Comparison of various aspects of digital photography against film photography.
74
votes
4answers
3k views
What is “ISO” on a digital camera?
What is "ISO" in general, and how is the scale defined?
How does the ISO scale for film speed differ from ISO sensitivity as used in digital cameras?
Is lower ISO always better?
57
votes
22answers
5k views
What kind of photography is still better done with film cameras?
Are there any kind of photography left today which digital cameras are still in the disadvantage to film cameras?
24
votes
9answers
2k views
Why don't cameras capture dynamic range as our eyes do?
When sitting in a room with no lights on, and I look out the window, I can easily see the interior of the room even if I focus on a tree outside.
Why can a camera not capture a similar image to what ...
24
votes
11answers
817 views
Do you still bracket your photos?
Do you find that bracketing your photos is still in general a good practice, or has photo editing software greatly reduced the need for this?
How To Bracket
(Why You Should) Bracket Your Important ...
19
votes
8answers
857 views
Should higher ISOs really be preferred (all other things being equal)?
My understanding of the ISO setting on digital cameras is that, unlike film-cameras, changing the ISO does not evoke any physical change in the camera. Rather, it simply tells the camera to multiply ...
17
votes
3answers
926 views
Do smaller apertures provide more depth of field past the diffraction limit, even if peak sharpness suffers?
In Understanding Exposure (3rd edition, on page 48), Bryan Peterson has what might be called a rant against modern on-line conventional wisdom about diffraction limits. Answers on this web site are ...
17
votes
8answers
10k views
Is it possible to convert a film SLR to digital?
This may well be a question to which the answer is "can't be done," but I was wondering whether it was possible to convert a film SLR to a DSLR by putting a sensor in place of the film. I have a bunch ...
16
votes
4answers
530 views
Is it possible to do infrared photography with digital cameras?
I remember taking infrared pictures with a simple filter and black and white film. How can I do something like this with digital cameras? Or is this even possible?
16
votes
5answers
1k views
Does longer exposure increase saturation?
I have read that longer exposure times lead to increase/improved saturation and that landscape photogs use ND filters to allow for longer exposures to get better saturation.
Is this true and does ...
16
votes
5answers
5k views
What is the difference between digital high ISO noise and film grain?
What is the difference between digital high ISO noise and film grain? Why does one "eat detail" and the other does not?
14
votes
15answers
2k views
What advantages does 35mm film have over high-end digital?
In this day and age, do 35mm film cameras have any advantages over high-end digital cameras?
I am thinking mostly about image quality, but sure, other aspects are interesting, too.
13
votes
6answers
2k views
Why are blown highlights particularly bad in digital photography?
I've heard that digital sensors are less "forgiving" of blown highlights than film. Why is this?
There's something called "characteristic curves". How does this related, in film and in digital?
Can ...
13
votes
6answers
976 views
Why should a digital photographer learn to shoot film?
As someone who has only done photography seriously in a digital world, I've occasionally had folks recommend that I learn to shoot film as an educational experience.
What reasons might one choose to ...
13
votes
5answers
1k views
Is there a difference in dynamic range between film and digital?
Is there a difference in dynamic range between film and digital?
11
votes
5answers
1k views
What megapixel value is equivalent to which ISO film?
Is there some kind of equivalency table or formula that expresses what kind of pixels you need in a digital camera to have roughly the same quality as a particular ISO graded film? What other ...
11
votes
6answers
3k views
Is ISO 200 still considered to be a bad choice, on digital cameras?
In times of film photography there was a rule to either use ISO 100 film (or even great Velvia 50) which usually had considerably less grain noise than ISO 400 film. So 100 for outside or well lit ...
11
votes
6answers
2k views
Is it true that film SLRs are obsolete unless you develop your own photos?
I have been told that most photo labs now use scanners and print your photos from these scanned images. I live in an area with only a few photo labs such as Wal-mart, Target, and the local Groceries, ...
11
votes
5answers
701 views
Do ISO values for Film and DSLR cameras have 1 to 1 correspondence?
For example, if we have a film with ISO/ASA speed of 100, is it equivalent to setting ISO = 100 on DSLRs?
10
votes
4answers
460 views
How does flexible ISO make shooting digital different from film?
I was thinking at the differences between SLR and DLSR (in Manual mode). In both cases you can change aperture and shutter speed as it suits you.
But with SLR you are stuck with the ISO of the film ...
9
votes
3answers
868 views
Is it true that '80s 35mm photofilm had quality corresponding to 24 megapixels?
