Film vs. Film - DPChallenge Forums

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

12/06/2004 06:17:52 PM · #1

As a seque from another thread..

What makes a film camera better than another film camera? For instance, say the Canon Elan series compared to similar Nikon models.

With digital it's all about megapixels supposedly, but in film what makes one better than the other?

(thanks in advance)

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

12/06/2004 06:19:37 PM · #2

I would guess, size of the viewer, metering modes, speed it can fire at, and other physical capabilities such as min shutter speed and max shutter speed, also what lenses are compatable, Ease of use... probably missing things.

aznym

Fujifilm X-T3

12/06/2004 06:21:17 PM · #3

Because the positive/negative is the same size from a given format, out of the camera. It boils down to basically the glass with film. But with digital, the quality of the image captured also depends on the chip that's in the camera which the manufacturer of the camera decides, not you as the photographer.

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

12/06/2004 06:21:21 PM · #4

The bells and whistles it has. :)

mcmurma

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Nikon MF 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS

12/06/2004 06:34:26 PM · #5

Build Quality, Bells and Whistles, and Build Quality.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/06/2004 06:34:37 PM · #6

Only the features like flexibilty of adjustments, focusing speed, etc...The lens is the most important part of the equation.

12/06/2004 07:44:47 PM · #7

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

The film cameras themselves don't make so much difference, but a Canon EF mount body will take your 28-105 where a Nikon won't.

The biggest thing is the film you put in it. (and of course the eyes and brain behind it)

Adrian Tung

Canon EOS-10D

12/07/2004 02:14:03 AM · #8

Taking the Canon line as an example, here are a few things that improve as you move up the line:

Rebel
- cheap body
- limited/crippled features

Elan
- better build
- more manual features (AF modes, metering modes, etc)

1-series
- weathersealed body
- faster motor drive (read: shooting speed)
- better AF (faster plus 45 focusing points)

:)atwl

KiwiChris

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/07/2004 03:49:35 AM · #9

A couple more items I found from my film days...

- Consistency of actual shutter speeds, as opposed to metered one.. Remembering that like a digital SLR, there's some mechnical bits that have to be reliable/precise.

- Operating Temperature. My OM4ti worked one winter down to -15 degrees C. The OM10 crapped out at just above 0..

- Noise.. As in mechanical noise from the shutter/mirror. Quite a few high end film SLR's (Like the 1D series from canon) have 'quite' modes that do saucy things with mirror return speeds etc to make them more acceptable in some environments.

Canna think of anything else off the top of my head, but I know there were good reasons I paid nearly $2k for my OM4, and only $400 for the OM10, back in 1991.

Oh, hang on... I remember.. Read This Article to see why I paid so damn much for it....

Sigh. I miss my OM4, shouldn't have sold it.... (With violins..)

Cheers, Chris H.

Edit: Can't type :-).

Message edited by author 2004-12-07 03:52:43.

PerezDesignGroup

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

12/07/2004 04:16:20 AM · #10

The most heated debates I've seen involve the actual film and not the camera's themselves. For example, Velvia vs. Provia.

12/07/2004 11:03:08 AM · #11

Originally posted by PerezDesignGroup:

The most heated debates I've seen involve the actual film and not the camera's themselves. For example, Velvia vs. Provia.

One of the most important things for a pro shooting film (at least with slide film) is to buy film in large quantities, of all the same emulsion batch. While quality control is tight, there will be variations between different batches of the same emulsion. You do not want to switch emulsions in the middle of a job, it will make getting consistent color nearly impossible without doing testing to understand the color shift.

Color neg film is much more forgiving, but I would stick with the pro-emulsions as they just outperform the consumer varieties in terms of consistency, dynamic range and tolerating push processing or underexposure.

Also important is understanding how films differ in color, saturation etc, and why you would use one film for some work and a different film for other work.

GoldBerry

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

12/07/2004 11:41:50 AM · #12

If I'm going to get a film body as a back-up, what sort of film would you recommend for an emergency on-the-fly situation? Just as an overall, general purpose, good film? I know that's a tough question.

Having a film cam would just be as back-up, same with carrying some film for it. Thoughts?

fotodude

Nikon D70

12/07/2004 12:07:08 PM · #13

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

fuji color 400ASA(for digital ppl. ISO)(for non camera ppl. speed)

its the best overall for any lighting condition. think like your digital ISO only think harder as you can't review any of your shots.

*edit* also on the good body front if u have digital lenses they will NOT work on a film camera it has to do with the way the recive light and the aspect ratio.

+a thing to watch out for is the auto advance (when the film gose to the frame) make sure that what ever camera u by that it has a good advance ie. your shots always come out in the frame and not split btw.
(just on a note:Nikon has a garintee that their cameras will always take the shot exactaly in the frame[so far its been true for lots of the ppl. i know and have sold them to{i work at wolf cam.}]).

good luck
_brando_

Message edited by author 2004-12-07 12:15:04.

GoldBerry

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

12/07/2004 12:31:50 PM · #14

SOrry, did you say my lenses for the 10D won't work on a film camera? I thought that they were universal as long as the mounts are the same....

12/07/2004 12:40:31 PM · #15

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

Depends on what you are shooting. If you are talking a commercial client, what kind of film does your client work with? Chrome? Color Neg? B&W? Are you going to scan it?

For weddings, I suggest Kodak Portra color neg film.

Whatever you get, just buy a brick of it and stick it in the freezer.

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

12/07/2004 12:40:39 PM · #16

He means e-fs and Sigma dc lenses.