Analog or digital

Digital of course, way easier to manage and produce.

However, there is room for discussion in this topic. I purchased a Linhof Technika Fieldview 4”x5”, in the late 1990s. It came with three lens boards each with lens from the following makers: Schneider; Zeiss and Linhof. Included was a large, well used, wooden tripod. Why? Ansel Adams, it was his fault. Oh, and Craig Potten. Lansdcape photography was taking over my life. And trekking into NZ parks was what I did with my spare time.

The gear cost me $NZ1500.00; it was a little beat up: the camera body had lived a life - the bellows in particular were past their use-by date - light pin pricks infested my output ; the lens were just fine; thee wooden tripod needed wood conditioning wax or oil. The old gent I purchased it from was fairly robust, an athletic past obviously. I soon found out why. The weight of my load was always well over 32kg for a weekend hike. The system was heavy (like bullet proof heavy) and the sundries were a plethora: sheet film; double dark slides; light bag; shroud; light meter; etc …

The resulting images were very nice, for the times. Film choices yielded differing results, I used ISO50 and ISO100 color FujiFilm mostly (Velvia). Later I scanned some images to digital; the product was low resolution as a result of the technology then, but the images showed so must detail. I still have a few of those scans - a couple are for sale in the Print Shop on this site, a B&W is used in the image for this Blog Post.

So here is the take away from my experience with analog. It is good to experience the capture of light and dark in a non-digital medium. Why? There is a worthwhile skill set, requiring some discipline to be learned. No checking in a viewfinder after the shot; a long setup process for the shot; therefore the task is more engaging and requires significant consideration; metering is not handled by the camera, therefore a metering strategy must be learned (eg. The Zone System). Additionally with all of this you are required to plan the shoot: time of day; location; weather - more so than with the latest digital gear.

The get a result you must think it through. Today that is something that can slide a little. Having that experience, these days, is super worthwhile, and indeed there is a new age trend - many people are engaging in the analog adventure. By and large I do not think it is high end saleable approach. There may be a niche somewhere for prints that have gone through and entire analog process, I do not know.

The experience is gold though. Well worth giving it a shot. Manage your expectations and set your goals. I sold the Linhof, but still have a number of cameras and lenses that are analog. I have not been engaged in the analog process since 2014. I traveled in Nepal with a Hasselblad XPan, as well as my then digital. I stressed airport x-ray in and out of country… and there was all the additional weight. I will not go there again, but I would be willing to keep film in my fridge from time to time - if I had my own processing space.

I like film. Even though it lacks the stunning accuracy of digital. The experience serves me well.

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