Hello Publish0x readers,

I hope you all are well and staying safe from the dreadful Covid Variants. 

This topic is about the DSLR vs Film Photography.

I considered myself a Variable Photographer ( DSLR, Film (35mm 120 and large format))

Since as of March 2021, I became a full time film photographer/film photography after my 5 DSLR cameras were stolen include over 15 film cameras and film photography gears.

It was heart breaking to have my photography stuff stolen prior moving to new home including HDD containing over 500,000 images that I intended to use it for Art Gallery this year. A big setback for me. 

Since my DSLR were stolen. I have almost forgotten that DSLR/Mirrorless existed. Have been using film rolls full time since March. 

There are Pros and Cons about DSLR and Film Photography.  Nearly everyone knows that which are so good in some areas and the other aren't so good.

It comes down to personal choices. My personal choice is film photography.  DSLR can do many wonderful has many editing tools to make it more wow factor but alone itself the image isn't good enough for the mainstream audience to show "appreciation". The  DSLR images without editing often overlooked and ignored while the unedited Film images were often praised and respected among the audience.   I often wondered why two different contrast that DSLR, Digital camera, Mobile phone doesn't have a nice community as Film/Analogue communities has.  I have asked. Simple answer is that DSLR, Digital,  Mobile Phone photography doesn't cost to take photo and to delete at instant moment except the shutter counts unlike film photography. It cost money per frame. Even with the bad shots on film frame is acceptable because of the understanding of the cost  of per film roll, developing, processing and scanning/printing. 

I prefer to take the shot as it is. That is film photos. I posted with a film photo on my gallery as it is. I gained more respected among the film/analogue photography communities than I have with DSLR communities. DSLR communities doesn't feel exist out there. With DSLR photos, I felt being forced, to enhance to edit more to appease the wider audience.  I had a discussion with a fellow photographer few years ago about the necessary to edit more. His response was so simple answer is Unnatural Imaginary. Audience wants more unnatural imaginary.  Not my thing.  Not my style. I felt disagree to use more time on pc/laptop to do edit on each DSLR image. It take a lot of time, resources and energy to create unnatural imaginary images. 

I love lomo themes using expired film rolls gives so much mystery results. Fan of Lomography photography. Partial Lomography cult with some of specific cameras or film rolls. Lomography cameras are mostly made of lightweight plastic. Very basic settings. 1 speed shutter, B for bulb mode N for normal and MX for Multi exposures. No battery required unless using flash. Brilliant brilliant, I also like classic film cameras. All mechanism no battery. Most of the newer version film cameras need battery for light meter or shutter activation for auto programmed film cameras.  The vintage cameras are for if I wanted to take much more more sharper details than Lomography's plastic lens on most range of variant models. There is a glass lens, an attachment accessory for better sharper details but I haven't tried it yet. One day I will give it a go.

Understanding how convenient the DSLR are using removeable storage data card and live preview LCD displaying and after taking shots to view on LCD screen but is not the same as film photography.  I learnt to be more patient with film photography. Take some shots and wait for film roll finished then take it to lab. Turn around 1 hour for quick 1 hour possessing in some big chain outlets and film processing lab stores. I always take my film rolls to film processing stores because they do hand on developing, processing, scanning and transfer or uploading to alternative storage such as CD, USB, SD card, and Cloud within few days, within a 1 week or few weeks depend how busy the store is. The mystery wait to see the photos is so rewarding. Some photos i can see was bad or messed up shot. That allows me to do much better and what's needed to improve. 

Really the costs of DSLR and film is very much the same.  Purchasing the DSLR/Digital camera cost hundreds of dollars or more than thousand of dollars, lets say include lens and accessories.  You can buy cheap Film Analogue film camera as low as $5 via 2nd hand stores or online or local ads for the plain basic camera and up to thousands of dollars for high end brand/models. You buy film rolls, you spend money on developing and processing, scanning the negatives converted to images. All these costs adds up over the time will be as equivalent as the DSLR's prices. BUT look, this is the thing is a big difference. DSLR cameras prices will always drop down after purchasing and over the time will continue drop down each shutter counts reached to the near end of the average shutter mechanism lifespans.  Film cameras market value prices will and shall continue go up. We all don't care how many shutter counts these film cameras had been. As long as the mechanism works. Great. As long as it looks good. Great. As long as it does take photos. Great. As long as it feels good to carry. Great. As long as it feel good to receive attentions from passerby staring, admiring, nodding in respects. Some will even come approach in awe and discuss about film stuff. Great. Overall, is that Film Cameras will cost more than DSLR. No doubt about it. Great. DSLR can not capture the grain, Only Film does. Great. Film developing and processing can be done at home. Great. DSLR can not capture like film does at the time of the shot. Great. Film doesn't really require editing at all ever and gained respects so much wider exposure unlike DSLR does. Massive Great. 

This is why chosen film  superior over the DSLR.  Don't hold yourself back.  Don't let yourself put off by the bad shots. Keep doing it. Keep finding your niche. 

Long Live Film.