Why Use a Digital SLR?

I've actually met people that think the old film cameras are the way to go when shooting photos (although not many).

I will admit that a perfectly exposed large format negative on film will produce a larger print than any current digital file. But wait. With my 10 megapixel digital and a piece of software, I can produce (stitching several images together) a file that, when printed, would be 45 feet long. Try that with your Hasselblad (I suppose you could shoot several images and mount them side by side), but don't try it at home.

I can't name one advantage that the film winders have over pixels.

1. exposure - digitals can do anything film can and in many ways better

2. development process - wins hands down, just plug in the cord and in minutes you have it

3. number of exposures per shoot - over 500 and more than double that at lower resolution

4. processing images - limited only by the printer and I've seen some four feet wide

5. special effects - winner digital with photoshop, corel, paint shop and many more

6. price - digital wins again, but to compare you must first 'find' a film version

7. distribution - digital has the internet for that

8. training - the world of photography is online and the only cost is the time to look it up

9. lenses - digital slrs will mount them all

I guess, if you like a heavy, cumbersome, tricky to use, quircky, time consuming, obsolete and messy method, then by all means get into film. I can understand that some people will always think that old ways are better. Just don't expect to win any competitions.

And that's just for starters. The advantages are not slim differences, but major changes in the photographic
world. Development time is completely eliminated. The number of exposures between processing is a quantum leap.

Am I sounding a bit arrogant. Sorry, but it's like comparing U.S. mail to email or cars to horse and buggys.

There really isn't any comparison. Omigosh, I just realized one advantage of film cameras.

Nostalgia!

Dean Walden is an avid photographer with many years invested in this art form. His work may be seen at fotolia