Film will always be the best. It was the norm for photography for over a hundred years. We don’t actually need the dozens of menus on digital cameras because we managed without them before. Going back to basics makes it much more simpler. There’s a whole different mindset to shooting film than digital and I think it definitely improves your photography.

I began my photography with a film camera, the Canon AE-1 Program camera; those were the days. Although I never did any film processing, I did enjoy waiting for the return of my photos after I sent them off. This is a great video and CONGRATULATIONS on 1000 subscribers, it’s well deserved!

So spot on description. Shooting again film on nikon fm2 and never been happier.

I've been shooting for 40 years, started with film, went to digital and now back to film. Film is just so much better than digital. If you don't understand that rethink your perception of photography and art.

This is an outstanding video, Michael - I absolutely loved it! I just bought a Nikon FE2, and I can’t wait to try it!

Wonderful Video again ! I am rediscovering the joy of film-photography more and more this year ! Nikon F3 and Leica M2 and 6 are the tools and I quite love both system ( which complement my Nikon digital system really well ). The relatively slow process of taking the shots, composing them properly and taking care of good exposure makes it such a great and almost therapeutical experience ! I consider a 6x4.5 format film camera now -- even have some old stock medium format film still from the time , when I wanted to try out medium format years ago already. Looking forward to your next videos and to my experience with this even slower form of taking pictures soon !

Hi! Just found you and really enjoy watching and listening to your thoughts. Initially found you via the really thoughtful review about ICT. You’ve got a new subscriber. Yes, I shoot film 😊 and enjoy my darkroom. See ya on the trails in the Spring. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Love the video and so true. My wife recently kicked me out of our main fridge and bought me a little freezer as my film was overtaking too much space. I shoot 120 and 35mm and mostly slide films. I also have digital bodies for some sports and action. I will never stop shooting film unless it goes away. Its so relaxing, so challenging and so rewarding when you get a few great shots!

I started my photography journey back in 1999 with a Nikon FM10. I got to develop in college a bit, and that was exciting! I shoot both film and digital today. I like the grain structure and other characteristics of film over a digital image. The light roll off is also much more magical in film.

Another great video. I think what I miss most about film photography is the darkroom side. There's nothing more magical than putting the paper in the developer and watching your image appear. However, when I was doing weddings as a film photographer, it was very stressful, waiting a full week just to know if you've got, a good set of images. I do like the instant feedback of digital photography when I was doing weddings.

I have been shooting film for decades. I started with medium format film and purchased my first 35mm camera just before I started shooting professionally. Most of my favorite film cameras are manual/mechanical as opposed to automatic/electronic. Battery independent Nikon F and F2, Leica M1 and M6, Pentax Spotmatics, Mamiya C3, C22, and C220, Mamiya RB67, and Calumet 4x5 inch monorail view camera were some of my favorite film cameras. The Leica M6 and the Pentax Spotmatics needed batteries for their built-in light meters but were able to capture images without batteries. My other favorites did not have built-in light meters. When I started shooting digitals, I did not stop shoot film.

I'm 21, so I grew up as my parents were slowing moving away from their pentax 35mm point and shoot and invested in early CCD digital point and shoots. My dad picked up a DSLR around 2006 and after that we never really took any new film photos. Recently, I travelled to Europe and picked up an antique (but fully working) Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B (an old SLR), shot some rolls of kodak gold, agfa apx, fomapan and now kodak pro image. I have to say, this film photography thing is really fun, I think it really lets you just stay in the moment instead of looking back at the DSLR screen with your image preview. I might even pick up a Nikon FM to get into some of those great nikkor ai lenses!

A lot of great points here Michael. With evolving technology, it’s easy to get drawn into the tech specs game. I’ve eyed a few medium format film cameras for this very reason, but for now I’m just focusing on enjoying the process and ignoring “new releases”

I look back on photography in the 60s when i had one camera and one lens. It was because it is all i could afford. It was simpler and exciting.

