When I started into the world of photography you only had a few choices in film. There are three main roll film types in regular use: 35mm, 120 medium format, and 220 medium format roll films.(This blog doesn't include large format. That is for another day)
Medium format has traditionally referred to a film format in still photography and the related cameras and equipment that use this film. Generally, the term applied to film cameras that recorded images on media larger than the 24 by 36 mm of 135 film(35mm film is also called 135 film because that was the number Kodak assigned it. The standard 24mm x 36mm frame uses 864 sq. mm of film surface) but smaller than the 4 by 5 in (10 by 12.7 cm) size, which is considered to be large format.
In the film world, medium format has moved from being the most widely used film size (1890s through 1950s) to a niche used by many professionals and some amateur enthusiasts, but one which is still substantially more popular than large format.
In the film world, medium format has moved from being the most widely used film size (1890s through 1950s) to a niche used by many professionals and some amateur enthusiasts, but one which is still substantially more popular than large format.
I only used the 35mm but longed to get into the medium format arena but it was just too expensive.
When I first considered the digital cameras they were expensive but not as much as the medium and large format cameras. However it took some time for me to change over from film to digital and I did it reluctantly.
Now? I would not have anything else but a digital camera!
I carry three digital cameras on a shoot (in my Pelican case) and a film camera.....just in case!!
I don't know of anyone that uses 35mm film and really don't know if it is ready available.
The only drawback to digital is that anyone that can afford a $1,500.00, plus or minus, camera is a 'professional'!! Or at least they call themselves 'professional', natural light photographers.
When I used film in a wedding I always had two cameras handy. One for color and one for black and white. That was fun! The two cameras along with a light meter and rolls and rolls of film made for a lot of work. With film you had to know what you were doing in order to get a decent shot.
Not so with digital! You see instantly what kind of shot that you got and adjust immediately to correct the settings if you took a lousy shot.
All said and done film was fun! It was an adventure! It was a guessing game! The excitement in seeing your work and realizing the f stop you used was the correct one and it paid off.
I can do without that kind of excitement. Now, using digital, I can see immediately if I took the money shot or if I screwed up.
Film? Digital? Digital, hands down!!
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