burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

That's an accurate observation!

The advent and confluence and congruency of the Internet, digital imaging, sharing sites, smart phones, and other mobile devices has certainly revolutionized the entire industry.

Most of the school picture companies have consolidated, mostly into Lifetouch. That entire market is shrinking.

Tens of thousands of other professionals have closed their doors, unable to compete, because they are not able to find willing customers.

Almost no one prints anything anymore. Those who do are making just a few to frame, or making really big, fine, art prints to hang on the wall.

Many people who used to buy commercial photography services just whip out their phones. The results ARE good enough for the ephemeral uses of their photos.

Photography has been democratized, and has become just another, albeit somewhat universal, language.

It's still a great hobby.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Looking forward to seeing the examples.

That work you mentioned can be minimized with reasonably easy changes in workflow...

Mike N Loc: Fairbanks, Alaska

After using film for about 60 years I still have a hard time filing it in the "obsolete folder". About 5 years ago I bought a Nikon D-40 and have used it quite a bit since. Recently added a Canon S-110. My brother who had bought a Nikon F-2 new in '72 and had used it for all of those years "went digital" 10 years ago. "Look at all of the money you save from not buying film." In those 10 years he has probably bought at least 5 new digital cameras "they keep getting better you know". Not sure if he has realized the great savings yet. In the '80's I bought a Nikon R-10 super 8 and shot quite a few rolls of super 8. We still watch them maybe every couple of years. Not so with our betamax, VHS, 8mm etc videos. What are you going to play them on. I worry about our kids or grandkids being able to go back and look over old digital files as I am able to do with old slides. I just uncovered some old slides that my uncle took with his Leica on Kodachrome (back when they date stamped the slides when they processed them) that were date stamped 1951 -1960. They were perfect and a joy to look at. Not sure how to preserve the digital image over time, or are jpegs going to be the next Lotus PCX files. I totally see professional people totally going to the digital format as it produces fabulous results and they might not care if anyone wants to look at them in 10 years or not. I still have my TLR Rolleiflex 2.8f and Nikon f and f4, Canon f1 and Contax G1 and enjoy using them, but I do use my D40 a lot also. Just worry about long term viewing for future generations.

onyxtiger Loc: Northern California

This is sad, but true. All my film photography today is for my benefit only. But even that has fallen by the wayside, as I've had to give up my darkroom.

I still have my Durst 4x5 enlarger and all my El-Nikkor lenses for it. I still have my Sinar f 4x5 camera with all the lenses for it. I still have all my Nikon film cameras, including the old Nikon F I carried in Nam. I also have another Nikon F, 2- F2S's, and a Nikkormat EL. Complete range of prime Nikkor lenses from 24 up to and including a 500 mirror.
I've shot thousands upon thousands of images with those cameras. Mostly B&W.

The only good thing I can say is that with the acquisition of a Nikon Df I can use all my old lenses. And for that, I'm very grateful.

I miss the magic of the darkroom. Will I ever go back? Probably not.
Since retiring, I have neither the space nor the inclination to build another darkroom. I miss the feel of developer and fixer on my hands....yes, I know, I'm supposed to wear latex gloves. Never have, never will. I miss the thrill of the image first developing.
Darkroom and film photography today is almost a lost art. It is certainly a dying art. *Deep sigh*
:cry:

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Hi Bill,
I skrewed up my previous effort to post velvia and digital images side by side in my last post. When I downloaded the composite pic I had posted, I realized I had posted the same D3100 image on both sides. (I couldn't figure out how I had done such an exact color matching in photo shop!)

Below is the correct two pics side by side. Please just note the color and tone, I realize the depth of field caused the film pic to be out of focus on the right edge, and the D3100 image is less saturated than the film image.

Despite my efforts with photo shop curves, etc. to get the digital image to match the film colors and tone, you can see there's still quite a difference in tone, even disregarding the velvia saturation.

Feel free to download the pic and use whatever method to get the left side tones to match the right. I figure if someone as experienced as you can't do it, then there seems no point in me pursuing it any further than I already have.

