Digital or Film – Pros and Cons

Why is it that so many individuals make a fuss about sticking to film or going digital? Besides, whether the photographer uses film or a digital camera, his talent of capturing unique images will not change. Going digital has lots of advantages although there are still some professional photographers who prefer to use film especially for capturing landscapes in large prints. With toady's modern technology, digital cameras are being used by many individuals, amateur or pros. In fact, there are already digital cameras that can match with the film format used by landscape photographers. Still, some photographers are hesitant to try digital cameras. With a digital camera, you can instantly check the composition and exposure of all the images you've taken through the LCD feedback. This feature is excellent; however, you will also need to spend countless hours in processing the images on your computer. According to traditional photographers, it is much better to spend countless hours behind their cameras rather than sitting in a room and doing computer work. There are pros and cons whether you're using film or digital. Using a digital camera will not improve your skills as a photographer. Good photography is enticing and elusive. Very few individuals are able to create good images and using a digital cam will not ensure good photography. Digital cameras have technical advantages but you will still use the same techniques. Good images are created through the ability of the photographer and not the camera. True enough, the camera can help but your creative eye will remain the same. Here are reasons why some photographers prefer using film instead of digital cameras. The images authenticity is often questioned with the use of digital cameras since the digital images can be manipulated. You will spend many hours working on your computer. Another thing is that the colors produced by slide film are stronger than the digi-cam. So if you prefer printing large images, go for film. Perhaps you've also used film cameras before. Before you switch to digital cameras, you must determine the pros and cons. Digital Camera Pros: 1. You can instantly see the images you've taken and if you don't like them, you can re-take the picture. The pictures are also easily downloaded to the computer. 2. The pictures can be stored on the computer. You can enhance the pictures or you can print them. With this camera, you can take as many pictures as you like and save them on disks. Cons: 1. If you're not experienced, you can lose many pictures. For instance, you did not create a backup file for the photos and the computer crashes. In an instant, the pictures can disappear. 2. The printed photos don't have the same feel and look as the film shots. If you want to print photos, you will need to purchase colored cartridges and printer paper which can be quite costly. Film Cameras Pros: 1. You can make adjustments when taking pictures to create desired images. 2. The photos are developed immediately and so you can see the pictures at once. Cons: 1. Not very convenient and is losing popularity in today's modern times. 2. You can't check the images before printing and so you end up developing photos you don't like; a waste of money. Choosing between film and digital is a personal choice. Photographers often choose the one that offers flexibility. Digital cams are quite costly but with its increasing popularity, the prices are going down. Film cameras can cost about $500 (35mm SLR). If you can afford any of these cameras, perhaps you can experiment on them. If you have a film and digital camera, you can get the feel of using each of the gadgets. Make sure that you choose the one that provides ease of use and one that provides the best images. If you're well informed, you can make an excellent choice. Again, you must keep in mind that the ability of the photographer is more important than the gadget he or she is using. Even if you're using a digital camera and you're a lousy photographer, the images will remain the same. If you're a talented photographer, the type of camera you're using will not affect the quality of images.