Film Photography vs. Digital Photography: What Are the Differences?
Reading Time: 5 minutesHolding the camera and taking the shot are about the only similarities between film and digital photography. Here’s how these two mediums differ.
Digital is the standard when it comes to photography. Although smartphones have had a huge hand in accelerating the dominance of digital cameras, this revolution was already well underway before cameras appeared on your mobile device.
Regardless, film still has a place in contemporary photography. The venerable analog format offers its own unique advantages (and disadvantages).
The distinct pros and cons of these two formats will dictate which one is right for certain situations.
What Is Digital Photography?
Digital photography has a surprisingly long history. The first digital camera was developed by Kodak engineer Steven Sasson in 1975, and although the unit was heavy and extremely rudimentary, it laid the groundwork for the digital revolution that would follow in the coming years.
The main novelty of digital photography, and what sets it apart from film, is a digital camera’s ability to capture image data in a digital format.
Film cameras use a photosensitive material to create a photograph, but digital cameras are able to store an image in a memory card, using an advanced digital sensor in place of the film present in traditional cameras.
Digital photography has become omnipresent, and the average person’s go-to camera is a smartphone. You can even use an iPhone for professional photography. The move to a digital format has opened up the world of photography to more people than ever before. Today’s digital cameras provide a combination of image quality and excellent price that’s hard to beat.
If you’re starting out with digital photography, giving film a chance wouldn’t hurt either. In fact, it might teach you a lot of valuable lessons you can transfer to your film photography.
What Is Film Photography?
To many people, film photography is the original. It’s something many people grew up with, and the feeling of taking your film roll to a lab for development is an unparalleled experience for some. On the other hand, if you’re just starting out with film photography, mastering a non-digital camera can seem daunting.
The film ‘look’ that many photographers swear by is a product of the unique way in which film cameras capture a scene. Digital photography uses a sensor and processing power to create the final image.
But, with film, a chemical reaction is triggered in the roll when it’s exposed to light. This ‘burned’ image on the film is eventually developed in the lab using an assortment of chemicals, and then the final image is born.
There aren’t any algorithms at work here, and getting the final product is a much more involved process than looking at your phone’s screen after snapping a picture. This process is precisely what many people love about film, it’s almost romantic to some. Other than the film itself, film cameras can look very similar to digital cameras.
Both of them typically use lenses that focus the light in a certain manner, and the form factor is very similar between DSLRs and traditional SLR cameras. There are various film formats (sizes), but the most ubiquitous type of film is 35mm.
What Are the Differences Between Film and Digital Photography?
Let’s look at the key differences between film and digital photography.
1. Film Can Only Be Used Once
Purchasing a roll of 35mm film involves a direct investment in the medium you’re going to be shooting on. Meanwhile, digital memory allows you to snap tons of pictures, and make room for even more photos by deleting the ones you don’t like.
This kind of disposability is a major reason why many people prefer the process involved with shooting film. Film rolls have a limited number of exposures before you can’t shoot anymore.
In theory, this forces the photographer to put more thought into every shot. But, it is a double-edged sword because film rolls are one-time use, and digital storage can be reused many times over, affording the photographer more practicality.
2. Film Speed vs. Digital ISO
You can play around with the exposure settings on your film camera, just like you would on a DSLR. But, one of these settings is a constant. When you purchase a roll of film you’ll have to choose the ISO, or speed of the film. This is where the versatility of digital cameras is apparent.
If you’re shooting in direct sunlight, you’re going to want to choose a film with a lower ISO. Need to photograph in lower light? You’re going to need a new roll. But, with a digital camera, adjusting the ISO is as easy as turning a dial.
This is a huge advantage of shooting digital. But many photographers prefer the ‘organic’ look of film grain to the artifacts commonly associated with shooting in higher digital ISOs.
3. Cost
Digital cameras, especially mirrorless and DSLR, tend to be more expensive upfront. But, it’s important to factor in the development costs of film. Constantly buying new rolls of film also begins to add up quickly over time.
4. Developing Time
Film cameras are nostalgic, and they produce beautiful images that are almost impossible to recreate with a digital camera. But, the time it takes to shoot each individual shot, as well as the additional time it takes to have the roll developed, might be too much of a hindrance for everyday users.
In addition, many people don’t live near a lab. This means they might end up mailing their photos for development somewhere far away. Ultimately, you might not see the finished product until weeks later. There are other methods to get the film-style photo look more instantly, however.
Digital is instantly available to preview, and you can share the images on social media on the spot. Printing digital photos is as easy as uploading them to your computer and hitting the print button
5. Film Grain vs. Digital Noise
This topic is completely subjective. Some people love the way a grainy film photo looks, claiming it is superior to a ‘noisy’ digital photo.
At the end of the day, these are personal tastes. But if you like the vintage look of film, you can’t go wrong with a grainy photo and the vintage atmosphere it creates.
Noisy digital photos don’t have quite the same cult following as grainy film photos. In fact, noise is usually something photographers, and camera manufacturers, actively try to eliminate.
Which Is Better: Film or Digital?
This is completely up to the individual. But, there are certain pros and cons to each of these formats. You should consider experimenting with film if you’re into the nostalgic look, and overall process, typically associated with the format.
If you’re a casual user, or even a professional, that values the efficiency and ease of use associated with digital, the choice is clear.
There’s no reason to pick one over the other. Each of these formats brings its own unique advantages, so treating them as tools for different occasions, instead of competitors, can yield fantastic results.
Film vs. Digital Doesn’t Have to Be a Competition
If you’ve been reading photography forums in order to make up your mind between film and digital, you might think choosing one over the other is borderline sinful.
But the truth is, cameras (and formats) are tools a photographer uses to capture moments. If what you’re trying to convey calls for a film camera, the choice is obvious. Likewise, if you think a digital camera is better suited for an occasion, go for it. It doesn’t have to be a competition between these two amazing mediums.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/film-vs-digital-photography-differences/
Ref: makeuseof
MediaDownloader.net -> Free Online Video Downloader, Download Any Video From YouTube, VK, Vimeo, Twitter, Twitch, Tumblr, Tiktok, Telegram, TED, Streamable, Soundcloud, Snapchat, Share, Rumble, Reddit, PuhuTV, Pinterest, Periscope, Ok.ru, MxTakatak, Mixcloud, Mashable, LinkedIn, Likee, Kwai, Izlesene, Instagram, Imgur, IMDB, Ifunny, Gaana, Flickr, Febspot, Facebook, ESPN, Douyin, Dailymotion, Buzzfeed, BluTV, Blogger, Bitchute, Bilibili, Bandcamp, Akıllı, 9GAG