Is it true that '80s 35mm photofilm had quality corresponding to 24 megapixels? Somebody told me so today, and I find it surprising.
8
votes
2answers
227 views
Does reciprocity failure (Schwarzschild effect) exist in digital photography?
In analog photography (film) there was an effect called "Schwartschild effect", or Reciprocity failure when making long exposures (usually more than few seconds).
Some film brands created ...
8
votes
7answers
2k views
What are the pros and cons of film and digital for B&W photography?
What are the pros and cons of both platforms in context of black and white photography?
There are several rather subjective arguments out there (like "film has richer gray-tones") and they're welcome ...
7
votes
4answers
394 views
Were lenses for film designed to focus different colors at different depths, and what does that mean for digital?
I was reading the book Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers: The Ultimate Workshop by Martin Evening & Jeff Schewe (Focal Press. 2011) and read this paragraph about film lenses and DSLRs:
… ...
6
votes
2answers
490 views
How did film photographers overcome constant ISO/ASA values in low light situations?
Today in Digital SLR era, when I find myself in low light situation in a place that I can't use my tripod or I don't have it, and still don't want to get blurry images, I use the widest aperture which ...
5
votes
4answers
881 views
Old reflex to digital
I have an old Nikon Nikkormat reflex film camera. It's an object of sentimental value more than else, but I would like to know if it's possible to "convert" it to digital. Something like a fake film ...
5
votes
3answers
563 views
Why does blue sky gets rendered as black in black and white film photos?
I recently started using a film camera along with my digital camera. I took a picture with both the cameras. This one is from digital camera:
Left is the photo without editing and right after ...
4
votes
7answers
470 views
Is it possible to make a 35mm digital camera with the same size / weight / price as a 35mm film camera?
Why are full-frame digital cameras huge, heavy, $6000 beasts when 35mm film cameras fit in a pocket and cost $6?
Are full-frame cameras getting smaller, lighter and/or cheaper? If not, why?
If ...
4
votes
3answers
606 views
Is it worth investing in a used 35 mm Film camera?
I've a Canon 60D and I'm mainly interested in shooting landscapes. I feel very interested in buying a used canon EOS film camera (since my EF lenses are compatible).
I would like to take pictures ...
4
votes
3answers
461 views
What is preventing sensor ISOs from going lower than 100? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why can't the ISO level on most digital cameras be set below 80
So, take your typical DSLR sensor. It probably tops out at anywhere between 1600 - 6400 ISO.
The ...
3
votes
2answers
593 views
What is the equivalent resolution of a 35mm film [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What megapixel value is equivalent to which ISO film?
Is it true that '80s 35mm photofilm had quality corresponding to 24 megapixels?
I know this is a little bit ...
2
votes
3answers
340 views
Super 8 digital “back”?
I just bought a canon 1014 xl-s for 10 euro's on the flea market (this was a real bargain, since they go for 500-700 on eBay).
This camera records using super 8, but since this would be a costly ...
1
vote
6answers
377 views
Are there any reasons to use film cameras anymore? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What kind of photography is still better done with film cameras?
Other than the love of the style, are there any solid reasons to use a film camera over a digital ...
1
vote
3answers
548 views
How do I get a “Film” look with a digital camera?
What can I do, in terms of lightning, to make Digital look like Film? By that I mean a "dreamy" sort of look.
Does it has to do with the color temperature? the setup?
0
votes
3answers
421 views
What is the difference between an SLR and a DSLR?
What are the differences between SLRs and DSLRs? (I know that DSLRs are Digital SLRs but are there any actual differences?)
Also, what are the advantages/disadvantages of both?
0
votes
1answer
129 views
What camera and accessories do I need for taking photos of paintings made with acrylics? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are the best practices for taking pictures of a canvas?
I currently have a 2 year old digital camera and am looking into taking professional photos of my artwork, ...
0
votes
0answers
55 views
What are the benefits of film vs digital? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What kind of photography is still better done with film cameras?
At this point, are there any image quality advantages of shooting film for portraits or landscape vs ...
0
votes
0answers
144 views
Is there a reason that a film SLR would be preferred to a digital SLR? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What kind of photography is still better done with film cameras?
The capabilities of digital photography continue improve, however some manufacturers (including Nikon) ...
0
votes
0answers
114 views
35mm Film to Megapixel [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What megapixel value is equivalent to which ISO film?
Is it true that '80s 35mm photofilm had quality corresponding to 24 megapixels?
Is there a ratio or ...