I thought about buying the new Pentax film camera I don't want a half frame fixed lens camera so I put new light Seals in my Pentax Spotamatic at least I have a camera with interchangeable lenses i fact i bought the camera for the Takumar lenses the camera was a added bonus One thing I like about shotting film I was able to photograph the Sistine Chapple something you can no longer do My favorite film camera lens was a Pentax 35-105 3.0 lens

From my own experience, I learned more about photography shooting with my Nikon FM2 rather that with my digital reflex. As you said, more options easily distract us from what's important, like composition; also most of the times, I wasn't satisfied with the photos I was taking with my digital reflex, because they looked awful on the lcd screen... not to mention that with digital photos you'll have to post-produce them on Photoshop to get the result you want, which means you have to learn how to use the software, which in my case means more stress that led me to delusion and giving up on photgraphy. I'm glad that I decided to go back to film and rely on my smartphone (an S23) as a support.

I use both my Nikon rangefinder S2 and Nikon ZFC for travel and general photography.

Fantastic video. I think my phone has been listening to me, because I've been out shooting film today (Ilford XP2) with my M42 system (Pentax Spotmatic F). It's not as advanced as your Nikon and I may have under and over exposed a couple of frames. Here's a challenge for you: shoot a whole roll of 36 frames in a day without wasting shots or duplicating. I've got three shots left after scouting the following locations near me: (1) run-down part of town (2) old canal (3) inside the house (4) farmland (5) waterfall and trees (6) derelict rural buildings. It's got me really thinking hard about my compositions and focussing on what I enjoy.

Never gotten a chance to shoot film properly, aside from once in school for a photography course. My style has developed to be such that don't think I ever can properly get into film photography, but I am interested in trying some day. Maybe use it for some vacation photos or something. The advantages of digital are all in the speed. And not in the exposure sense, in the single photograph sense. All the settings are just to fine tune automation to help you get the quickest shot, really beneficial for action, which is very much what I enjoy the most.

You’re 100% right about the cameras today, plus they’re obsolete within a year as new models are introduced. I’m taking pictures with cameras and lenses introduced the year I was born and can use those lenses on newer models.

I agree. It makes me a better photographer. I get it right the 1st time with my digital since I shoot a lot of film. I am especially careful with my Crown Graphic at 2 to 5 dollars a shot. I have had good luck shooting Weegee style of 1/30th F-11 and flash with the graphic. for 35mm I shoot an Agfa Ambi Sillette. Great fun and like Christmas, you do everything write you get a great shot do it wrong and when you pick up the prints and you get a lump of coal.

Don’t disagree with the points you’re making but have you seen the price of film these days? You only have to look at the used film camera market to see that a lot of photographers have been left behind by repeated increases in the cost of buying film. I love the Nikon FE too. I’ve had a lot of FE’s over the years.

Film lives forever.I love to create a physical product (the negative),I can hold in my hands.I print all my film photos.Film has a more organic and 3D look when you print.Do I shoot digital?Yes when I have to share images with a lot of people,when I don’t care a lot about the image and at outside night photography.For everything else I prefer film.I photograph with from 70s when I was 7 years old.

Agree with this, on my Flickr I have approx 600 shots, less than 20% are shot on film - However 4 of my top 10 most viewed shots of all time are film. I puit this down to composition and the extra effort and concentration involved in shooting film as you state here. Also proves itas about the composition and picture not what toys you have.

That, and, while film is expensive, you can get a darn nice 35 mm film outfit together for less than four mortgage payments.

Nice video, I agree till a certain extend with what you say but I don't know if it's true that people were not so much concerned about photo equipment. One thing is for sure; the options a camera offered were much clearer simply because there were not that many. A difference between two camera models of the same brand was often not much more than the addition of a faster shutter-time or the option of a self timer. It was exciting to see how the pictures came out after processing, but that was because you waited for a few weeks/months to complete the film-roll and for learning about lens/ camera setting, it was a disaster because you didn't remember what the hack you were trying to do with exposure compensation, unless you made some detailed notes...

Relaxing video

Nabbed a mirrorless camera a few years back to capitalize on “vintage” lenses and then went straight back to film

I grew up shooting 35mm on Nikon 40 years ago. I am contemplating 6x9 on large format for landscape so that I can scan it with a mirrorless digital camera to make high rez images. Other than that, I don’t miss film at all. How much simpler can you get than shooting in manual? And you do develop your digital image: Its called shooting RAW. You develop them in lightroom or darktable etc. I prefer filmic workflow in Darktable. I often shoot with fully manual lenses that have scales etc. Nothing to do with film or digital. I could not get the kind of images of birds in flight I get today back then. Canon’s AF and lenses are amazing. And when I want something simple, I put on a TTArtisan 35mm F0.95 fully mechanical lens on my R7 and mess around with scales, aperture on the lens and focus on the lens. Fine for playing…

Aparently I have like 7 film cameras at this point, Pretty sure all 35mm, Only two have changable lenses, a Nikon FE, and a Pentax K1000. I only have one lens for the Nikon, and looks like 3 for the k1000, Im thinking I want to find a cheap mirrorless camera for most of my shots and learning the ins and out of the lenses, and using one of the 35mms for special shots.

