I am a former U.S. pro photographer, now shooting B&W only, all wet darkroom. Always my favorite. I believe that, aside from the trend/craze aspect, there is a serious cultural underpinning to the growing interest in film. An interesting book titled The Revenge of Analogue: Real Things and Why They Matter has some interesting observations along this line. Major changes are afoot globally. I'm optimistic. Best wishes to you.
In the digital age we make images but not photographs, we used to make photographs with images ON them in the film days. This is why printing our images into photographs is so very important! I only wish it didn't cost so much.
I have been taking pictures since the 1950s I used my fathers twin lens roller flex and my Kodak duflex 4 cameras in the beginning. In the 70s I switched to Canon 35 mm film cameras. Now I use digital but still occasionally use film. I found digital to be easier because I could take as many pictures as I wanted. I could keep my finger on the shutter button forever, I would never miss a moment, and I would capture the moments in between the moments. But I still enjoy the film camera even though I have to be much more careful cause you only have 36 exposures on that role and you can’t Erase them.
I still have a Minolta XG-7 that was given to me for my 15th birthday. In 2006 I bought a Nikon D50 and the Minolta was retired. A few years ago I dusted off the Minolta and processed a couple of rolls of film. They were mostly terrible. Apparently I had forgotten how to properly expose images on film (maybe I never knew how?!?). It made me appreciate DSLRs and now mirrorless cameras. Film will not replace digital, at least not for me, but every photographer should at least try shooting on film. When you get it right it is especially rewarding, more so than with digital.
I have recently purchased the following: Pentacon six TL medium format SLR. Canon A1, Pentax MX, Zorki 1 (Leica copy), FED 3 rangefinder, Nicca 3-F (Leica cop made by Nikon), Olympus EE-2 half frame, Olympus PEN FT half frame SLR, Nikon F, Nikon F2, Rollei 35 LED, Rollei 16, Nikon F50 Minox B, Zeus Ikon Nettar folding 120, Kodak Brownie No2 box, Yashica Atoron 16mm subminiature, Nettar 515/2 folding, Minolta 110 SLR, simply to get back to a type of photography that slows you down, makes you think about your photography again rather than just pointing at something and shooting in a scattergun fashion. How many of us who have used digital cameras print our shots, how many of us keep our photographs and not just end up deleting them? Old photographs, traditional ones are a potential record of how things are to be discovered and enjoyed decades later, like we are doing now of photographs take about one hundred years ago. How many of our pictures will survive for that to be done? Pick up a negative and despite the technology around at the time we can enjoy them, will that be even possible in the future?
Hi Russ lovely thoughtful video, I have never given up on film (or vinyl) despite being very keen on technological advance. Quite often I find that tech advance leads to some loss - either experience of the process or aesthetics/art - which you only really become aware of when you go back to using the older technology (whether it’s film,/vinyl/tape). For me, it also maintains a continuity of my experience across time. So much of my memory is linked to when I got this camera, took this or that photo, used my dads old rolleiflex/Leica etc etc. Less nostalgia, more about maintaining the memory cues to keeping track of life!
@@russandloz Gains of digital outweigh losses for what I want. But if it was a film camera, whatever I am currently playing with. Rolleiflex at present - I really like only having 12 frames, one lens, portability and fighting with fit spool to get in the development tank!
I just asked my wife the other day as I was picking up my Nikon Z9...is this really photography anymore? There is no art in photography anymore is there?? I used to shoot film and developed the film and then printed it. THAT was the art in photography...You can change all that in camera as you take the photos now... Good talk...Thanks for sharing...
I am so pleased to watch your Video, enjoying the pleasure of photographie since 1981 with my Nikon FE2 and F3 HP and original lenses from 24 to 300 mm ED. The Differenzen is only one and that is " your first print is your best (Analog)" and in digital " your next shot is the best". However you and your Partner are my best adviser in Respekt Nikon Products, thanks
@@russandloz enjoyed, not really but very proud after getting that good result, and you know it was so expensive as a professional who was earning with that. For a set of 36 frames, you have to pay about 45 DM without ensuring how many are good enough. In my opinion, Analog Photography is an invention of and digital photography industry.
