tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

Well, I partially agree with you....They are definitely different technologies... Where I depart from you is in the concept that they are both meant to fulfill the same purpose; to record images....In that vein, digital has so far surpassed film that it is no contest. I was an avid film buff, but I am not out looking for bargains in film technology and I doubt many others are, except for nostalgia purposes.

We are just much better served in just about every way with digital, from cost to flexibility, and yes, even IQ...

Cougar

I MUCH PREFER TO SPEND MY TIME WORKING IN THE DARKROOM, LISTENING TO MY RADIO THEN SITTING AT MY COMPUTER TRYING TO GET SOME DUMB BOX TO DO WHAT I WANT IT TO DO. SURE IT IS NOT HIGH TECH. BUT THEN NEITHER AM I. I PAINT WITH LIGHT! DIGITAL IS FINE FOR DOING FAMILY SNAPSHOTS. MY WIFE LOVES HERS, BUT FOR REAL WORK YOU CAN NOT BEAT FILM AND CHEMISTRY! IT IS CALLED 'CONTROL'!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

You aren't cool if you don't have a big, chrome aftermarket 8 track player hanging under the dash and a couple of speakers in the rear window deck! (Amazing how little it took to keep us happy back then!)

Cougar

Back in those days I couldn't afford all that nifty stuff! I was lucky to afford four wheels that were all round... most of the time....anyway. Uncle Sugar supplied all my camera's and film and transportation too. But I got to run all over the country shooting the Installation of all those missile sites we were building back in those days. Ran almost constantly from Mississippi to Pacific Ocean, Mexico to Canada. Even got to shoot JFK in 1962 at Vandenburg, AFB California when we put up a bird for him. A camera is better then having a ticket to most anything or where. Of course a TS Clearance does help also at times! The kids today miss a lot of Fun we had to make for ourselves back in the day. Personally I preferred Blonds and Red Heads! A Camera works quite well for both at times. But Horses payed better!

Cougar

I'm an old dude and have the advantage of being able to not only work with film but being at home in a lab also. I have made my own chemicals for years and get to play with new formulas or at least make those I need. A lot cheaper then taking the film to the drug store too. But even the films have changed over the years so we are a dying breed together. Everything changes over time. Digital will also have its day in the sun and FADE into the past as will we all. So enjoy your tech while it is still in vuoge. But don't hold it so tight you can not adjust to the new when it comes because it will. I started into Printing when we were still using Hot Lead Type and working from Printer Type cases and setting type by hand for, platen presses. My first camera was a Box Brownie! Shooting 127 roll film. I still have it! It still takes great shots! The film is just harder to find!!

tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

We seem to be of a similar age....I remember the old Dignan newsletters, showing new formulations and how to use them...I loaded my own cartridges from 1000 ft rolls of movie film. (I was in the Navy; they were easy to get...LOL) ...I have come up through the 50's, 60's and so forth....I learned on the most primitive cameras.....I also learned computers and digital imaging from the ground up, starting from the earliest digital cameras. So, all my statements are from that perspective. I COULD have a lab, being of independent means and living alone in a large house. I prefer to devote that space to extra studio uses. I doubt digital imaging is a passing fad that is in Vogue and will fade. Everything about digital is the wave of the future, and Moore's Law pretty much guarantees that the hardware is only going to get better and cheaper for a long time to come. The reason that digital will always win is because of cost and versatility. Film has gone as far as it will ever go. Digital is still in its infancy. No one, except for a few Luddites are going backward in technology. Almost everyone is excited about the future. I know I am, even knowing where I came from.

Oh, I am also a woodworker. I have embraced power tools, much to the chagrin of the "Woodwright's Shop" crowd...Same principle. You get better results at a lower investment of time and money...Cheers!!!

