just google it. I have paid for mine it was like $30 per year for basic and, I am pay$50 for poweruser. That gives me full cobranding and, plus 8MB of video space.
www.smugmug.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top