Digital versus Film Camera

[PJV57]

My husband has been researching digital cameras for our upcoming trip in November. A couple of people (who sell cameras) have suggested a film camera rather than digital for a trip to Disney.

I read one thread discussing the use of digital cameras. Is anyone still using a film camera? Does anyone agree that a film camera is better? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ScoJo15]

I think it all depends on how many pictures you want to take and what you want to do with them. I have a 35mm EOS Rebel and I have a Sony DSC85 4.0MP digital. While I know that my Rebel can take superior pictures, especially with the zoom lens on it, I choose to take the digital to Disney with me. I like taking a ton of pictures and it's not cost effective for me to pay for developing (and film) when I'm content with viewing my shots on a PC or television. I have a nice enough printer that I can print a few out if I want to put them in frames around the house. I now only use the Rebel for special occasions when I want portraits of my daughter (birthdays, Xmas time, etc.)

Hope this helps

 

[etblank]

I too, am in your boat. I currently use a Canon Rebel 35 mm camera. I have been researching digitals, but I can't stand the shutter lag most have, nor do I want to spend $1000 on a SLR digital camera. I am currently looking at a Kodak z7590.

Our last trip to WDW was 4 days and I took TEN rolls of film. (I am an addicted scrapbooker!) It cost close to $100 just to have it developed. The next trip will be a 2 week one, so I think I am insane to use my regular film camera. I could buy the digital for what I will spend in film and developing.

With a digital, I like the idea that I can delete pictures I don't like right after I take them, and retake the picture if I want. Also, I don't have to pay to have pictures printed if I don't want to, or I can have individual pictures printed at my lesiure. I don't have to finish a whole roll of film first. I have ended up with a zillion pics of my dogs this way!

I am blabbering, but this is becoming a dilemma for me. I look forward to hearing others responses too! Thanks for letting me jump on your bandwagon!

 

[ScoJo15]

With a digital, I like the idea that I can delete pictures I don't like right after I take them, and retake the picture if I want. Also, I don't have to pay to have pictures printed if I don't want to, or I can have individual pictures printed at my lesiure. I don't have to finish a whole roll of film first. I have ended up with a zillion pics of my dogs this way!

These are very valid points. You also don't have to worry about a person blinking or chopping off heads/objects. The ability to instantly review what you've just shot is very valuable. There has been many times over the last few years that I've retaken a picture after seeing the preview and ended up with a much, much nicer shot.

If you do go the digital route, watch for battery type/life and optical zoom length as I feel those are the two most important features to have.

 

[twingle3]

i would like to add my opinion on this. i too have a rebel EOS film camera and absolutely LOVE the camera. I have the external flash and the additional zoom lens. I have used the heck out of this camera and absolutely love it. When I was considering digital around September of 2004 I did extensive research. I did not want the "lag" that digital cameras have between pictures. I want to be able to have continuous shooting as I have with the Canon EOS 35mm. I also wanted the crisp, clear photos that I get withthe EOS. Unfortunately I am not in the position to purchase a Canon Rebel digital. After trying and returning many different types of cameras for the specific reason of "lag" time and after reading and researching on the net I found the PERFECT camera to equal my Rebel EOS 35mm. This is the Canon Powershot G6. This camera looks like my Rebel 35mm, has a comfortable feel. I felt right at home with this camera. It is 7.1mp and the quality of pictures from this camera is superb. The lag time is practically null. There is a mode on there called continuous shooting and it works wonderfully. I have three children. Two of them very active 4 year old boys and I have not missed a thing. I really tested it over Halloween when I had all 4 of my pumpkins outside lit with candles inside and everything else was perfectly dark and i sat on the ground, no tripod, and took about 7 pictures in a row and not one of them came out blurry. Also this past 4th of July I took pictures of fireworks in my hometown to get a "feel" of how they would photograph at Disney and they came out beautifully. I have not had a poor quality picture since I got the camera. I cannot say enough about it (obviously from my long post). I do have to reiterate that I was a die hard film camera person and was not going to give the quality of my Rebel EOS 35mm camera up for mediocre quality. I didn't. I am so addicted to my Powershot G6 now that I am rarely without it.
I hope this helped. sorry if you fell asleep reading this. ha ha

 

[oogie boogie]

I say go digital unless u really know how to use a good 35mm camera with lens. The ability to take as many pictures as u want is great (depending on your memory of course)!!

 

[bicker]

If you do go the digital route, watch for battery type/life and optical zoom length as I feel those are the two most important features to have.

With the type of memory (SD or CompactFlash -- my preference for the latter since it seems to be a lot less expensive) a close third.

 

[PJV57]

twingle 3,

Did you consider the Canon S60 or S70 before buying the Powershot G6? If yes, what made you decide against them? Do you miss not having the larger zoom at Disney?

 

[Arkiegirl]

I too am a die hard film camera person--I seem to be a day late and a dollar short on technology.

I am in the process of researching this digital camera thing for our trip in Oct/Nov. I appreciate your post twingle3. I will have to research that Canon.

OK, pardon my ignorance--I am assuming you have to have a lot of memory cards or a laptop with you on a trip. What are your other options? Can you go down load them at Wal Mart to a disk? Cost of that? I dont have a laptop, and I know memory cards can add up, BUT I plan to take LOTS of pictures. Can someone clarify this for me. What about if you get a camera with a dock, is that dock just to ease the downloading process to your computer or does it serve another purpose?