I switched to digital 20 years ago and still regret selling my Pentax LX back then. But I really enjoyed the eye autofocus on my Sony cameras. But my most recent step? That‘s going back to analogue with a Minolta XD-7. But being an amateur who just loves slow photography, I can afford it. Who needs 40 frames per second anyway …
I have only just discovered your channel, probably because I spend most of my time off the Internet. Last year I purchased the Nikon S3 Year 2000 Limited Edition camera. It is fully manual, and although I have a digital system, with some Zeiss Batis lenses, the only time I truly enjoy the process is being out (alone) with the film camera. Being an amateur, I guess it hasn’t been something I ever contemplated. Working through the process is slower, but it feels more engaging. Eh, I might be a weird one, but it is just me.
@@russandloz yes, to answer your question, but I like the equipment I use to have a certain aesthetic. If mirrorless, then perhaps the Hasselblad X2D mirrorless system. From what I've read and seen, those colours are breathtaking. Not only that, it looks to be a slower system overall, which suits me just fine. Thank you for the question.
I started on film back in the 70's / 80's and I have just ordered an old Canon F1, can't wait to get back to real photography! I remember the days when our family would sit together and look through our old photos. We now have 1000's of photos on a hard disk which are never looked at. When you have 36 exposures you take your time to get it right, rather than snap away without much thought. I think film is here to stay and we will end up leaving digital photography to AI. If I were Nikon or Canon I would reintroduce a manual SLR with minimal electronics.
@@russandloz Yes you can I have an AE-1 which is in v good condition. But I don't know how long it will last. The problem is old electronics which.can fail. That's why I also bought an early F1 which is mostly mechanical. I took a chance and ordered it from Japan, Fingers crossed.
@@russandloz probably the laziness of taking the film to be processed and the picking up again to find they’re not what you were expecting in my case anyway 😂loved it at the time though
One thing I like abut film is storage. I don't need electricity or a computer hard drive that might crash. I feel film is more stable storage. A bit paranoid I know. I got back into film because I could scan the negatives rather than having to go back into the darkroom. If the hard drive crashes Ive still got the film negative. Also the look is just different is all. I see the two formats as good dance partners.
Had OM1 from 1972,3 ,with 4 lenses and flash. 2000 got Olympus IS3000, LCD display people thought it was digital but no film. 2017 first digital, Fujifilm XE1 , given this by a relative, learning curve. But 2022 bought film cameras again OM2 , 5 lenses , and due to great price first medium format, Pentax 645, plus 4 lenses. Dream camera but still not shot with yet, if honest, a little intimidating, but I'll pull finger out and use once summer arrives in NZ. Hearing alot of 20 plus are getting into film, to them it is vintage, interesting and as alot tell me it slows them down and they then learn and enjoy the process and results.
@@russandlozI guess the journey is better than the arrival. Is the not wasting shots, delayed gratification and all that, who knows. But I went on a trip years ago armed with a digital camera and a russian film camera, the best shots were from the film camera, my .1% of total photos. Maybe when I shot the film I really thought about what I was doing.
I am a former U.S. pro photographer, now shooting B&W only, all wet darkroom. Always my favorite. I believe that, aside from the trend/craze aspect, there is a serious cultural underpinning to the growing interest in film. An interesting book titled The Revenge of Analogue: Real Things and Why They Matter has some interesting observations along this line. Major changes are afoot globally. I'm optimistic. Best wishes to you.
In the digital age we make images but not photographs, we used to make photographs with images ON them in the film days. This is why printing our images into photographs is so very important! I only wish it didn't cost so much.
