Will I regret going digital?

[marist89]

I've got a couple 35mm film cameras (Canon AE-1 & Pentax K100) in the closest that I haven't used in about 5 years. I've always thought I might go back to film for "important" stuff, but they're just sitting in the closet growing old. The last time I used the Canon, I noticed the seals were going and it was starting to develop "the squeak". I'm considering selling my gear on ebay or craigslist so somebody gets some use out of them, but will I regret it someday?

[icicle]

Just keep the older stuff, might make money off of them some day.
you can take 1000 pictures, look at them, and throw them away(delete) with out wasting film.
No more lines to get film processed, only to pick up your prints if you send them out.

[Frog]

Film and digital both have advantages and disadvantages.
I love digital for the same reason icicle does. I can shoot thousands of pics and keep the ones I like and also can edit them to my taste. Ugly power lines in beautiful shot....zap, they're gone.
Unless you have your own darkroom and know how to edit film, I say go digital.

[opus]

I don't think you'll regret it, unless you have a real love for certain films like Velvia or something. If you're in love with a film, you'll probably not reproduce it digitally to your satisfaction. Otherwise, digital is the way to go, and as time goes on there will be less and less support for film, making it harder and more expensive to keep it around.

[Loupey]

Will you regret going digital? I dunno, it depends on what your expectations are.

As for selling the film bodies, they probably won't fetch a lot of money so it may not be worth your time. But if you haven't used them in 5 years, that should tell you how much they are worth to you. Meanwhile, digital has evolved a LOT during those 5 years.

[marist89]

Thanks guys. I guess if there's not much of a resale market for the bodies and lenses, I'll put them in the back of the closet and forget about them. Maybe someday I'll run into somebody who's still into film and I can get rid of it some way.

[photophorous]

It sounds like you've already gone digital and you're just debating whether or not you should sell your film camera. I suggest you buy a few rolls of what used to be your favorite film and go out shooting just for the sake of shooting. If it's not fun and you don't like the results, there you have it. I found that after I had a chance to practice with digital for a while, I enjoyed film a lot more, because I was better able to reap the benefits of film with out wasting a lot on mistakes. It doesn't have to be one or the other, but if you don't get anything out of using film, then that's your answer.

Paul

[Frog]

Paul is right. We have quite a few film photographers here and I'm pretty sure most of them also shoot digital. If the cameras work, get some film. If you have a digital already, do some comparison shots.

[Axle]

I went digital from Film, and didn't regret it at all. In fact going digital made me appreciate film all the more.

I shoot both, and actually recently got more into medium format (120) film when I picked up a Lubitel 2.

[Grandpaw]

I bought my first Nikon F 35mm in 1970 and used it up until about 3 years ago when I bought my first digital. It was a little questionable at first until I bought my first DSLR camera and now I hold on to my film camera due to all the memories I have from earlier times. My Nikon F 35mm sets proudly on the shelf and my Nikon D80 and D90 do all the work, Jeff

[polarbeardiggers]

i still have my nikon f65 camera,i just love it,i was out shooting rapids with my nikon d50,on a tripod had a polarizer filter openned up to f22,aperature priority,and some of my shots couldn't stand up to my film camera that was set at f38 aperature priority and hand held,fast smooth crisp shots all in complete focus,thats why i was thinking of jumping to the nikon f6,but after developing costs and such, i'm happy to say my nikon D300 is seving me quite well,but the back up camera loaded with film is always with me.

[AgingEyes]

My Nikon F 35mm sets proudly on the shelf and my Nikon D80 and D90 do all the work, Jeff

If I had a Nikon F, I would hold on to it, too.

[Charles Hess]

Without reading the other replies as of yet, I'd say that if you don't need the money (you won't get much for those two nice cameras today), you should just hang onto them. If you haven't used film for 5 years, I have the feeling that you won't ever go back, the "important" stuff stuff handled just fine with your digital gear. Me, I still enjoy the whole film process, still enjoy the "look" of film, still love to use my Contax & Leica rangefinders, yet enjoy using my DSLR, as well.

[aa1pr]

I still prefer to use film but more importantly that of slide film. I knoow it better then all the variables that can wreck havoc on digital.
Yes digital is cost effective, but what is the main purpose.. to make the best photo possible given the media and I feel that film still does that.
Yes..I know and do still spend hours digitizing the film afterwards..do I know
But it is my method whether any one likes it or not.

[lc1987h]

Convenience has always won out over ultimate quality throughout the history of photography. Huge home-made wet glass plates led to store-bought dry plates which led to 8 x 10" sheet film which led to 4 x 5" sheet film which led to 2-1/4" roll film which led to 35mm which led to digital. As the years roll on the ultimate quality obtained in each smaller medium drops, while the average results obtained by everyone climbs. In 1860 only a few skilled artisans like my great-great-great grandfather in Scotland could coax any sort of an image at all from a plate camera while normal people couldn't even take photos at all. In 1940 normal people got fuzzy snaps from their Brownies and flashbulbs while artists got incredible results on 8 x 10" film. Today artists still mess with 4 x 5" cameras and normal people are getting the best photos they ever have on 3 MP digital cameras printed at the local photo lab.

[Dave6223]

Film can still be useful. Get your prints and have them saved onto cd. Then you can edit the images as you would digital. OK it is more costly than digital, but still capable of great results. One thing I have noticed is that film is far more forgiving of highlights and images that digital would blow can still be capable of good results on negative film.

Dave