Once I go digital. . . will I go back?

[OBie]

I am about to succumb to the allure of digital - now that they have DSLR's that I can afford. I am pretty much set on the D50. Although I was ready to go out and buy it the day I saw it, I sat back, found these forums, and started re-learning all that I used to know way back when (my first camera was $5.00 - a gift from my grandmother when I went to summer camp). Photography used to be a big interest of mine, but then life happened - marriage, kids, dogs, etc. - and it kind of fell by the wayside.

But now I'm back! And ready to dive in head first. I've had an N65 for a few years now (old Konica had obsolete batteries) and I love it. I bought Nikon for main reason that when the affordable DSLR was invented, I'd have lenses that were useful.

I was going to buy the D50 from a local, very reputable, store that sells used equipment, and trade in my N65 (their value apprpox. $50-$60). But now I'm having second thoughts. Will I be wishing that I still had my film camera a few years down the road? I was hoping to use the trade in as a way to defray some of the cost (and convince my husband that it would be a great deal).

Any thoughts?

[Michael Fanelli]

It is extremely rare that people ever go backwards to film. Once you experience how much control you have, film will become a archaic nightmare. I kept my film cameras around at first thinking I would shoot film at least once in a while. None were ever touched again. This is very typical.

Some people do keep shooting film, mainly because they love the "process" of film shooting or, rarely, they just like the "look" of film. But if this happens to you, you can always get a film camera back again from eBay for less than you traded it in for.

You will be amazed and stunned by how much you get to do instead of having some lab tech or machine doing it all for you. Have fun and don't look back.

[mjs1973]

I think Michael summed it up pretty good for you. I'm kind of the exception to what Michael is talking about tho. Once I went digital, I was able to learn so much more about photography than I ever did with my film camera because I could practice, and experiment more, without paying for processing. All of that practice made me want to experiment more with films that I have never tried before. Since going digital I have upgraded my film camera and now have a couple hundred dollars worth of film in my freezer. I still shoot 99% of my stuff digitally, but I'm not willing to part with the film just yet.

Film will be easy and cheap to get back into if you decide you want to give it another try, but I dought you will.

[OBie]

Thank you both. I needed some reassurance. And as much as I enjoyed the darkroom, I don't have the set-up in my present home.

So it's on to digital! Look out pixels, here I come!

Thanks!!

[Loupey]

If I can chime in late with my view to support your decision: at the time when I sold off all my 35mm SLR equipment, I was happy to get 35 cents on the dollar for it. I started buying digital equipment and I always left room in the bag to buy a film backup body.

It's been a few years and that room is still vacant. And trade in values for film equipment have been steadily falling. If you can get decent money on a trade in, I say go for it.

I still have a 35mm point and shoot and medium format stuff. I have used neither in over 3 years. I don't miss exposing myself to darkroom chemicals and using up a lot of time and money with hit-or-miss darkroom techniques.

[Franglais]

I am about to succumb to the allure of digital - now that they have DSLR's that I can afford. I am pretty much set on the D50. Although I was ready to go out and buy it the day I saw it, I sat back, found these forums, and started re-learning all that I used to know way back when (my first camera was $5.00 - a gift from my grandmother when I went to summer camp). Photography used to be a big interest of mine, but then life happened - marriage, kids, dogs, etc. - and it kind of fell by the wayside.

But now I'm back! And ready to dive in head first. I've had an N65 for a few years now (old Konica had obsolete batteries) and I love it. I bought Nikon for main reason that when the affordable DSLR was invented, I'd have lenses that were useful.

I was going to buy the D50 from a local, very reputable, store that sells used equipment, and trade in my N65 (their value apprpox. $50-$60). But now I'm having second thoughts. Will I be wishing that I still had my film camera a few years down the road? I was hoping to use the trade in as a way to defray some of the cost (and convince my husband that it would be a great deal).

Any thoughts?

I would keep your N65. For $50-$60 - what have you got to lose?

I used only digital for a few months last year. Most things came out fine. Some things I just hated but with some more work in software I got to a result that I liked. There are now just a few subjects that I still prefer on film.

Charles

[OBie]

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking that I'm going to buy the D50 at Ritz, and hang on to the N65 for a little while, at least. Sometimes my husband needs a camera for a business trip, and you can be sure I won't let him take my new D50! He can use the N65, kids can use the N65, I won't care. It might become our second camera - because I will be very posessive of my D50

[dashop]

You won't go back my friend. If you're worried, maybe you should keep both. I made the change and I would never go back. As for camera selection, you've made a wise choice going with the nikon d50.

[another view]

I went back to film. Really.

