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