4 Great Reasons To Shoot Film
I’ve been on a roll recently. (Heh.)
Film’s been on the brain. I’ve started a neat little collection of cameras. I think I’m addicted. But there’s a good reason for it.
Film is, simply, the best. Portable. Fun. High quality. There’s not much you can’t accomplish with an SLR and the right equipment (which is sometimes as simple as a roll of film).
I first learned how to use cameras on an analog camera; my cherished Canon Ae-1 Program, a camera now coveted by amateur enthusiasts worldwide.
Because my collection is still very small, the Ae-1 Program is still my go-to film camera. I’ve made some of my favorite photos on that thing, and it’s what made me realize the value behind SLRs.
Even though film cameras are on the rise again, doubt still surrounds this reinvigorated community. Not from the people within the community, but from the eyes looking in from the outside.
I’ve met a fair few pretentious digital photographers who think of film as obsolete. I’ve even met a few that have gone so-far as to imply the reason I shoot film is exclusively because I can’t afford digital (I have a full frame camera, and an APS-C, both of which I’m very much deeply in love with).
I’m here to tell you film is very much alive. And that you should definitely pick up an SLR. Even one. And take it for a spin.
Here’s why:
The Challenge
First on this list, and, in my opinion, one of the greatest factors when shooting film, is the challenge it poses.
Film cameras miss a lot of the features almost ubiquitously present in modern-day digital cameras. Depending on the age of the SLR in question, you might not have access to aperture or shutter priority modes. You most certainly won’t have an LCD capable of live view. Video is a no. You definitely can’t look back at the photos you’ve taken, not until you’ve got them developed. And there’s no deleting after a misfire of the shutter.
But that makes things all the more challenging. It forces you to think about what you’re doing. Instead of snapping away haphazardly, I find that I take my time while photographing with an analog camera, a skill that’s transferred over to my digital process. I waste less time sifting through hundreds of average photos, and more time satisfied with even just 10 greatly composed pictures.
This sort of flow is a great guiding step for new photographers who are tempted to just snap away. Unless you’re keen on wasting a roll of film, chances are its permanence will motivate you to frame you work a bit more carefully.
This definitely works to the photographer’s advantage. I’ve talked to dozens of other film fanatics, and like myself, most of us agreed that shooting on a film camera improved our skills in the area of composition, framing, and overall technique.
The Quality
Possibly a polarizing statement, but a cheap film set up can get you photos of the same sharpness and quality as a $3000 full frame. Owning and frequently using both, I can 100% stand by the competitive quality of my film cameras.
The reason for this lies in the film. High quality film can capture a dynamic range of tones and colors that is much better than that of many modern digital sensors. Color film photos often look richer and more colorful than their digital counterparts.
Sharpness is also determined, in part, by the film. Slow speed film with even decent glass can produce tack sharp images for a few hundred dollars less than a top-tier digital camera with a stellar lens.
For instance, a great grade film like the Ektar 100, even with my Ae-1’s not so renowned 50mm f1.8 lens, still produces brilliant photos for a fraction of the cost a beginner might spend on a brand new entry level set up.
The Aesthetic
There’s no denying film photos contain a certain amount of aesthetic unachievable by digital cameras without post-processing. Every editing program today seems to come equipped with a filter or profile that claims to simulate the look and texture of film.
But why edit your photos when you can simply shoot them straight from a camera?
In all seriousness, while there’s nothing wrong with editing a digital photo for the purpose of imitation, the options present to photographers who choose to shoot on film are as aesthetically varied and require much less editing post process (in fact, I find very often that I don’t edit my film photos).
There are many films to choose from, and each of them come with their own signature look. You can play around with them to your heart’s content or find the roll that truly speaks to you (provided it’s not being discontinued).
Grain also isn’t frowned upon in film photography the way noise is admonished in digital. Rather, grain in your analog photos give pictures a certain sense of texture and character, and may overall benefit the visual appeal of your photos.
The Price…?
Cost effectiveness factors into film to an extent. For one, getting started on film is much cheaper than getting started on digital, and, unless you’re aiming for the prestigious brands (like Leica), or medium or large format cameras, chances are your camera will, at most, put you back a solid hundred dollars (or much, much less).
Throughout its life cycle, costs will probably remain low for extra equipment. One time or infrequent purchases like tripods, filters, and shutter releases often won’t aggregate throughout the years.
But stacking costs like that of purchasing and developing film might get a bit pricey, especially if you do things in bulk.
A quality negative scanner and paper, if you intend to print your rolls in a darkroom, can also add up. Just renting the darkroom can cost a pretty penny.
The alternative, however, is doing most of those things at home. Black and white film is easy to develop; color film also isn’t that difficult, but different people will tell you different things about the dangers of developing color at home.
Personally, the cheapest route in my opinion is getting your color rolls done at a professional lab, your black and whites at home, and your scanning at home as well. I prefer scanning my photos to the darkroom, and only ever use a darkroom to print particularly stunning photos.
So, while it might be a bit subjective depending on who you ask, in my opinion, film remains cheap and cost effective throughout its life, with the most glaring expense being the purchase of a negative scanner.
The Conclusion
The conclusion is that you should definitely shoot film. From beginning to end, it’s a great choice for photographers across the board. New photographers will have a blast learning about photography, and old photographers will find themselves challenged in ways not normally posed by the digital system.
Film also still has lots going for it. Medium and large format film systems make larger photos than what is achievable by most digital sensors, and, for many landscape photographers, are still their go-to cameras; 35mm film is a cheaper entry way to photography than entry level DSLRs, and while somewhat hefty, can be more compact and travel friendly than their digital counterparts..
Through and through film a solid investment and should be tried by anyone who has any interest in photography. It’s beautiful, high quality, and most of all, fun!