OK, I went back mainly for shooting weddings which I'm not doing anymore. I had reasons for doing it this way but shortly after my last wedding, I sold the film cameras and a pile of film (you can sell anything on ebay). I guess even Nikon F5's are going for a few hundred dollars these days in decent shape so if you ever want an absolutely amazing film camera look one of those up. I guess I've also given up on star trail photographs at night having put many hours into them and never getting anything that really excited me - that's something you really can't do at this point with digital.

As you've found out, you won't get much cash out of your N65. That hurts, just like when I sold the Nikon F100 that I bought brand new. I got lucky with the F5 that I had for a year or so - broke even on it. You might want to keep it for that reason, but on the other hand a digital point & shoot might be better. If he doesn't want to carry an SLR with him, then he won't use it, obviously. This way you'll have a "system" for all of your images too - for storing, viewing, printing, etc.

[OBie]

As for camera selection, you've made a wise choice going with the nikon d50.

That's why I posted this in the Nikon section Thanks for the affirmation on sticking with digital.

shortly after my last wedding, I sold the film cameras and a pile of film (you can sell anything on ebay).

LOL!!

I have now purchased my D50 and I'm having fun learning. It's all coming back to me. With my N65, I never bothered to learn the manual modes. Just set it on auto and click (sparingly, of course, since I had to get it developed!) But with the D50 - man what fun! Go out back, take 50 shots of the dog running around trying out different modes, come inside, check them out, realize that they're all trash, and start over again! Way cool!!

For now, I still have the N65. I haven't gotten to the trade in store yet. As soon as I find the manual . . .

[Harry Hing]

I went Digital a few years back in the form of a coolpix 995, but now I switched to a D70, I have liberated all of the lenses from my old Nikon 35 mm set up. For the hell of it I popped a roll of 35mm XP 5 in the old film back, and hey - Im picking up both again - the thing to do is leave your film camera in with your digital - i probrably take 10-20 digital pics, but then take 2-3 film ones. The trick is to buy a compatible back for all you old lenses. In my instance that was a D70, and I probrably shoot more film than I ever did. Makes you a better digital photographer too, I noticably slow and compose more carefully after putting down the film camera

[Freuzel]

I got myself a d50 last year, but never sold my Nikon F75. Sometimes you made yourself a picture that deserves a big print. And then the film comes in again!

So for the 50 bucks, keep the film camera!

[mwfanelli]

I got myself a d50 last year, but never sold my Nikon F75. Sometimes you made yourself a picture that deserves a big print. And then the film comes in again!

So for the 50 bucks, keep the film camera!

A 35mm film camera does worse than the D50 digital for enlargements.

[Harry Hing]

A 35mm film camera does worse than the D50 digital for enlargements.

Im waiting for people to give up on medium format, so I can snap up a bargain on one... I love film, and digital too - they are different

In the future, there will be 2 sorts of photographers - those who can do film, and those who cant. For some work, film will still be essential, so keep your hand in

[Loupey]

Im waiting for people to give up on medium format, so I can snap up a bargain on one... I love film, and digital too - they are different

In the future, there will be 2 sorts of photographers - those who can do film, and those who cant. For some work, film will still be essential, so keep your hand in

I held onto my MF equipment in hopes that someone might make a digital back for it someday (at least one that doesn't cost $20,000) I'll tell you what, even though my Bronica is a manual EVERYTHING camera (doesn't even have a light meter in it), if there was an affordable digital back for it, I would never use my newer equipment except for sports, parties, and long telephoto work.

In my opinion, those that will continue to shoot film will be those that like to process using a darkroom. And I, for one, definitely do not miss the darkroom.

From a corporate/business aspect, I can tell you that during the last dozen or so photoshoots that I've been involved in, only 1 photographer used film (and it was on a Hassy) and it wasn't because he wanted to. It was because the client wanted it. Everything else has been on digital.

[OBie]

Hi everyone. Interesting comments by all.

Maybe I should have prefaced my original post by noting that I am not a professinal photographer. I am strictly a hobbyist and my favorite subjects are kids, animals, and action. (Although I try occasionally to shoot cool artsy things, I quickly get bored )

I have sold my D65. They didn't want my 80-200 Tokina zoom (which is a very nice lens for what I do), nor did they want my circa 1980 Konica. If I find myself desperately wanting a film camera, the Konica will do very nicely - I have some awesome crisp shots from way back when I was using it regularly. I'll just have to invest in a light meter since the internal one is no longer functioning.

I've had my fun in the dark room - but a setup at my present home is unlikely, so digital it is. Way cool to snap away 70 shots at an NBA game (from the upper level, no less) before they stop me for having a "professional" camera & lens ;) - I could never have done that with film. Fun fun fun.