Are there any advantages film cameras have over digital ones? If so, what?

Question

Is film now obsolete?

Answer 1

Right now, my shooting is about a 60/40% mix, with film being 60%. Film has more latitude to capture darks and lights. Negatives tolerate overexposure MUCH better than digital. Film prints from an optical printer have a warmth and depth that digital just doesn't replicate very well. And real B&W film has no comparison!

Digital prints seem to be more detailed. They can tolerate some underexposure better than film. It is easier to post process digital capture.. Film has to be converted somehow to work in Photoshop at added cost and possible loss of quality.

I am a photo lab manager. Six years ago, my lab was averaging over 100 rolls a day during our busy season. (Nov - Jan) This year, we averaged about 35-40 rolls a day. But, we did 20,000 digital prints in Dec, and over 15,000 in both Nov and Jan.

In 2000, we had no digital services. Now we have 2 customer kiosks, and I have 3 digital printers behind the counter for our use.

My film has dropped from a 12 foot section, with more specialty films behind the counter, to a 3 foot section, which includes the disposeable cameras. I no longer carry real B&W or slides. I used to have several different emulsions of both. Now, zero.

No, film is not dead! But it is on a big downhill slide. I think we will have 35mm around for a few more years, disposeable cameras are still big sellers, and some people won't shoot digital, either because they are afraid to take the plunge, or they like the film look better.
I am resisting corporate's move to put a digital film printer in my lab. I will hold on to my obsolete optical system as long as I can.
There's nothing like a good negative printed through a real lens in a silver halide machine! (Or darkroom!)

Answer 2

the best reason to buy a film camera is to shoot family photos. No you cant delete the ones you dont like BUT in 30 to 50 years even the bad photos will mean something to someone when and if they find your negatives. If they find digital media even if the media does not deteriorate where will you find the hardware to run our ancient cd's?Remember by having a cd made when you have your film developed you get a better digital image than most digital cameras provide. If you dont think we like bad pictures just think of how excited we get over cave drawings. Those photos you would toss away still contain images which will entrance your ancestors as they look at the hair styles, clothes, cars, furnishings, and things that surround us today. The trick is to save the images on a media that will survive the passing of time. So far film has proven up to this challenge I have printed images from film shot in 1924 in the last 6 years as well as images from 5x7 glass plate negatives that were who knows how old. The owner didnt care how old they were or that the images were of no one he knew it was only important to him that it was his family. Tell Mom you want to save images of your childhood for your greatgrandchildren in a form they are sure to be able to access. Dont skimp on the processing poorly processed negatives do not last because the silver is not properly removed.

Answer 3

Film cameras can take exposures as long as you want and can be battery independent. If your hard drive crashes, you still have negatives. A film camera is cheaper to purchase for equal or better picture quality. Unless you but a high end camera, film images can be enlarged more than digital images.
Film is not yet obsolete. Not all countries have a digital camera culture yet.

Answer 4

While digital cameras are cheaper per picture, film tends to pick up more color and color contrasts. Plus the equivalent digital camera would need to be a 24 mega pixel. Long story short with film you can make a poster size print and shoot slides if you choose and get even better color. The SLRs also tend to be cheaper.

Answer 5

To me, film just has more personality. It's dfficult to explain. You can immediately tell the diffrence between the two because I feel more personality coming from the film photos. It just looks better and the black & white pics are amazing on film!!!

Answer 6

its more surprising than digital ones, cos you never know what you get until you develope em. and it tell the truth better, cos you can't photoshop 'em.