I guess only printing our best work is a good way to go
I have been taking pictures since the 1950s I used my fathers twin lens roller flex and my Kodak duflex 4 cameras in the beginning. In the 70s I switched to Canon 35 mm film cameras. Now I use digital but still occasionally use film. I found digital to be easier because I could take as many pictures as I wanted. I could keep my finger on the shutter button forever, I would never miss a moment, and I would capture the moments in between the moments. But I still enjoy the film camera even though I have to be much more careful cause you only have 36 exposures on that role and you can’t
Erase them.
I still have a Minolta XG-7 that was given to me for my 15th birthday. In 2006 I bought a Nikon D50 and the Minolta was retired. A few years ago I dusted off the Minolta and processed a couple of rolls of film. They were mostly terrible. Apparently I had forgotten how to properly expose images on film (maybe I never knew how?!?). It made me appreciate DSLRs and now mirrorless cameras. Film will not replace digital, at least not for me, but every photographer should at least try shooting on film. When you get it right it is especially rewarding, more so than with digital.
Yes film is more rewarding, I guess younger people are finding this too, though maybe they can't afford new tech either.
I have recently purchased the following: Pentacon six TL medium format SLR. Canon A1, Pentax MX, Zorki 1 (Leica copy), FED 3 rangefinder, Nicca 3-F (Leica cop made by Nikon), Olympus EE-2 half frame, Olympus PEN FT half frame SLR, Nikon F, Nikon F2, Rollei 35 LED, Rollei 16, Nikon F50 Minox B, Zeus Ikon Nettar folding 120, Kodak Brownie No2 box, Yashica Atoron 16mm subminiature, Nettar 515/2 folding, Minolta 110 SLR, simply to get back to a type of photography that slows you down, makes you think about your photography again rather than just pointing at something and shooting in a scattergun fashion. How many of us who have used digital cameras print our shots, how many of us keep our photographs and not just end up deleting them? Old photographs, traditional ones are a potential record of how things are to be discovered and enjoyed decades later, like we are doing now of photographs take about one hundred years ago. How many of our pictures will survive for that to be done? Pick up a negative and despite the technology around at the time we can enjoy them, will that be even possible in the future?
You make some great points, maybe having both could work?
Hi Russ lovely thoughtful video, I have never given up on film (or vinyl) despite being very keen on technological advance. Quite often I find that tech advance leads to some loss - either experience of the process or aesthetics/art - which you only really become aware of when you go back to using the older technology (whether it’s film,/vinyl/tape). For me, it also maintains a continuity of my experience across time. So much of my memory is linked to when I got this camera, took this or that photo, used my dads old rolleiflex/Leica etc etc. Less nostalgia, more about maintaining the memory cues to keeping track of life!
That’s an interesting perspective. What’s your favourite camera?
Z9!
@@johngeddes679 I was expecting you to say a film camera! Lol
@@russandloz Gains of digital outweigh losses for what I want. But if it was a film camera, whatever I am currently playing with. Rolleiflex at present - I really like only having 12 frames, one lens, portability and fighting with fit spool to get in the development tank!
I just asked my wife the other day as I was picking up my Nikon Z9...is this really photography anymore? There is no art in photography anymore is there?? I used to shoot film and developed the film and then printed it. THAT was the art in photography...You can change all that in camera as you take the photos now...
Good talk...Thanks for sharing...
Maybe the art has changed to getting great content and how you edit? But I know what you mean
I am so pleased to watch your Video, enjoying the pleasure of photographie since 1981 with my Nikon FE2 and F3 HP and original lenses from 24 to 300 mm ED. The Differenzen is only one and that is " your first print is your best (Analog)" and in digital " your next shot is the best". However you and your Partner are my best adviser in Respekt Nikon Products, thanks
Thanks, do you enjoy film as much as digital?
@@russandloz
enjoyed, not really but very proud after getting that good result, and you know it was so expensive as a professional who was earning with that. For a set of 36 frames, you have to pay about 45 DM without ensuring how many are good enough. In my opinion, Analog Photography is an invention of and digital photography industry.
I’m preparing my Nikon F5 for tomorrow. I love shooting film .