As I said previously, it's not a big deal .. just a lot of work to try to get the digital colors to match the film colors that are spot on right off the color slide.
Thanks,
Bob

Mamiya Sekor f3.5 1500mm lens in daylight on a Nikon D3100 with an adapter, and on a Mamiya 645-1000S with 120 Velvia Slide film.

(Download)

katkase Loc: Grapeview, WA

A big Amen to that. The reason I got my first digital camera was the fact that I could not afford the film and processing. I got my first digital camera on Ebay a used one. It was an Olympus 3.2 MP camera with an awesome sensor. It lasted five years of continual use until it gave up the ghost. But the colors were great and the macro feature was to die for. Not like the modern ones of today. That camera was 8 years ago. I would love to have that one again.

ken glanzer

If you shoot with a Hasselblad 503 & the wide angle model, Fujichrom & that high resolution B&W film & have 6 backs, a polarizer lens, it will return. More so with a 4/5 i9n order to do all the tilt's etc one can't do woth 120 & 35mm!and use a tripod!I wish I had a scanner for 120 & 4x5 negs.

ken glanzer

If you shoot with a Hasselblad 503 & the wide angle model, Fujichrom & that high resolution B&W film & have 6 backs, a polarizer lens, it will return. More so with a 4/5 in order to do all the tilt's etc one can't do with 120 & 35mm and use a tripod!I wish I had a scanner for 120 & 4x5 negs. The Adams Zone System gives exposur & contrast modification powers not obtainable in Digital.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Yes.... I don't because of the expense of the material. There are times I would dearly enjoy that old familiar chemical smell of the darkroom, but alas... funds won't permit.

henrycrafter Loc: Orem Utah

I have 2 film cameras that I still use whenever I can afford the film and processing. My first choice is my Sinar 4x5 monorail view camera with which I use a 120 roll film adapter and my second is my Mamiya RB67.
When I purchased the Mamiya I chose it over the Hasselblad because I like rectangle format and the rotating back. I personally pased on Bronica but many people like them.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I purchase my 35mm in bulk and roll my own cassettes. 120 and 4x5 sort of in bulk. I primarily use Ilford Delta 400 for 35mm and FP-4 Plus for 120 and 4x5.

For 4x5 format, I use the BTZS Expo Dev program for determining exposure/development times and, most of the time, a Sekonic L-768DR for exposure metering. 35mm is mostly in camera metering. 120 is either in camera or the Sekonic for metering. I also check consistency of the process by checking negatives with a densitometer periodically.

I process my 4x5 using a Jobo CPE-2, the 120 and 35mm using a CPP-2. I love processing my own film and also enjoy the control that provides in negative contrast range.

After development, I tend to convert to digital using an Epson Perfection 3200 scanner, though I do have a couple of enlargers, if I want to wet print.

Almost all of my, paid to photograph, work is done digitally. The only reason is the turn around time. Though several clients have opted for B&W and then it's film.
--Bob

valley3photo

I would not ever return to film. Have not finished roll two of the film I got several months back.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Good. That leaves more for those of us who appreciate and use it.
--Bob

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

I used to shoot 35mm, ran a darkroom at two tv stations and have a half room full of film cameras, lenses and gear right now. No, I don't miss them. If I did get back into film it might be into large format: 4x5 or larger. I think that might be fun....there's nothing like a 4x5 or larger transparency, IMHO...right subject, of course.

g8rfan1942 Loc: Ormond Beach Fl

I have thought of it lately myself. I still have all of my Canon bodies (A-1, AV-1, AE_1 and my first EOS film camera) and think , every now and then, about going back to film as a lark but have not done it. Years ago, as a young boy, my Dad and I used to have a darkroom and enlarger, etc.ad in our basement and spent many hours enjoying our shared hobby. Later in life I would depend on good custom labs to develop and print my shots. Unfortunately, all good things must end and I began shooting digital around 2005. The quality of shots then was barely acceptable but as time and technology advanced, so did my attitude toward digital.

The one thing that keeps me from reverting to film now is that there is not a decent custom film lab available anywhere close to where I live. I know I could send things off but it's just not the same as having a local lab where I could have "face time" with a tech to discuss how I wanted things to be. Anyway, after a long winded answer, I guess my answer is that I will stick to digital and keep my old camera bodies for my descendants so they can try to guess what they were and what they might have been used for.