Going from film to digital - Am I going to be disappointed?
Hi there, this is my first post on this forum & wasn't sure where to put it but I hope you can alleviate my digital worries!
I enjoy taking family & holiday snapshots with my basic film camera and have always been impressed with the results especially as I'm just a P&S'er. I would like to convert to digital but some of my friends pictures are so disappointing in comparsion, for example, blurry, lack detail and poor colour (either bright disney colours or just dull). Is it possible for a casual "photographer" like me to produce film quality pictures with a digital camera?
Many thanks
Bex80
P.s Just like to say that your gallery is inspiring. Absolutely stunning!
The canon SD series are capable of very good picture quality. I do not know what camera you are used to, but I am sure the image quality will surpass your film camera's results.
Canon EOS 350D, Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 macro, Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC EX, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM, Tokina AT-X124 Pro 12-24mm F4, Soligor 1.7x C/D4 DG Teleconvertor, Manfrotto 724B tripod, Canon Powershot S30
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I enjoy taking family & holiday snapshots with my basic film camera and have always been impressed with the results especially as I'm just a P&S'er. I would like to convert to digital but some of my friends pictures are so disappointing in comparsion, for example, blurry, lack detail and poor colour (either bright disney colours or just dull). Is it possible for a casual "photographer" like me to produce film quality pictures with a digital camera?......
Bex, your digital vs film arguement is outdated. If you only take basic PnS photos, you can't be unhappy with digital. Even if you are thinking of taking photography further, there are many digital cameras to choose from for your level of experience and budget.
I am a newcomer to photography, (during the film-age, I couldn't justify the cost of spending on a roll of film hoping to get a few exposures correct).
I attached a couple of photos I took recently - I'm a beginner. Taken with Panasonic DMC-FZ20 on P (auto mode).
You don't have to buy the same camera, of course, it's just to show you digital cameras have come a long way.
...and here is another one. If you are not convinced I have hundreds more.
RHYS's gallery is impressive of course, but he is a pro., just look at his gears. By the way, no software postprocessing on the photos, just resized.
I think it depends on one's expectations and your level of photography. I went from film to digital about 7 months ago and I love it, but I discovered that digital pictures require varying degrees of post processing in a software program to perfect/enhance them to their highest potential... for instance cropping, and sharpening... and sometimes even lighting and color. You can get some decent shots straight from the digital, but many are going to be lacking, without some post processing. But you can turn an O.K. shot into a good one and a good shot into an exceptional one if you learn some basic post processing techniques in a good software program. I see MANY pics on here that are flat in color and soft in focus... and they could be outstanding pics with a little touch up.
A digital camera isn't going to turn a casual photographer into a professional. Your friends probably don't have a clue about how to use their camera and don't do any amount of post processing on thier pics. The awesome thing about digital is that you can immediately see the results of your shot and reshoot if necessary in most situations. And unless they understand a bit about lighting and photography they will end up with some lacking shots... although many of them could still be salvaged in a good software program.
I'd really do some research before choosing a camera too because they do vary in performance. You can google and find reviews on each camera. There's lots of sights for consumer reviews, so take advantage of them.
Very impressed with your gallery, especially the pictures of Riga as I'm going there next week (the reason of the possible purchase of a digicam!)
Would I be able to produce similar quality pictures with a canon SD series or would I seriously be sacrificing image quality for the size?
Many thanks for your help
Bex80
Ok. Riga - a pocketable digital camera that can be concealed easily is best.
Stay away from Chaka Iela after dark (whores and muggers paradise) and out of the pedestrian underpass after dark. Also stay at least 100 yards away from the cafe Safrans (more whores work from there) and that area is a 24x7 pickpocket's paradise.
In the market, watch your back and your pockets.
The rest of the city is relatively safe although there's a constant level of petty crime wherever you go. Don't put anything down and expect it still to be there.
If you need a guide, go to the "House of Blackheads" and ask Rasma Fishere to be your guide. She's a friend of mine. She's a professional guide so you will have to pay her.
I took my pics of Riga etc with my Nikon 3100. For a 3mp camera, it's not bad.
Many thanks for your replies. These were the responses & reassurance I was hoping for.
I understand that digital has come along way but I've just returned from spending 6 months travelling (me & film camera with friend & her digital) we swapped copies and I ended up throwing most of hers away due to the image quality, it's so disappointing.
I have seen some amazing photos produced by digital cameras, however, I wasn't sure whether these were possible by a newbie using a P&S with no knowledge on how to improve them.
Tim - your photos are great, thank you for sharing them with me. I am convinced!
Gracie - You're quite right, my friends pictures would not have been post processed so I would imagine that the most people with the right knowledge & software could improve them 100%. I've done quite a bit of research about the which digicam to buy (that's how I found myself here!) especially seeing the cost benefits and flexibility a digital camera has, but then had second thoughts after seeing the photos mentioned above. I'm hoping that a digital camera will inspire to learn more and make my film pictures inferior!
Rhys - thanks for the tips on Riga, all noted!
All - I have been converted and off to order a shiny new camera now!
Many thanks for your replies. These were the responses & reassurance I was hoping for.
I understand that digital has come along way but I've just returned from spending 6 months travelling (me & film camera with friend & her digital) we swapped copies and I ended up throwing most of hers away due to the image quality, it's so disappointing.
I have seen some amazing photos produced by digital cameras, however, I wasn't sure whether these were possible by a newbie using a P&S with no knowledge on how to improve them.
Tim - your photos are great, thank you for sharing them with me. I am convinced!
Gracie - You're quite right, my friends pictures would not have been post processed so I would imagine that the most people with the right knowledge & software could improve them 100%. I've done quite a bit of research about the which digicam to buy (that's how I found myself here!) especially seeing the cost benefits and flexibility a digital camera has, but then had second thoughts after seeing the photos mentioned above. I'm hoping that a digital camera will inspire to learn more and make my film pictures inferior!
Rhys - thanks for the tips on Riga, all noted!
All - I have been converted and off to order a shiny new camera now!
Going from film to digital - Am I going to be disappointed?
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Originally Posted by Bex80
