DSLR or just a film SLR??

Question

After many years of being fed up with my job and not beliving in myself I have finally decided to start up my passion of photography again. I will be moving to the states and will only be working a part time job so I will have alot more time to do this. My question is .. would you recommend digital or film SLR? I have had experience in college (uk) with film color and black and white but i know that more and more people/places prefer digital prints. what would you advise?

Answer 1

I work for a newspaper as a full-time photographer, and I've been using digital SLRs for about 4 years now (when I started photo school), so I think if you're looking to learn, digital is the way to go. That said, it depends on how much you can afford. Regardless, the cost in the long term will be about the same as you're going to eventually need to get a digital SLR (experts estimate it will be about 5 years before film is out of date). Canon apparently is ending its production of film SLRs; they're the biggest consumer camera manufacturer, and they're not alone in getting out of the market.

Also, keep in mind companies are getting out of the film production business, so it might not be worthwhile in the short term either.

I recommend getting a digital SLR - the prices are about the same for a consumer model as they were for pro film models four years ago, and they're only getting cheaper. I paid $2000 last year for my SLR, and it's now $1300 CDN.

If you get the digital, remember to budget for a good memory card, and you'll find you are saving money and learning a lot very quickly.

A decent 6MP or more camera will give you excellent results (current standard is 6-8MP), and can easily be published if you're going in that direction. Plus, people will love the quality when you give them photos as gifts. And remember, you can shoot colour and modify it into black and white in photo editing software if you want.

Casey

Answer 2

Chocolate of vanilla? It should be decided on which type of camera you prefer working with.

If you go with an SLR you will be getting film negatives or slides, both of which provide high resolution images that can stand quite a bit of enlargement. You also have the option of having you negs/slides scanned, either at home or professionally. At home, with a good scanner, you can easily equal a 8-11 megapixel camera. Professionally you can get a scan that far exceeds anything you can currently capture with a digital camera

If you go with DSLR you will be getting a digital file. You have the option of taking your memory card to a store (walgreens, safeway, etc.) and getting a so-so quality print, taking it to a photo shop and getting a high quality print, or printing it yourself at home. If you decide to print at home then you will want a decent photo printer, or a good color printer that can print photo quality. You also will need to develop a system for filing/indexing your image files. There are many good pieces of software out there for this, and often the camera will come with the software included.

It really comes down to personal preference. Do you prefer negatives and slides or do you prefer to have it all on your computer?

One of the other posts says that manufacturers are going to stop making SLRs. My understanding is that this is not true. Some makes are planning on discontinuing SLRs, but not all. Also, while some films will be discontinued, they are certainly not going to disappear. There is still a market, and a need for SLR cameras and film.

Answer 3

The question is what are you going to do with it?

Spending $5000 for a professional DSLR just to photograph birthday parties and your grandma's flower garden is a rediculous idea. If it's just a hobby, there is nothing wrong with using a film SLR camera.

However, if you plan on making a living, then DSLR is the way to go as it's cheaper in the long run (and produces the same quality of print as a film camera).

Sit down, figure out what you are going to do with the camera, then ask yourself if the costs are worth the investment.

Answer 4

i latterly took a photos lesson and rented an SLR digicam. it truly is a great sort of difficulty to boost action picture and strengthen it etc. My close chum has a DSLR and it truly is lots much less confusing to handle. yet once you like one that is truly great, spending a sprint over $one thousand is nice and could consequence in a digicam with sturdy high quality. I propose you get a Canon which comes with a great sort of particular helpful factors. making an investment in a digital lets you repair up your photos, too that could strengthen your artwork. So, i could say flow with the DSLR, except you're extra into the classic procedures of photos. yet do no longer concern with the aid of fact there is not any longer lots difference in the two photograph smart, the DSLR basically has lots extra reminiscence and capacity than the SLR.

Answer 5

Absolutely digital, particularly if you want to be a pro. The ability to manipulate and send the images yourself is absolutley indespensible these days. You'll need a laptop, a printer and a copy of Photoshop as well, which aren't cheep, but don't leave yourself with a nearly obsolete film camera (none of the big manufacterers are creating new film products, many have set dates certain when they are going to stop making film)

I'd get a good body, like a Nikon, that could use the lenses from other bodies, even those originally for film.

Answer 6

There will always be people out there who will live and die with film. However, business is business. You must keep costs down and quality high. To do this you will need to go digital. I used to love to print large B&W prints, and I got pretty good at developing color images. I've shot tens of thousands of rolls of color slide film and file cabinets full of images. BUT.....digital, digital....and digital.

The service you offer lives and dies with the "Cost of Doing Business" (CDB) You will pay more for a digital body...I agree with the 8 meg range...but you'll save a fortune in film costs. I was spending $40,000 a year on slides and processing (I processed my own) I would buy bricks of the stuff to get the same emulsion number. I had to mix chemistry twice a week and maintain a processor. Today I carry two bodies and three lenses (four if you count the telephoto in the trunk of the car). I use several 1 gig cards (soon to upgrade to 4 gig) and an Apple laptop. I will soon be transmiting over my cell phone to my customers. I can even shoot the photo, send it to their e-mail box, call them to see if they like it....and reshoot it if they don't. (There is a down side to that but that's another problem)

Film just can't cut it on cost. I'll make one suggestion even if you choose film. Buy the best glass you can afford. New cameras are comming to the market all the time. You'll have a tough time keeping up with the curve.....more camera for less money...but the glass stays relatively stable. I would suggest avoiding lenses that do not have fixed f/stops. (ie F/2.8) Zoom lenses that are like 100mm-300mm f/3.5-4.5 are a real pain in the butt. Of course I shoot a lot of manuel settings. An automatic camera can calculate the change in f-stops/zoom but I don't care for them.

When you get here determine your market. What do you like to shoot and what kind of market is there for your work. Learn what it costs you to produce an image. What are your expenses and what will you need to charge to make a living. Learn how to negociate!!!! Learn when to say NO to a bad deal. I know it's hard to turn down money when you need to eat or pay rent but you can only do that for so long and then you're broke with only $2,000 worth of camera equipment in a cardboard box.

I wish you all of the best.....welcome to america.

Answer 7

From my limited experience, a standard SLR is superior until you get up to the 7-8 megapixil range of resolution. To achieve that in a digital will put a hole in $1000 (500 pounds or so?). The ability to take digital pix would defintively be useful in transferring them via email.

Answer 8

A DSLR is far more versatile and will save you money in the short and long of it.

Answer 9

With your knowledge and today trend, go DSLR or medium format with digiral back