 

[bicker]

I am assuming you have to have a lot of memory cards

That's why I mentioned the type of memory. I just saw Compact Flash 1GB for $74. At that price, if I didn't already have enough memory, I'd get 4. For me, that's good enough for about 600-700 high quality photos... more than I took during a two week tour of Egypt! Surely more than I'd ever take during a WDW vacation.

 

[etblank]

Can you tell me what the shutter lag, or click to capture speed is on the Powershot G6? I am having problems finding that on the specs listed on the internet.

It isn't the start up speed, or the lag between photos, but rather the lag between the time you push the button and the time the camera actually takes the picture that frustrates me!

 

[briand1023]

I was also thinking of going digital and tehn realized that with a good 35mm(I have a Minolta Maxiim(sp?) - older but very good) I cna take great pictures and NEVER have to worry about missing that "shot of a lifetime" becuase the digital camera was getting ready for the next shot. A roll of film can be purchase for as low as $1.50(4 pack of Kodak or Fuji - 100 speed at Target) developing at Sames Club or Wal Mart - 24 exposures for $2.79. So for about $4.50 you can get 24 pictures developed. Add another $1.00 in and those places will gie you your pictures as digital downloads from their website. Now you have best of both worlds, digital for making a DVD to play on TV AND pictures to scrapbook with. If you take 1 roll of film per week(on average) you will spend $260 per year on film and developing. A GOOD digital camera will cost at least that, not including a big memory card to store all those pictures you will want to take. Stay with the 35mm camera, just don;t buy fild on Disney property and it will save you money and you will not lose a special shot due to shutter lag. I am waiting as we do not take 52 rolls of film per year(except years we go to Disney so I will come out ahead of the game for a while.

 

[fairytalehaven]

I think it just depends on how involved you want to get. It took me 3 returns and a few years to go completely for digital. I always said I don't want to charge this, and download. That is until I got my Kodak CX 4 mp. And found out you don't need a docking station. Now I can never go back. I started taking a few pictures here and there. Now I take tons of pictures. I love it.

1. The ease of use.
2. Seeing the picture right after taking it. No more spending money on bad pictures.
3. Ditch the film. You can get a memory card to use over and over. Prices vary but how much do you spend on film?
4. Downloading with the simple connection of a usb cable to computer.
5. Editing and using fun effects.
6. One I just love, Sending pictures online to get printed. Then just picking them up when I'm at the store. (You can also have them sent to you)
7. With our upcoming vacation I will be making a picture dvd.

I'm always on the computer so this is great for me. I will also be getting a camcorder that downloads also.

Just don't get a cheap one that you want to try out. Or you'll end up not liking it at all. There are tons of good cameras out there for $200. And if you don't like it you can take it back. Check out epinions for tons of reviews.

 

[Giggles]

I have a sony camera that I love. Its a few years old, however, the ability to take pictures as I please, go home, download, and then print only the ones I want is the greatest freedom. Especially since I love scrapbooking, I tend to take way more pictures then my family and friends can sit through.
If you only take pictures here and there, and using up a roll of film takes you a long time (like my parents ) or if you like the ability to take pictures faster (lap time or something), then you should stick with the film camera. However, there are so many varieties of digital cameras that there really can be one for everyone. I am looking to get my mom a new digital camera, small one, for our up coming trip. She wants digital just because she doesn't have to deal with the film and "wasting" pictures. Just point and shoot, and delete later.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

We finally bit the bullet and went digital on our last trip and I was thrilled. Took over 600 shots and then did all of our editing and deleting once I got home on our laptop to narrow it down to approx 250 prints. I uploaded them to Walmart and they were printed for 15 cents a print. I loved being able to tweek the pictures.

We got the Kodak easyshare, not sure of the model, but I think it is the 5.0. We got the printer dock, but have only used it to print one or two pictures and then mostly for charging purposes only.

 

[fairytalehaven]

You know if you go and buy a battery charger you can use that instead of the dock. I have a 15 minute charger and it's great. The batteries last a really long time. I like this a lot better than the dock. It is smaller and easier to travel with.

I'm glad your enjoying it.

I love my Kodak!

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Thanks. That is a good idea. That printer dock is a pain to travel with. I know it is not that big, but add it to the laptop and the laptop printer (I am a self employed accountant and while I can leave most of my work at home, I still have 6 payrolls that I need to do each week whethor I am home or on vacation, so they are required travel items.)

 

[twingle3]

PJV57,
I had not tried those two choices of Canons. I had gone with what everyone was telling me were great cameras and tried a couple of Easyshares. I was not happy with the amount of time it took to "get ready" between shots. I want the continuous shooting option. Actually I do not use the zoom a lot on the G6. I bellieve the lag time between the push of the button, taking the picture and getting ready for the next picture is somewhere around 1 second. Now, I do not use the review screen as that does add time to the "lag". I prefer to take a couple of shots of each picture and then when i have a moment to look at the pictures and delete what i don't want. also, i never use the red eye reduction. I just use my printer to correct the red eye if I have any. I really wanted the 7.1mp because I like to enlarge my pictures of my kids to 16x20 sometimes. I found my information for digital cameras on conusmer reports. I think it's 4.95 for a month online subscription and then you can compare and get their opinion.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

After trying and returning many different types of cameras for the specific reason of "lag" time .

On many (most?) cameras the 'lag' is caused by the autofocus, and can be eliminated by pushing the button half way down to pre-focus, then all the way down at the exact moment to capture the perfect shot.

Andrew

 

[fairytalehaven]

i have not noticed any lag time for my easyshare of any importance. I click shoot, then click again without any problems. I don't find it any different than other aps or 35 mm cameras.