I remember in the way back days what limited my photographic urges was the requirement that I purchase both film and developing.
I might, maybe, have shot 256 exposures on 35mm film. Total. In my whole lifetime.
I have fired off almost 1,200 exposures in the three months I've had the M50.
The S5 IS I bought in November 2007 had 6,870 on the clock when I broke it in April 2018.
The SX20 IS has logged 1,139 from April 2018 to now.
I am completely uncertain about how many pictures I've taken with my phone since such things became possible. I do know that it's shocking that my current phone is a better camera than my first two digital cameras.
I kinda dig living in a future that's surpassed the speculative science fiction of my adolescence.
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I don't miss flashbulbs at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't miss having to use a lightmeter and make manual settings.
I don't miss matching the needles to get a good exposure.
My first good camera was a Nikon F with an FTN viewfinder. Add in a couple of lenses and I had to tote a large amount of weight around in a stout camera bag. I don't miss that either.
I would no more go backwards in photography than I would change my car's starter to a hand crank.
What hasn't changed are the elements of a good photo.
I remember my mom loving to take pictures, but hating much of what you mention.
DeleteI recall the day when she bought the Minolta XG-A and how it would do much of the work automatically. She was absolutely giddy.
I'm using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200, and it includes the ability to shoot very high quality video with fair quality sound.
DeleteThe only thing I'd like to see improved in the Panasonic bridge camera line is an improved manual focus.
The fact that "the film is free" in digital cameras is going to make better photographers. You can get instant feedback on the picture and take more of them. The problem with film was that delay between taking shot #1 on a roll of 24 or 36 and maybe waiting months before seeing it's any good. Unless you're OCD about recording details, you don't remember enough to learn from your mistakes.
ReplyDeleteThe only advantage of the "matched needle" system John in Philly mentions is it being easier to adjust exposures for back lighting or other things that are hard on autoexposure systems.
My first digital camera was pretty bad. Since I'd always been a Minolta guys since the mid-'70s, I went for a Minolta. I think it was limited to 640x480 pixels, but despite playing around with film once or twice, I'd never give up the convenience to go back to film.
I've been using that instant feedback to test making settings changes.
DeleteThe game I've been playing with sunsets is to see if I can get the camera to record what my eyes see. Along the way I'm also discovering that there are a lot of shots that are more dramatic or aesthetically pleasing than what I can see with my Mk.1 Eyeballs.
Digital, for me, made photography FUN!