BartHx wrote:
Even amortized over a reasonable expected life span, what is the cost of the computer(s), editing software, digital photo printer(s), etc. for digital photography? Nobody seems to take those expenses into account when comparing film costs to digital. If we take those costs into account I would expect the difference between Bob's B&W numbers and digital numbers would be considerably less. I have been processing and printing B&W for well over 60 years and silver prints are permanent. I also occasionally print from family negatives that are well over 100 years old and experiencing no degradation -- yes, the nitrates do need to be stored and handled carefully but so do a lot of things. What is the life span of digital media and will anyone be able to read those files in 100 years? As Bob points out they are apples and oranges. Digital users have no reason to discount film and film users have no reason to discount digital. Too many of us do both and variety is the spice of life. Use the one that you enjoy.
Even amortized over a reasonable expected life spa... (
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Riddle me this, if you had a choice between the best film camera or the best digital camera, which would you choose, and why? I content digital is simply better than film, otherwise everyone would use film. There are many people still shooting film, but not in comparison to the number using digital. There are also people who still use VHS tapes and vinyl records, claiming they're superior.
But that's just wrong! I asked my uncle one time why he uses film. He told me one day he sat down, and based on a cost/benefit analysis, determined film was the way to go. I contended that perhaps the analysis was not complete, because he knew next to nothing about digital!
He flew off the handle and said, "Are 'you' trying to tell me what 'I' need? How would you know what 'I' need? Just keep your opinions to yourself!"
So I said, "I apologize if I offended you. But your defensive posturing tells me you know you made the wrong decision. If you thought you were correct, it wouldn't matter what I think, because I'd be incorrect. But as it is, the slightest question triggers a full onslaught of efforts to silence the truth."
He said, "I knew you were bad from the day you were born. Just get away from me, or shut up!"
I said, "It's OK to admit a mistake. In fact, that's the only way to correct them. If we simply go on justifying ourselves, we continue the same incorrect behavior, which robs us of what we could have had if only to admit our error."
He said, "What's this we, our s**t! Speak for yourself! You always were a little slow; not the sharpest tack in the box!"
I said, "Then what does that make 'you'?"
My dear uncle stomped off mumbling something about d**n kids nowadays! So, I learned. They wise value reproof. But fools spurn it. Not directly related to anything, but food for thought nonetheless.