Shutterbug Strasse

Posted by The Loaf on November 04, 2002 at 10:22:21

In Reply to: Re: Need Sugestions About Older Gear. posted by Vic D on November 03, 2002 at 21:53:53:

Dear Vic,

Now I see what you're saying. IMO, looking to somehow combine/update your equipment into the digital realm will be expensive--more expensive than the film and processing you pay for now. If it were up to me, I would invest in a dedicated digital camera (look at the Canon, Nikon or Olympus lines for reliable choices). Digital offers many, maany features that differ from "analogue" camreras like the F3. You can play around with lightning, composition, even add some digital effects on the spot--to say nothing of what you can do on your computer with the right software. (Of course, you can also scan your 35mm photos onto your computer and do the same thing, but it's a step removed from what you are able to do on location with digital). It's my opinion that one can improve one's photo skills more quickly with digital because you can see, immediately, how your experiments will turn out. HOWEVER, the photos themselves can't compare to a well-printed film picture--at least not at a price most of us can afford.

Understanding composition and how your equipment works seem to me to be the most important things I've learned in improving my pictures. Whether you choose to learn these lessons on your fine 35mm or on a digital camera is up to you. You might just want to look for a good photo class if the digital look doesn't really intrigue you and you are happy with your manual equipment. Good luck.