I switched to digital 20 years ago and still regret selling my Pentax LX back then. But I really enjoyed the eye autofocus on my Sony cameras. But my most recent step? That‘s going back to analogue with a Minolta XD-7. But being an amateur who just loves slow photography, I can afford it. Who needs 40 frames per second anyway …
How have you enjoyed compared to back then?
I have only just discovered your channel, probably because I spend most of my time off the Internet.
Last year I purchased the Nikon S3 Year 2000 Limited Edition camera. It is fully manual, and although I have a digital system, with some Zeiss Batis lenses, the only time I truly enjoy the process is being out (alone) with the film camera.
Being an amateur, I guess it hasn’t been something I ever contemplated. Working through the process is slower, but it feels more engaging.
Eh, I might be a weird one, but it is just me.
Would you ever consider a mirrorless?
@@russandloz yes, to answer your question, but I like the equipment I use to have a certain aesthetic.
If mirrorless, then perhaps the Hasselblad X2D mirrorless system. From what I've read and seen, those colours are breathtaking. Not only that, it looks to be a slower system overall, which suits me just fine.
Thank you for the question.
I started on film back in the 70's / 80's and I have just ordered an old Canon F1, can't wait to get back to real photography!
I remember the days when our family would sit together and look through our old photos.
We now have 1000's of photos on a hard disk which are never looked at.
When you have 36 exposures you take your time to get it right, rather than snap away without much thought.
I think film is here to stay and we will end up leaving digital photography to AI.
If I were Nikon or Canon I would reintroduce a manual SLR with minimal electronics.
Yeah, true, photos are now flicked by on a small screen mobile. Can you still buy decent slr's on the used market?
@@russandloz Yes you can I have an AE-1 which is in v good condition. But I don't know how long it will last. The problem is old electronics which.can fail. That's why I also bought an early F1 which is mostly mechanical. I took a chance and ordered it from Japan, Fingers crossed.
@@creative-renaissance is there any brand make new ones still?
Still have my canon AE1 and a handful of lenses , would definitely need to source a battery though. Thinking about it I can’t see me going back there
It’s interesting how people who had one aren’t too keen to go back. Why in your case? 😊
@@russandloz probably the laziness of taking the film to be processed and the picking up again to find they’re not what you were expecting in my case anyway 😂loved it at the time though
One thing I like abut film is storage. I don't need electricity or a computer hard drive that might crash. I feel film is more stable storage. A bit paranoid I know. I got back into film because I could scan the negatives rather than having to go back into the darkroom. If the hard drive crashes Ive still got the film negative.
Also the look is just different is all. I see the two formats as good dance partners.
Don’t film and negatives degrade over time too?
I’ve still got my old Canon A1 and a couple of lenses; need to dust them off 😊
Had OM1 from 1972,3 ,with 4 lenses and flash. 2000 got Olympus IS3000, LCD display people thought it was digital but no film. 2017 first digital, Fujifilm XE1 , given this by a relative, learning curve. But 2022 bought film cameras again OM2 , 5 lenses , and due to great price first medium format, Pentax 645, plus 4 lenses. Dream camera but still not shot with yet, if honest, a little intimidating, but I'll pull finger out and use once summer arrives in NZ.
Hearing alot of 20 plus are getting into film, to them it is vintage, interesting and as alot tell me it slows them down and they then learn and enjoy the process and results.
I have a billion digital photos, 99% are rubbish. Now I shoot film. I love everything about it.
Why is that?
@@russandlozI guess the journey is better than the arrival. Is the not wasting shots, delayed gratification and all that, who knows. But I went on a trip years ago armed with a digital camera and a russian film camera, the best shots were from the film camera, my .1% of total photos. Maybe when I shot the film I really thought about what I was doing.
I am buying lots of film camera.
owing to me, the price of film camera is going up !!!
blame me .
hmhm hahahah~~~I'm a real Dr.Evil.
Hello Russ & Loz, our company would like to work with you, how can we get in touch with you?
You can email russell4light@gmail.com