I had a Pentax ME Super with a Pentax Asahi f/1.8 50mm lens years ago, bought in the early '80s. It was fun although I have to say as a whole I prefer digital. However I was recently given a Ricoh XR-P with a Ricoh Rikenon P f/1.7 50mm lens. Only problem is, the camera's advance lever and shutter are hung. I've tried what I can find online to free it, but there's not a lot of info on this camera. I put a Pentax K-mount to Canon EF-S mount adapter on the lens and have used it a little bit with my Canon DSLR.

I love the experience of shooting in film. I started in film going back to the 90's and even have my original AE-1 and F1 to this day in mint, freshly serviced and functional shape for when I want to take a trip down memory lane. The problem (here in Canada anyway) is the cost of shooting on film. A decent roll of 400 is now $25, and development costs are $30-$35 a roll.............making 36ep costing $55-60, that's damn near $2 a picture when taxes are taken in account and MORE if you want digital negatives to work with. I can do the same on my Canon R7 for pennies on the dollar, and edit, crop and blow them up till my mind is content...........And prints are ALL less than $1. If I shoot 1500 pictures on a film Camera, I have paid for my R7 and a couple lenses in full......and the R7 is just getting broken in. Film is great for nostalgia, and old time sake.................but in the real world even a beginner DSLR or Intermediate mirrorless camera will dust the floor with film. Like it or not, Camera's are the vessel to take what the photographers eye can see and put it into physical/digital media for others to enjoy. Same as 8-tracks to Cassette's, to CD's and now streaming................they are the vessel to produce a product. There will ALWAYS be nostalgia and the "old feeling" with this stuff, but technology moves on like it always has.............other wise we'd still be using plates and covering ourselves with black sheets. Time waits for no one, and neither does technology.............Camera's today are better than they were yesterday or last year, and will get even better tomorrow now with global shutter technology.

Great video

My first Cam I shot with was a Graphlex Speed Graphic , I think I used triX 4X5 sheet film develope in Microlol X dilute 1 to 3, miss that camera.

Do you have any information on that eyecup you use? I have a Nikon FE but not rubber eyecup and would love to get one. Maybe a part number or if you purchased separately? Thank you

I think where digital photography went wrong was it tried to be too clever and blind us with so much technology that basically you were using a computer not a camera. If only the designers had realised that photographers want that experience of making there own decisions and creating for themselves. I only wished that the camera designers had made an iconic digital version learning from some of the true classic film camera designs, wouldn't it be nice to have an all manual, no video, no auto, no computer, just completely strip down camera but suppose that's most probably a Voigtlander or Leica camera now. I've always used manual setting and vintage lenses on a digital camera and now with the introduction of A I. I feel digital has lost it's way. I'm happy to say I bought a 50s 35mm film camera and look forward to using this although I was tempted to purchase a TLR.

While I agree regarding the love, romance and nostalgia with shooting film- it’s just so cost prohibitive, especially for beginner photographers. I love shooting film- but the convenience and efficiency of digital is just really hard to match. If film, mainly medium format wasn’t so darn expensive I’d definitely shoot more of it.

For over 45 years I have developed my own films including C41 and E6. I used to print too, even CibaChrome. The most exciting though, was waiting for my Kodachromes to come back from the Kodak lab. Althougj I have used digital for over twenty years, I am under no delusion what digital photography really is? Computers at work at every stage with the photlgrapher right at the bottom of the credit list, particula rly these days with auto everything cametas.

Yeah, film was great, sending out rolls of the Same film to different labs to see which one gave you the best results..... everything you said about shooting film... you can do with digital with just a little discipline

Totally agree, modern day photography is like playing with cameras most of the time, Plus PS on Computer, which is kinda cheating, film is the real photography unfraternally the price and availabilities of film development force many to use digital cameras including myself.

