Is film photography going to die out in the near future?

Question

Wondering if I should sell my film SLR?

Answer 1

I will buy it.

This is a lengthy debate (as I will show). Film and digital each serve a different purpose.

Most people get better results with digital cameras. I prefer the look of film. Extremely skilled photographers can get better results on film if they can complete the many more steps from shot to print all perfectly. Because there are so many ways things can go wrong with making prints from film, especially from print (negative) film, beginning photographers and hobbyists usually get better prints from digital because there are fewer variables to control.

Labs usually make awful prints from film, which is why people who don't print their work personally get better results from digital. If you're not making the prints yourself you usually get something completely different than you wanted, which means junk.

Digital's weak point is that highlights abruptly clip and look horrible as soon as anything hits white. Unlike film there is no gradual overload to white. Digital cameras' characteristic curve heads straight to 255 white. If any broad area like a forehead is overexposed your image looks like crap on digital. This effect is similar on cheap pocket cameras, and $250,000 professional digital cinema cameras. Film images, especially in larger formats, have some real technical advantages over digital cameras. That's why Hollywood movies and commercials are still shot on film, even though for decades we could have been using video for a lot less money.

Film, especially larger format film used in landscape photography, has more resolution. This becomes important as print size increases to wall size but invisible in 5 x 7" prints.

Neither is better on an absolute basis. The choice depends on your application. Once you know your application the debate goes away. The debate only exists when people presume erroneously that someone else's needs mirror their own. It's the artist, not the medium, which defines quality.

Film technically is better than digital in every way. But if you use a lab for prints you'll have more control and get better results from digital. Film is best for large prints where textures in nature or landscapes are important.

Convenience has always won out over ultimate quality throughout the history of photography. Digital is more convenient (except for waiting during the warm-up time). Digital cameras can give better and more accurate colors than print film. And are useful for smaller prints or for emailing or website image posting.

Film and digital do different things better and complement each other. Neither is going away, although film will decline in areas where digital excels, like news, and likewise, no digital capture system has come anywhere near replacing 8x10" large format film for huge exhibition prints that need to be hellaciously detailed.

If you fret the pixel counts, it takes about 25 megapixels to simulate 35mm film's practical resolution, which is still far more than any practical digital camera. At the 6 megapixel level digital gives about the same sharpness as a duplicate slide, which is plenty for most things.

Film has a huge advantage in recording highlights (dynamic range) such as in a sunset. Digital has a huge problem with this.

Film records and reproduces a broader range of color. This is important for wild landscapes, deep red cars and flowers. The deepest red one gets on a computer screen or inkjet print is really just a reddish-orange. Nothing like a Kodachrome red. Computer greens aren't all that vivid either. Limitations are further increased by less advanced inkjet printers.

Film works great for long exposures running into the minutes.

Film works for double exposures. Almost no digital camera can do this except one model of Pentax.

Film does not erase itself. Film does not become unreadable for no reason. It doesn't have file compatibility problems. Traditional black and white film and prints will outlast any of us. 200 years from now anyone can look at a black-and-white print. People may or may not have the ability to play back JPG files, and probably no ability to play back any of today's proprietary RAW digital formats in 20 years. Ordinary people who don't back up their computers will soon be discovering that they will loose years of work and family memories when their computer dies or if they forget to copy everything to a new computer. However, hard drives and CDs can store bazillions of images in far less space than binders and files full of film.

Prices tend to offset. With digital, one can shoot as much as you like, it costs you nothing and you can erase every shot and shoot again. It is more difficult to shoot the same 300 images on film. On the other hand the cameras cost four times as much as film cameras.

To make a long story... um... short, I would hold onto it for certain applications that digital cameras are not yet able to accomplish. Film photography will be around yet for a long long time.

Answer 2

It won't die out in the near future. There are other countries besides the industrial ones that the populace cannot afford digital cameras. Unfortunately, the law of supply and demand will cause film costs to skyrocket sooner rather than later.
Film cameras still have a place though, especially SLRs. Try night photography with a digicam the sensor noise will usually ruin the photo. Higher end DSLR can do a better job but film still shines there. I don't know what SLR you have or what lenses, but price a good wide angle for a DSLR. You might decide to keep it for some shots.
Unless it is a high end 35mm you won't get much for it anymore. Only you can decide. I'm using 30 year old cameras that will outperform any of the cheap digital point and shoots. But I like film and still shoot it along with digital.

Answer 3

It is declining. This is only because the majority of film was sold to the amateur market which now has been more or less taken over by digital. Professionals will still use film for some time as there are circumstances where it beats digital hands down. It will eventually disappear but it will be a few years before that happens.

Answer 4

It will be many years before film is completely gone. Enjoy your film camera and maybe start saving for a digital SLR.

Answer 5

More than likely yes. Digital just has so much more functionality and ease of use. The really good digital cameras now are easily comparable to the best SLR's.

Answer 6

It all depends if you want it to end for you. If you like to do film photography then don't sell your film SLR.

Answer 7

Where can I buy film for my old SLR camera?

Answer 8

It will be available. It will cost more as silver goes up in price and digital goes down.

Answer 9

not unless digital cameras get much better..