Do 35mm film cameras offer any advantages over high-end digital cameras?
Asked 7/16/2010
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2 answers
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I'm comparing 35mm film cameras with modern high-end digital cameras. Are there still any real advantages to shooting 35mm film today, especially in terms of image quality? I'm also interested in practical differences such as cost, power requirements, maintenance, and lens compatibility.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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I don't think we can talk about quality difference anymore. The definite difference, in my opinion, is the need of power of digital cameras. If you are going mountain climbing then a film camera might be more appropriate since mountains still lack power plugs.
Also, film cameras have a very low starting price. If you are a novice it is economically convenient to be able to have an SLR for almost nothing just to see if you like photography.
Other than that, there's the love some people have for manually developing film, but that's about it from my point of view.
Originally by user32. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user32
16y ago
0
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For pure image quality, the answers here suggest 35mm film no longer has a clear advantage over high-end digital.
Film can still offer some practical benefits:
- no battery dependence in many film bodies, which can be useful where charging power is unavailable
- very low upfront cost for some used 35mm SLRs
- access to full-frame 35mm capture with certain existing lens systems
- each frame uses a fresh piece of film, so you don’t have the same fixed sensor dust issue as digital
- some photographers simply enjoy the film process, including developing
But film also brings ongoing costs and inconvenience:
- you must keep buying film
- processing/developing adds cost and time
So the main advantages of 35mm film today are usually cost of entry, independence from charging, and the shooting/developing experience—not a decisive image-quality edge over top digital cameras.
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