I would endorse all that you advocate for 35mm film cameras - I still own two, & take them out for regular airings in my locale. Certainly, it's not immediate in terms of results, but why this propensity to rush about ? Part of the charm of film cameras is the anticipation in receiving (or developing your own film stock). I have noticed many DSLR & Mirrorless users who are clearly impatient for the image on their KZfaq vlogs. There is also a tendency to forget some of the basics of photographic principles - I read this as laziness, intolerance, & reiterate this idea of immediacy. Of course, if you're a professional with deadlines for your work, Digital/Mirrorless carries the advantage; otherwise, I see no particular rationale (& yes, I do own a D850 - relatively speaking, it shares equal time with my film bodies). Ultimately, each to their own - Thank you for advocating the venerable film camera !

Yep, totally, i have never shot digital.

Though you did mention it once in passing, COST per $hot (even if the shot fails) is always on your mind. Your right, there's no need to cull a lot of pictures. I always felt like I should have shot more. Occasionally, I'd wish I had two bodies. One for color negative, at least one more for slide reversal, black and white, or even high speed color. Can't bracket negative film, unless you do your own processing. You should always bracket slide film, so always buy the 36 exposure rolls. That's difficult/impossible to do with action scenes. I'd suggest people buy a Nikon, that way you can buy a cheap modern manual lens. The most expensive lens from 50 years ago will never be as sharp as a cheap manual F mount lens today. No, I'm not down on film, but I'll never go back!!!

Infinity has no after its infinity ;)

You're right about a lot of this stuff. The limited exposures forced you to think about each image and not take pictures unconsciously. But there are some things beginners would need to understand. You don't think about anything but the composition once you're familiar with getting good exposures reliably with a all-manual camera - or relying on the very basic auto-exposures from '70s and early '80s cameras. Once you can, then sure. Before though, you're thinking more about the camera than ever. And if you shoot slides (few seem to anymore) the rewards are great but the exposure risks are even greater. And then there's the price. I haven't exposed a frame of film since before covid. Portra 160? I mean c'mon. The price of that stuff is bonkers. I think if I get back to shooting film (and I must, I've got too many great cameras lying idle) it's going to be black and white only - as cheap as I can get it to offset the price rises. I don't mean to be too negative. Shooting film is magic. Having the physical photographs that won't disappear through a digital accident or after your death for others to discover is a great feeling. And I enjoy shooting mid-90s cameras that had a lot of options going on as well. Film isn't only about all-mechanical cameras with a couple of controls. But I find with a little ten year old Fuji camera I get 85% of what I loved about shooting film with the advantage of being able to practically shoot over 400ISO, with some added tools for exposing (such as a histogram in my viewfinder which is also giving me an exposure 'preview') and being able to change 'film' on the fly for what the image demands. Just like you can choose a highly computerised film camera, you can buy a digital camera that you can shoot all-manual by twiddling knobs. Anyway. I'm partially just venting. I enjoyed your vid. The feel of working a mechanical camera can't be underestimated either.

I can understand were you are coming from, I shot my very first film roll back in 1977, and agree in principle with what you are saying, however I have one question, who can you really blame for you loosing the ability to focus on composition and caring too much about the gear? I was a late switcher to digital, I did when Kodacrome was discontinued, and haven't shot a roll since, I still use the camera as I was then, I only use a small fraction of the camera capabilities, probably I don't even know how to use most of its functions, I simply swapped the Zone system to ETTR, same thing but just reversed, added bonus is not needing a light meter anymore and not having to write down a gazilion of information on a notebook for each film to remember how to process it. Don't get me wrong, every now and then I get the nostalgia guilty feelings until I suddenly remember the all the nasty smells of the chemicals and endless hours in the darkroom, life is too short.

If people understood that the only setting that actually affects the data is ISO, aperture and shutter then silly videos like this wouldn’t exist. The problem isn’t with digital photography, it’s that people don’t understand how digital photography works. In reality it’s much closer to film than people think. I personally set my ISO to the sensor’s base, put it in manual exposure, and meter with spot. I shoot vintage glass so AF isn’t an option. But if you find yourself distracted by your digital camera, that’s on you - and frankly, probably because you don’t know what you’re doing.

20 bazillion times a day on KZfaq. Honestly. It's exhausting. And boring. As is the 'Film slows me down' mantra.

I will leave the film shooting to you and this comments section. Shooting film has its own set of problems including the hordes of art school graduates who think because they invested in film that they somehow did a more artsy shoot. Truth is, they suck.