AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Good question. Two points of view. I have a beautiful fully operational Kodak Retina IIc camera built in 1954, that is a joy to look at and use. I ran some film through it and sent it off to a lab that charged me a somewhat steep price to develop and digitize the photos which I then retrieved online. I was very disappointed with the results. Thinking, okay even though I see no fungus or haze in the lens maybe the image quality is still affected by its 70 year old lens. So I repeated the process with my Hasselblad 500CM, also in immaculate condition, and most likely a superior lens. Again, spending more than I'd like to but with a different lab, the results were also disappointing. So point one, did I enjoy the experience of shooting with all manual controls and film again? I did. Point two, was I happy with the cost, and the results from having to digitize the film into a usable image? No I was not. I do not have the time, energy or equipment to have the film simply developed and work on the negatives myself. I think therefore I'm just going to be happy admiring these classic cameras on my shelf.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Film photography in 2024 is a challenge. A few points:

> Those classic cameras and lenses we thought were so good were the best we had, THEN.

> Digital cameras are better in a myriad of ways.

> And then we have software. Software offers far greater precision and range of control than any film darkroom.

> Most of our eyes are many years older than when we first used film. Focusing a manual lens from 1964 is much harder now, than it was then.

> Film isn't as sharp as we thought it was.

> Digital scans require sharpening, and may require noise reduction.

> Film labs are scarce and expensive, although not really out of line with 1980s prices, if you factor in inflation with a good inflation calculator.

> Film seems expensive, compared with film prices of the 1970s, until you plug that per-roll price into said inflation calculator.

BebuLamar

I am going out of town tomorrow. I guess I have the almost expired roll of film I will load it in the Yashica Lynx 14E and shoot the roll. The meter doesn't work and the shutter is slow but well I think I can get good exposure with it. Let see.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If you have a smartphone, download MyLightMeter Pro and use it. It costs just a few dollars for an app that turns your phone camera into a pretty darned good hand-held Incident/Reflected meter!

BebuLamar

I have 4 good meters (they all read the same too) but it's more fun not using a meter at all.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I have a Gossen and a Minolta (hand held) but the app works just as well, and it's always with me. The meters have been in a drawer for several years.