Film to digital, my journey

Film

From the first time I held a camera until around the year 2000, I shot exclusively on film. Mostly black and white, occasionally color or slides. I often used Ilford FP4, Ilford HP5, and Kodak Tri-X, and sometimes Ilford XP2, which had to be processed in the C-41 color chemistry. All of it was developed and printed in my own darkroom. I usually bought bulk rolls and loaded them into 35mm reusable cartridges myself.

Why Digital

When I eventually switched to digital, I never looked back. I don’t miss the work that came with film, although I loved it at the time. The “film look” is beautiful, but I don’t feel I need film to achieve it. My favorite black and white conversion software, Silver Efex Pro, gets me results that I believe are indistinguishable from the real thing.

Film inevitably leads to scanning negatives, which means you end up with a digital file anyway. Scanning can introduce its own quality loss, depending on the scanner, software, and operator. All things considered, I prefer to shoot digital from the start.

Digital is also more economical per shot. Film and processing costs add up quickly, whereas with digital you only invest in the camera and lenses. And the big advantage is immediacy: you see results instantly. For beginners, this is invaluable for experimenting with settings without worrying about waste. Even as an experienced photographer, I appreciate being able to check exposures in the moment and adjust on the fly. An electronic viewfinder or LCD screen makes this even easier.

Old Crush

That said, I am not here to claim digital is better. Film photography offers its own rewards. There’s something special about loading film into a camera, advancing the frame after each shot, and later developing it yourself. Mixing the developer, getting the temperature just right, timing the process perfectly — it’s a craft.

Watching an image appear on photographic paper in the developer tray feels like magic. It’s your image, created through patience and skill. That satisfaction is something no digital camera or computer can truly replace.