Which is better for someone who is not technically oriented, a 35mm or digital camera?

Question

I love photography, nature and people photographs. I think I have a very good eye for beauty and love to capture it in photographs. And even though I have tried and tried, I get hung up on the technical aspects of some of the cameras and my pictures do not turn out the way I would like. Which is better for capuring images and keeping the technical part simple, 35 mm or digital SLR cameras?

Answer 1

Whether it's 35mm or digital you'll have to gain some knowledge in photography. A suggestion would be go to your local library and get a book(s) on basic photography. Learn what different settings of shutter speed, aperture, lighting, and focal planes will do.
If you buy a 35mm camera you will eventually buy a digital one. I suggest skip the 35mm.
Cameras that let you have SOME control and not fully auto would be:
Canon Powershot A710 IS
Canon PowerShot A630
Fujifilm FinePix E900
Fujifilm Finepix F31fd
Sony CyberShot DSC-H2 (if can still be found).
PS Untill you learn to control your digital camera with different settings, you can still get excellent photos just by leaving on auto.

Answer 2

I wholeheartedly agree that your focus (no pun intended) should be on technique, not on technology. But using technology is part of technique. I can have the best swing in the world, but if I can't do it while holding the tennis racket, what good is it?

The world is moving to digital. That is a statistical fact. While there are certain qualities of film photography that have not been replicated in digital, these are nuances, in my opinion. Knowing how to use a digital camera is the definition of knowing how to be a photographer in this new world. The advantages are huge, including the instant image on the screen, as mentioned before, and the ability to do all of those wonderful things with pictures in your computer. And the expense is more than compensated by not having to pay for film and processing. That, alone, will surpass the cost of the camera in short order.

Therefore, you should absolutely get a digital camera and learn how to use it. You can use it in a simple way, with the preprogrammed settings for most outdoor photography. And you can learn to use the "creative modes" that come with the camera. Don't be afraid of them, they are awesome.

What I suggest you do is learn to use the camera feature by feature. Every single skill I have learned has been step-by-step. Digital SLR cameras might be too much to start with. You might even consider a more basic model with good quality optics and high-resolution. After you have become completely comfortable with it, you can decide to upgrade to an SLR.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I am going to disagree with the prior posters. You should get yourself a digital SLR and here's why:
Instant feedback from the LCD screen.

Unlike with 35mm film cameras, digital SLRs give you instant feedback after you've taken the image as to whether you captured what you wanted to or not. This gives you the opportunity to instantly adjust and get a second shot.

With film, you take a shot and you have no way of knowing if you did it right or did it wrong until you get the film developed. That's no way to learn, because human beings learn from immediate feedback and making connections between actions and results.

Example: you touch a hot stove and it instantly burns you. You learn: don't touch a hot stove. Do you really think you'll learn this lesson quickly if you don't feel the pain until two or three hours later?

The thing is: You have to learn the technical aspects to get the images you want. And a digital SLR, by giving you instant feedback, can help you learn more quickly about the relationships between shutter speeds and stopping motion, between getting things in focus at different distances and apertures--because you can immediately see what the results are.

I do agree that you should take a class and again, having a digital SLR gives you that instant feedback and allows you to make mistakes and more importantly, *learn and instantly correct those mistakes* right away, without cost to you.

So my recommendation: a digital SLR camera is the best way for you to learn the necessary technical aspects, through the instant feedback you'll get.

Answer 4

Both digital and film cameras come in a variety of technical level of control formats. Generally speaking, the finer the artistic control you want over the process, the more personal involvement you need, therefore the more you need to know, and the more controls you need, on the camera. A basic class in photography , or a good teaching book, is the smartest, and often cheapest, way to start. That being taken care of, your choice will likely be based on ultimate use. Many professional applications , magazines, papers, etc, still require submission of film images. And some kinds of images are very hard , or impossible as yet, to capture with most available digital cameras. Digital cameras allow users the freedom to see the results instantly, and manipulate them cheaply on available (and often bundled with the camera) software programs without having to buy film, or deal with film processing. Again this does not necessarily mean they are cheaper to buy or use. Quality printing paper for digital cameras is expensive, and the ink costs to print high res images is not inconsiderable. The battery costs for most digital cameras alone can dent the budget of a photographer, and for higher end cameras, the lens costs, indeed the lenses themselves can cost pretty much the same,. Many aficionados in the end use both. The technical aspect of any hobby enhances the versatility and satisfaction you can gain from it, and there is no requirement as to how much of a commitment to learning you need to make. Instead, relax and take things one step at a time, take some satisfaction in knowing that there is always more to learn to enhance your hobby, which is a good thing. Getting better at something usually means knowing more about it. Get started with a couple good books at a library, is your best bet, this will keep you from rushing out and purchasing inappropriate equipment, or equipment you are unready to deal with right off. Make your decisions based on what YOU know, what YOU need, and what YOU are ready to deal with. other peoples "kits" meet their level of knowledge, interests, and experience, not yours.

Answer 5

They are both very different cameras and both require a level of technical expertise. I love 35mm because of the variety of things I can set myself to enhance a picture. I have a Canon A-1 which can be used manually or as an automatic. My digital camera is a Nikon Cool-pix which is much easier to carry along with me wherever I go and doesn't require many, if any, attachments or lenses! It's apples and oranges really! For the serious photographer a 35mm is still best and a very interesting experience even if you keep the technical stuff down to a minimum. Happy Shooting!

Answer 6

Neither is absolutely better than the other. I use both. In my opinion, film is better for nature & landscapes. I like both. I enjoy both. It all depends on what I am shooting. Digital today is quite good & impressive but, in my personal opinion, it still lacks the resolution & sharpness of film. I guess this doesn't help you much. Digital is not the second coming or salvation of photography as s many say it is. It's just another way to take pictures. Instant feedback is nice indeed. I love that as much as anyone else, believe me. I just think film has more punch than digital. If you can run both, do it. See what YOU like. Then use that. Most importantly, have fun.

Answer 7

Thats troublesome to declare. For image high quality, not something is greater beneficial than action picture. action picture and coming up expenses lots funds at the instant. it rather is lots greater low-value to enhance your digital photos as mandatory.. consistent with probability one after the different. And the version in image high quality of the digital can purely be observed via a knowledgeable eye. exceedingly with the rebel. I actual have the rebel that makes use of action picture. it rather is an extremely good digital camera, yet I desire I had the digital, reason i don't probably wanna spend the money to enhance the photographs and then test them so i will get them on my laptop or myspace, anyplace..

Answer 8

Get a good, but simple digital camera. I've been happy with the Fujifilm Finepix F10. It has no manual focus and only has a few other controls, yet I'm able to take very good pictures by keeping things simple.

Answer 9

Technique! Neither digital or film will have any technical advantages over the other it all depends on the camera.

Where digital scores over film for you, is that instant feedback you can get from the LCD to see if the shot has turned out as you expected it. Plus the shot data is recorded for you to examine later. You can also post-process shots with a package such as photoshop (very difficult to learn) or perhaps Mepis' Showfoto (easy peasy, yet still powerful).

As you don't want to get too involved with the technical side, please stay well away from anything to do with darkrooms.

Answer 10

I prefer the 35mm.
I did buy a digital camera and was impressed with it, but still prefer the old 35mm with an aray of lenses.