| since the introduction of the digital camera, a war has | | | | certainly no secret that film has an unforgiving and |
| raged within the photographer community. There are | | | | often expensive learning curve, and recent trends |
| those that would claim 35mm film is the one true | | | | show that more people prefer digital for just those |
| “professional” media, and digital its | | | | reasons. After all, when taking pictures at an event |
| casual, amateur counterpart. Conversely as costs go | | | | like a Super Bowl, would it better to have the |
| down and quality increases, there is an ever | | | | potential for thousands of pictures, or just the film |
| expanding group of professional photographers who | | | | you have with you? Sports Illustrated photographers |
| shoot only in digital. So what is a consumer to think? | | | | answered that question by shooting over 16 |
| Is 35mm still the way to go, or is it time to trade up | | | | thousand images in 2004’s bowl, entirely in |
| for a new digital model? It’s time to break | | | | digital. |
| each format down and seal this deal, once and for all. | | | | However, just as some music enthusiasts claim that |
| Digital Photography: Amateur? | | | | everything sounds better on a record, there are still |
| It is true that there are many digital cameras on the | | | | photographers who think that nothing compares to a |
| market, and like their 35mm counterparts there is an | | | | fresh roll of film. In fact, developing film manually and |
| endless supply of variables that can impact the | | | | printing photos in a darkroom is one of the most |
| images each one is capable of producing. Image | | | | rewarding and hands on photography experiences |
| quality (in terms of color contrast and depth of field) | | | | one can have. Sure, photos can be endlessly edited |
| have always been a major concern for those taking | | | | and re-edited using fancy tools like Adobe Photoshop, |
| digital images and is still one of the common excuses | | | | but clicking a mouse is just very different than the |
| heard from the opposition. Add to this the fact that | | | | tactile sensations of the darkroom. And of course, |
| finding a digital camera that could match the sheer | | | | having someone else print up a roll of film only takes |
| raw data contained in a photograph on film was both | | | | an hour or so. |
| arduous and incredibly expensive, and the 35mm | | | | And the Winner Is.. |
| enthusiast has a fairly solid argument. | | | | Neither! Based on the accessibility of technology and |
| Fortunately for the consumer, the price of an high | | | | the vast educational resources devoted to the topic, |
| quality digital camera has dropped sharply in the last | | | | there’s really no defining point that wins this |
| few years. Canon’s popular “Digital | | | | battle one way or the other. As with many debates, |
| Rebel” line of SLRs has given people an | | | | the winner is going to be decided based upon the |
| affordable (under $1,000) entry-level camera that | | | | needs and desires of the individual photographer. |
| produces near professional results. And since Canon | | | | Families wanting to take pictures and share their |
| isn’t the only camera company in the world, | | | | memories on the fly often choose digital due to its |
| it’s a safe bet consumers can look forward | | | | instant gratification and convenience, while others like |
| to even better cameras at even lower prices as | | | | having photo prints to display them in a picture frame |
| manufacturers double their efforts to be first in line | | | | or album. Thanks to powerful yet affordable |
| at the retail counter. | | | | innovations in digital and the classic, "do it yourself |
| 35mm: Is it Antiquated? | | | | familiarity of film" the choice is now directly in the |
| In these modern times, why even use film at all? It's | | | | hands of the consumer- right where it belongs. |