Cougar

I'm an old USAF fella. 22 June "58" to 21 June "66". Digital is a lot cheaper to play with for sure. I must have half a dozen around here I use from time to time. Nothing very fancy however. But I can shove them onto this thing easily and my wife can hit 'print' and run off what she wants for the cost of the ink. Back in the day we never thought we would ever see the end of Film either, but it seems to have worked out that way didn't it? Tech is always going forward and it will be so with Digital also probably but not in our lifetimes. The trick as you have obviously learned IS to Enjoy it while it IS HERE and we are also. I hear China is building sky scrapers using 3D Printers. Personally I'm counting on Reincarnation, will be interesting to see what the real FUTURE is like. In my lifetime I have seen a whole LOT of new tech and inventions come on planet and it has been an amazing trip. 18 Aug 1940 BD, so I have been around for a while and ALWAYS War!!! These days I mostly keep a camera handy for those oddball shots that only happenstance makes available IF you have the equipment handy and ready and get lucky. I still have thousands of negatives around of course from years gone by and some of them are worthy to keep and share. But mostly I take them out to give me the memories of when and where I took them and also the people who shared the adventures with me at the time. Most of whom are long dead or gone for various reasons. Life IS like that you know. Keep Smiling!!

balticvid Loc: Queens now NJ

Right on. (As they say) I can remember way back also. Aug.1932

tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

At a cost of less than $100 for a nice scanner, you could convert all those negatives that you find worthy to a digital format. Then, you could play with them to your heart's content. Another benefit of the digital age. Even if you only peruse them for memories, it is much easier and more organized to view them on a large screen than whatever viewer you may have been using. Post Processing is another area where I have been able to be more creative than I ever imagined. Good Luck with whatever you choose!!

(P.S. You were getting out around the time I was going in. I was in the Navy from 1966 to 1990. (DOB 1949)..Two wars, although we did have a period of relative peace between 1975 and 1989...)

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Relative is the operative term. over 300 buddies of mine died in this period of relative peace.

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

So true. The jewels of yesteryear are now not much more than paperweights. I like to use film cameras as props in my photos, however, so that is one use.

tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

Yes, and it was not my intention to make light of this by any means. We had those little debacles in Central America, as well as a few other flare-ups. Once Vietnam was "over", many of us breathed a sigh of relief, at least for a short period. I think we will never have more than a "relative peace" as long as there are financial interests and nations that cannot get along, but must share a border...In the meantime, I will take what I can get.......I grieve for your 300 friends. I may know known of met some of them. In any case, they were also my brothers in arms....

Cougar

This is the start of the Memorial Day Weekend. First one in years my wife and I have not stood Honor Guard in the many ceremonies locally. Just too stove up to do the Uniform Justice. In my lifetime we have had few moments of Peace. Always seem to be headed for the next war, just AS now. Question is with this one is "Who's land is going to be ravaged?" It looks like it MAY be our turn in the barrel this time. Washington was shown what would be our END and that WAS "You will lose your Freedom from WITHIN!!" We be there it seems. But I answer my door with a .45 in hand and a smile on my face so it should get interesting soon it seems. Being an Old Warrior with emphasis on OLD, I don't plan on going easily or Silently into that dark night. I have watched too many of my friends over the years who Honored their Oaths and blew Taps over their services to Dishonor them Now.... or my own which I have taken no less then eight times over the years.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

part of my avocation is the buying and selling of film cameras and lenses. it is true, the more common cameras, Canon AE-1, Minolta SRTs and others have little value in today's marketplace. the problem with the Canons is they are ubiquitous. the problem with the Minoltas is the deterioriation of the light meter. as for lenses, depending on the item, they can be worth in the 3 to 6 figure range.

i am sorry for the person selling their leica r system. stunning lenses (mostly minolta rokkors) and terrific camera bodies. can be used in any environmental situation.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

[quote=wj cody] stunning lenses (mostly minolta rokkors) ... [quote]

None of the few lenses Minolta made for the Leica R were off-the-shelf - they underwent extensive modifications to meet Leica's specifications. The Vario-Elmar-R 28~70mm f/3.5-4.5 was made by Sigma, again to Leica specifications.