Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Ho folks,

I'm just doing a little preliminary research for a possible article I'm hoping to write.

Trying to get a feel for how many shooters out there are currently using film on a regular basis.

I'd be grateful if you could either post here, or send me a PM if you prefer, letting me know in a sentence or two how often you use film, and why.

Thanks very much!

Yes I only started using film recently after I took TSA's Intro to B&W Photography. I love it!! The feel is completely different, I tend to think more about composition and lighting and everything else before I take a picture, and the grain & tones are wonderful.

I've bought more film in the last 2 months than I have in the last 10 years.

I shoot film as well. When I started shooting (more) seriously about four years ago, I picked up a DSLR. At some point a few years ago I picked up a couple of used film cameras (both 35mm and medium format) and now I shoot with film 80- 90% of the time. I'm now getting into doing my own film processing etc. I tend to be much happier with my results when I shoot with film (in part because shooting with film (especially medium format) requires or leads to a more deliberative/deliberate approach and in part because of the technical qualities of film). I also find the process much more satisfying and demanding. I'm just getting into processing my own film now.

Sure do! I haven't shot too much in the last month or so because I really can't afford the costs, but I have shot dozens of rolls this year with a couple lomographic cameras and a Nikon FE.

On average a couple or more rolls a week. I started photography as a serious hobby in 2005 with a DSLR after taking too many shots I rediscovered film. Reasons for shooting film:

For a different look and feel you just need to change the type of film or use a lens from a different age.

Manual control in older cameras force you to take control over your shot so more of you goes into every shot.

Low cost way to try out different forms of shooting i.e. new versus old, rangefinder versus slr and medium format.

Medium format is a look that you can't get yet from digital unless you spend a fortune and buy a digital medium format system.

Digital is still cheaper when you need a whole buch of shots real quick but I make enough from film to at least pay for expenses.

rarely, will probably take film camera out few times a year, a roll may last me just as long.

I still shoot film - 90-95% of the time, 2-3 rolls a week on average.
75% B&W - home processed, 20% colour neg. 5% colour transparency.
I prefer film to digital. It's more tactile and more rewarding.

Got a film body for cheap about three months ago and have shot about 100ft of film already (well, almost done a 100ft roll, but including the pre-rolled stuff before I got it, it's about 100ft). Paying more attention to my shooting these days. Home processing and scanning as well.

I may take a short break from it tho'. Kinda miss shooting in colour.

Thanks everyone for the feedback...

I've been shooting film 100% over the past year. Before that, 50-50. 80% B&W, the rest color. Love the look. Aside from that, I intentionally went back to film b/c it forced me to slow down and think about what I was doing with a shot.

When I shoot film, I actually feel like I get better photographs than on digital. Maybe I'm doing this by design, for shots I know will turn out well get the film treatment, whereas I can be more sloppy with my digital. I don't know if that makes sense.

+1 !!

My friend said it's psychological because you put so much thought and effort into it, you make yourself believe that it's better than digital, but this was before he started shooting film and now he claims he never said such a thing!!

I shoot all film (medium and, now, large format) these days. I would shoot digital over 35mm, though.

Yes.. still shooting film for personal work.
Both medium format and 35mm.

I, like a lot of folks on here, develop my own B&W but let the lab handle the icky C41 and E6 stuff

Cheers,
Dave

mainly B&W with F5, FM2n and F2AS

Once in a while (10 rolls of 120 a year) and as with most others, strictly medium format B&W, which I develop and print myself. I found it is important to me to go the whole hog and shoot, develop and print and with medium format, it all adds up to a very different process and experience than digital.

Bizarrely I tend to think shoot it more during winter, must be the dark days which cause me not to mind spending time in the darkroom.

Haven't shot film in like 3yrs. My 1V HS is sitting in a box on a shelf and I sold my EOS3 for next to nothing. I think I'll muck around with IR film in the near future.

oooh, I must have missed this posting! I just shot off a whole wack of medium format film in October. I took the Mamiya up to Killarney and shot fall colour. I still have to get them processed... but I get downtown camera to do that for me. I don't have facilities or the necessary gear / chemicals to develope myself, and I mostly shoot slide film anyhow. I also have been shooting off a wack of 35mm I still have left. Blacks still honours the prepaid slidefilm if you have some left over! I have roughly 15 rolls left.


David

I mainly shoot digital but I'm starting to shoot more film these days and have a variety of film cameras (35mm & MF). While I'm not shooting as much film as some of the people here, I'm going through a roll or two a month. Mainly B&W and usually with older manual cameras. Since I'm enjoying it so much I started a photoblog just for my film photos.

Cool site man. What kind of film do you use? I really like the one here: http://clickandwind.com/_/6

thanks!
It's Fujichrome slide film either Sensia or Velvia.

I just got myself a SX-70 =)

Yep, still shooting a fair bit of film, 113 rolls so far this year.

I find I tend to do most of my 'serious' photography with film, my digital is mostly bar shots, event work for school and some occasional stuff that digital just does better (Long exposure work, high-speed/high volume stuff like the Airshow).

Yes, I still shoot film.

Looks like a call for another adhoc film walk.

yay! wait for moi. i'm back on the 17th, okee?

Digging this out of the archives...

I've been hoping that you would do another photo walk around Cabbagetown since I missed the last one.

Dunno how I remembered these old posts -- I don't even have photos to show for them

As soon as the weather gets back above freezing.

Wildlife photog here. I haven't touched film in 4 years and don't miss it one bit. Hated carrying film into the wilderness, worrying if it was too hot for it, hated changing cannisters at the most inopportune moment. Probably hundreds of things about it I don't miss because I don't encounter these niggling problems any more.

Film seemed less forgiving. People claim better results because they slow down and think more about the shot with film. But a selfdisciplined focused person still slows down and takes the neccessary steps when shooting digital.

Film walkaround? What's that? 20 people all taking a photo of the same thing?