Briefly comment on whether you think manufacturers should continue to develop new and more sophisticated film SLRs or whether you think they are wasting their time and energy and should just bring out digital models.

Briefly comment on whether you think manufacturers should continue to develop new and more sophisticated film SLRs or whether you think they are wasting their time and energy and should just bring out digital models.
Yes, I would consider buying the latest film SLR models.
53% (76 votes)
No, my next purchase, now and in the future, would be a digital SLR.
27% (39 votes)
I'm waiting to see what happens with digital SLRs, and am happy with my film SLR for now.
20% (29 votes)
Total votes: 144

COMMENTS
Ed Truitt's picture

While I have a DSLR, I still also shoot film. I may buy one of the new Elan 7N(E) models. I have found that the DSLR, while an exceptional camera, isn't always the right tool for the job.

Unknown's picture

My Nikon F100 is just over 2 years old. I feel digital photos are still not nearly as good as 35mm film. What about all the millions of photo graphers who may need to upgrade to new cameras after their present ones wear out, and don't want to go digital? Digital is improving,but it will take years to get the same quality/price equivilent as film cameras today, film is not dead yet by a long shot,and new films are still improving,and will continue to do so, far into the future. Long live film, especially slidefilm!

Joe Petrimoulx's picture

I see no need to Kill Film. Digital needs to be as standardized as 35mm is before I'll switch. Besides Really Good Digital is still far too expensive. And Black and White is an art that cannot be duplicated by Digital... What ever shall us Black and White Photographers do if they stopped making Film Cameras.

Scot Kneisley's picture

I will consider a film SLR for certain projects, but I feel that manufacturers would be better to freeze 35mm technology at this point and put more effort into the Digital realm. I would like to see some technology that would let me use my current 35mm gear with a digital back. I still love my F3!!!

Ed Fougerousse's picture

I just bought a Nikon F6 SLR last month and I love it! Film wiil be around for decades.

Arnie V.'s picture

Current high-megapixel digital cameras (22MP) are prohibitively expensive and available only to well-heeled individuals and professionals. Until the time comes when costs of these equipment come down drastically, the latest film SLR models give the consumer the best film resolution at a reasonable price.

Ron Klupka's picture

I went digital for certain professional shooting 3 years ago. I sold off my MF gear and went dslr in Jan. of '04. Very rarely have I shot film with my 35mm cameras the past 3 years. I get great 16x20's, so why bother with film?

Nick's picture

Film has a different look, which digital is still unable to capture.

Andrew Pike's picture

I still like film more than digital for numerous reasons that I won't list here. I find it sad how many major camera manufacturers seem to be devoting infinately more resources to digital than film. I recognize that it is a business after all, though, and the wants of the consumer determine everything. I am very pleased with Nikon though for showing their loyalty to the market by introducing the F6. It's high on my "want list". Though photojournalists won't drool on photo store windows line they did with the F5, there are so many other areas where film is still an extremely viable tool. Like macro and landscape photography-my field. Call me a luddite if you will, but I'm committed to all that is silver halide. And there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Jim Zimmerman's picture

Until digital solves the problems of archival long-term image storage and obsolesence of technology that leaves photographers without a way to recall their images, film MUST live and I hope the manufacturers support it. I use digital, I like digital, I'd like to convert to purely digital ... but ... I REFUSE to purchase a digital SLR for 3 times the price of a film SLR knowing that it might leave me with an nothing but an expensive paperweight in a few years because the technology is no longer supported.

B.  Collins's picture

Digital is great and will be in the future what film is today but at a 1/4 of the cost my film shots outshine pictures from a digital costing as much.

Tom Croke's picture

Camera manufactures will continue to make film cameras as long as they sell. Once the sales drop below a certain level, these will most likely be dropped from their product line.

G.  Green's picture

So far, digital camera's are limited in what you can do. For instance, time exposures over 1 sec. create alot of noise; much worse than the grain in film.

Barry Jackson's picture

I'm trying to hold out for ten plus megabytes for under $1000, and using Nikon mount lenses.

G.  Vaughn's picture

I love film and will never stop using it. The only time I use digital is when I absolutely have to have a fast turnaround time, or to test new lighting setups. Film has, and will continue to remain constant: twenty years from now, I can pull up one of my slides or negatives in seconds. However, who knows how many storage formats I will have had to change for my digital files by then (remember Zip drives?). Digital is just another computer hassle, while making a print in my darkroom remains an artist's craft.

Michael Blum's picture

I think the new cameras have too many "bells & whistles" I would love to see a new model of my old Canon F1. I have an EOS 300D and I dont use the auto stuff.I hate paying more for things I don't use and have to be an engineer to avoid. I just got my daughter an EOS 600 and am trying to teach her photography, not how yo use an expensive "point and shoot" camera. She could get a 35mm camera for under $50 dollars for that. If I could get an F1 and a digital back for it I'd be in 7th heaven. I just bought a Kiev88 because of its lack of automation. Lets get back to the basics.

Brett's picture

I had 2 nikon film bodies. I recently bought d70 and I will never go back to film. Hope the digital slrs continue to improve while prices drop.

Dennis Brown's picture

Digital still has a long way to go to beat medium format. I still use my Mamiya 645's, and I love my Nikon F5. While digital prints have a great deal of snap, they still don't have the depth of silver halide. Also, digital still hasn't figured out how to handle extreme wide angle views.

Richard Newman's picture

Digital will eventually take over much of the current 35mm capability - but by no means all. There are still things film does better, and some will remain so, even with continually increasing digital capability.

Jim's picture

I just purchased a new camera. I wanted an SLR, but was talked into a digital. I regret it.

Terry's picture

Different films have different personalities, but there are many advantages to digital also some disadvantges such as studio flash exposure. I want both from Nikon.

Dave Cassidy's picture

While Mamiya's new 22MP medium format digSLR is great, I can't afford it and still have a wet darkroom only. I'll stick with my medium format film cameras for some time I should think.

Jim's picture

Having just bought an FM3a and seriously thinking about the F6 to replace my F100 I am very happy that film is still being developed.

John King's picture

The print is the most important aspect of photography. I use the tool that does it best. Sometimes that is film and sometimes digital.

Randy Gradle's picture

Waiting gor some price drop and am very tempted to get a digital negative scanner.

Scott Tucker's picture

While I think that digital has it's place, I will always use film for many reasons. I just bought a new f100 for a second body and will be looking at the new f6 in the next few months to be my main camera body. I look forward to new film and cameras alike.

Jerry Aucoin's picture

While I do own both a Film and Digital SLR's. I do find myself using my Digital SLR more and More.

Mario Calandrino's picture

How about a camera with interchangeable backs like the medium format cameras. A 35mm still has over 20mb of information on it.

Jon Bentley's picture

No contest. Film is the only way I go when I want creative control over my images. I own Minolta and Olympus films, and Olympus digitals.

Andrew Brown's picture

What digital camera will be around in 70 years as my Leica 111a is today- still taking pictures!

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