lousy pics with film camera: I take a picture with an amateur digital camera(EOS XT) then take the same pic with a professional grade film camera(EOS 5/A2 and the pics with the plastic...

memorykeeper Loc: Indianapolis, Indiana

I take a picture with an amateur digital camera(EOS XT) then take the same pic with a professional grade film camera(EOS 5/A2 and the pics with the plastic camera has more detail then the film camera. The 18-55mm kit lens that came with the plastic Rebel might be inexpensive but it performs flawlessly most of the time. The film camera makes a washed out dull pic, why?

memorykeeper Loc: Indianapolis, Indiana

I forgot to mention I tried several different SLR cameras with the same results. the only thing in common was the lens Canon 50mm 1.8 EF and canon 75-300 mm 3.5-4 EF. Really want to still use 35mm or medium format but not until I figure this out. Thanks

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

thememorykeeper wrote:

I take a picture with an amateur digital camera(EOS XT) then take the same pic with a professional grade film camera(EOS 5/A2 and the pics with the plastic camera has more detail then the film camera. The 18-55mm kit lens that came with the plastic Rebel might be inexpensive but it performs flawlessly most of the time. The film camera makes a washed out dull pic, why?

different medium - apples and bananas - Film itself is a variable not to mention lab processing etc

memorykeeper Loc: Indianapolis, Indiana

Thanks for your response;Agree about the fruits but I was under the impression that film could capture a greater range of shades and colors and the quality of film was unattainable especially with a plastic digital camera.

memorykeeper Loc: Indianapolis, Indiana

Well then, I will shoot the highest quality non expired film I can find and take it to a pro lab for processing and see what happens. Thanks again

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

How are you viewing the output? On a computer screen or prints? If prints, are the negatives being printed conventionally or digitally?

I suspect the film should be as sharp as the digital but the problem may be in how the film is being handled. That is, if you are looking at a digital output, then the scan may be at fault. If the scan comes with the film processing, then it may be low resolution. Or are you using a dedicated film scanner or a flat-bed scanner?

I doubt the washed out results is not due to expired film but rather poor processing. When I departed from film about six years ago, I was impressed by how good the films had become. I think the problem is not with the camera or lenses but rather how the film is being processed.

JackKLE Loc: Missouri , USA, St. Louis Metro

Try using a polarizing filter on your film camera. You may be getting some extraneous UV light from somewhere that will wash out colors, if the anti-reflection coating on the lenses are deteriorated, at all.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

Meters vary from camera to camera type from the same maker. Same thing from digital to film. It sounds as if the film camera is over exposing.

Is this slide film or negative film. Each has it's own quirks as to getting the best from the materials.

There are a lot of variables in play and without seeing the images and the metadata used it is hard to be more specific

NikonJohn Loc: Indiana U.S.A.

Printing photos at most places is an automatic process, the equipment looks for certain scenes that it recognizes and sets exposure and "tint" parameters from that. So depending on what you are printing you may or may not get good results if the machine does not recognize it. I know automatic equipment is better now than it was in the 1980's but lousy looking prints is why I switched to slides back then. I still see film being sold so you should be able to get fresh film somewhere. Good luck.

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

thememorykeeper wrote:

I take a picture with an amateur digital camera(EOS XT) then take the same pic with a professional grade film camera(EOS 5/A2 and the pics with the plastic camera has more detail then the film camera. The 18-55mm kit lens that came with the plastic Rebel might be inexpensive but it performs flawlessly most of the time. The film camera makes a washed out dull pic, why?

Keeper,
Actually the film camera should be doing a better job, to equal film a camera has to be somewhere in the vicinity of 28MP. Color saturation, clarity, DOF, film should win, when was the last time the camera was checked, did you use a light meter or does the film camera have one? Another thing to consider is if it does is the battery in good shape? Without knowing all the settings in both cameras it is hard to really make an informed decision on what could be wrong.

George

ole sarg Loc: south florida

You need a really good lab to develop and print B&W. The corner drug store is not the way to go. Most use a universal developer that does both B&W and color and that stuff washes out B&W. Try taking your negatives to the local college that has a dark room and try printing your own.

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

Your under rating the Canon Rebel camera's. I have used them for many years and find them to be very acceptable in quality of materials, and reliability. After many years working with film, I changed to Digital about 10 years ago and will never go back.

gessman Loc: Colorado

thememorykeeper wrote:

I take a picture with an amateur digital camera(EOS XT) then take the same pic with a professional grade film camera(EOS 5/A2 and the pics with the plastic camera has more detail then the film camera. The 18-55mm kit lens that came with the plastic Rebel might be inexpensive but it performs flawlessly most of the time. The film camera makes a washed out dull pic, why?

Most digital cameras are set up to do some in-camera processing such as sharpening, saturation, etc., whereas film cameras make no such adjustments after an image is taken. I'd look for that to be part of the explanation.

billybob40

We are lucky today we can take a 100s of shoot and play around with photoshop and other programs, to get what we want. Back in the film day you took the in B&W take it to your dark room and played with them. If color you run to a lab and hope. If you think thats bad try glass plates. You'll have got it make.

problem child Loc: Kingman AZ

I still shoot film only. I can agree with the coments about the processing. I live in Kingman AZ, and the only choice here is Walgreens. So now I go to a lab in Las Vegas about a hundred miles away.. The difference in overwhelming.....