Photography

If you've spent much time in the camera department of your local electronics store, you might get the impression that film is dead. Clearly, digital cameras rule the marketplace, and if you've yet to make that intimidating switch it may be because you're wondering what a digital camera can bring you that your faithful old film camera cannot.

The answer isn't simple (if it was, you'd already have made your decision). Contrary to what the sales guy at that electronics store might have told you, film is not really dead. Many professional photographers continue to use film because digital is simply not as good at capturing detail, especially in black and white. Film is still higher resolution, too (which means it can be printed in larger format), although the difference in this area diminishes with each new generation of digital cameras that come on the market.

In general though, the benefits of film for the average consumer are becoming less and less obvious. Film is slipping out of the mainstream and into the realm of the professional and the artist, and many of these folks are even beginning to abandon film as digital SLRs become better and better at what they do.

So what does a digital camera do that a film camera doesn't? For me, the most compelling reason to switch was that digital was simply liberating. With film, I always seemed to be holding back, my financial concerns constantly warring with my inner photographer. Film is expensive, and it's hard to shake that desire to release the shutter only when the moment is perfect—and as any photographer can tell you, if you wait for a perfect moment it's usually gone by the time you've pressed that button. With digital, this concern vanishes and you become free to click with abandon. Memory cards are reusable and they hold hundreds of photographs. Images can be previewed and instantly deleted if they aren't up to your standards. And if you have an off day, you can simply delete everything and start over without having to put out money for another roll or film.

Another selling point for digital is that you don't need to pay a lab to develop and print every image you capture (which always includes the bad with the good). Even when using a printing service (vs. a home photo printer), you'll still be saving money over traditional roll-by-roll film developing. Why? Because you only pay for the best images, the ones you've chosen yourself.

Finally, digital is more appealing to a lot of people because of the ability to enhance images before printing them. There are many software products that make this easy for even the non-savvy computer user. Red eye can be fixed with a single click. Color balance and exposure can be adjusted with one menu selection. In this way digital is infinitely more forgiving than film, and although your initial investment will be higher (digital cameras are still more expensive than film), your ongoing expenses will be significantly less than what you are used to paying.

The downside to digital? Unless you market your work or you regularly print large-format images, there aren't really a lot of downsides once you've spent the money on your camera. If you take a lot of artistic photos, especially in black and white, the loss of detail in highlights and shadow may be a genuine concern for you. But if your primary use for a camera is family photography, chronicling your travels or simply the pursuit of a hobby, digital is probably a good choice for you. And it is true what they say—technology moves fast. As time passes film photographers will have fewer and fewer purchasing choices, although there will most likely always be a place for film with artists and traditionalists. Hobbyists and those who enjoy technology, however, will likely keep following the digital road. Your task is to decide which one of these photography styles best describes you, and make your choice based on how you see yourself using a camera in the years to come.