JasonC Loc: Houston, Texas

I just sold my Olympus XA and Nikonos film cameras, but can’t seem to put my Canon AE-1 camera up for sale.

Now, there are valid arguments for hanging on to medium-format film cameras, but I can’t seem to find anything to support that 35mm film cameras produce higher quality images than even crop-sensor digital cameras.

So why do some of you still shoot 35mm film? Is it je ne sais quoi, or is it something else?

Thanks!

Jason

Keith S Loc: Federal Way, Wa

Jason, I just pulled my old Pentax K1000 off the shelf. Just sort of a science project to see the difference in images with my Canon t2i. Only a few more shots to take and I will send the film in.

Just wanting to do the comparison of the two media.

Keith

User ID

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Hang tight onto that AE-1.
Don't part with it til it dies,
which will be any day now.

.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My AE-1, and my Ftb, are in the curio cabinet.
Couldn't get rid of mine either.

JasonC Loc: Houston, Texas

So it sounds like your 35mm cameras are merely keepsakes and no longer used?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Correct.
I like the ability to take more than a couple of rolls of 36, and I got rid of my B&W darkroom years ago.
So nice to be able to work on the photos while watching the TV.....
I do miss the darkroom though, it was so much fun.

BebuLamar

I have the Ftb, The EF, the AE-1, the A-1. I did got rid of the AE-P. I would get rid of my Canon's if someone would buy them.

JasonC Loc: Houston, Texas

So, it sounds like folks who still have their old film cameras, Canons anyway, don't use them.

As perhaps you've figured out, I'm looking of an excuse to use my old AE-1.

Jason

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wish I could help.
I like prints from slides better (Kodachrome 25 and Ektachrome 64),
but film is SO not cost effective for me.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Shooting film, with highest resolution digital scans and processing, can be fun for those of us who enjoy the exercise. But no, it doesn't seem to make economic sense...

Andy

Bill_de Loc: US

All the talk about mirrorless cameras being more compact because there is no mirror or prism. HUH?

I held onto just one film camera.

--

wishaw

I have every camera I owned cannot get rid of them. Memories. Canon at1, ae1, elan IIe, xti, 70D. Pentax sp1000, mamiya twin lens

Bipod

Your AE-1 is an historic camera: the first microprocessor controlled SLR.

It has a breech lock mount, which creates less wear than a bayonet mount.

And it will shoot real B&W film. Which incidentally, is higher dyanmic range and
resolution than any FF color sensor. That means you can print larger without
it looking fuzzy (and it will never look pixellated).

The only digital camera with a monochrom sensor is the Leica M9 Monochrome: $8000.

And with no modifications it will shoot infrared film. Or technical film.
Or any 135 film you like. (Film has continued to get better and so have
developers.)

Another reason to shoot film is permanence. Properly washed silver prints
are known to last more than 150 years.. Toned ones can last even longer
Many sepia (sulfide) toned prints from the US Civil War look as good
as the day they were made. Because they are permanent, collectors will
buy good silver prints and they fetch higher prices than computer print-out.

Inks can claim to be permanent, but nobody will know for 150 years.
And most are "secret formulas". Most dyes fade badly. A pigment might
be permanent, but will the binder yellow?

Beth Moon (the San Francisco photographer famous for her Ancient Trees.
had an entire inkjet run of fine art prints turn green--after the gallery had
sold them. She had to replace all of them and apologize to the buyers.
She now makes her own platinum paper and contact prints.
(Interestingly, she scans the negatiive, processes, the prints on
transparency. So it's a hybrid workflow.)
https://doorofperception.com/wp-content/uploads/doorofperception.com-beth_moon-ancient_trees-2.jpg

How old is your oldest computer-printed photo? How old is your oldest
image file? My family photo albums contain some daguerreotypes and
callotypes, and many tintypes. Most are in very good condition -- much
better than color prints from the 1960s.

But I like film (all formats) because I can control the entire process. I'm
not dependent on processing software or printer firmware. Lots of photographers
know enough to build an enlarger, but I haven't met one yet who knew how to
build an ink jet printer -- or to fix one.

If a photo or print doesn't turn out, I know who's to blame: me.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

As a life long teacher, I enjoy listening to my students (college level), learning what they are doing. Remember the days when we heard "records are old fashion and will disappear"? Well, while I have replaced all my LPs with CDs, so many of my students are in love with LPs, and that number continues to grow, especially in Europe. Film? Kodak even announced the return of Ektachrome film. Our college continues to offer courses in film, to include darkroom development, and the enrollment continues. So, all my fellow UHH friends, if you wish to continue or return to the use of your film cameras, do so with conviction. Enjoy!!

bigjoe

I still have an AE one that I bought new a New A one that I bought new when It first came out eons ago there’s a place in town that still works on them if they happen to break down but they’ve been flawless over the decades I have not shot film in a very long time but I still hold onto them I think it’s a good idea if you just put in the case and hold onto them