Digital Vs Film: Which Is Better?

There was a time when going digital meant compromising quality. This simply is not the case these days. People's patience has grown thin, and speed is a necessity with most things. Fast cars, large bandwidth, and smartphones... people just don't like to wait. Digital cameras provide the speed of a Polaroid with the quality of regular photo. 

Film

Film was first and to some is still the only way to go. Diehards for film feel that digital will never surpass it. When the debate between digital and film is brought up more often than not someone will say, film is much more of and "art form". I would have to say it is harder to get a sharp, perfectly contrasted image standing in a darkroom than it is simply plugging the camera into the computer and auto fixing it. 

Digital

Digital is, quick, easy, and fun. The beauty part of digital cameras is the instant gratification they produce. Unlike film, you know instantly if your subject blinked, or if you moved the camera mid-shot. Photographers take roll after roll of film in order to get that one perfect shot. Novice photographers don't have that kind of will or patience for numerous rolls of film. They are usually satisfied with, "let me take one more to make sure I got it" and if they get there film back and it doesn't turn out they get annoyed. Digital stops the questioning of if they got the picture they wanted or not. 

Wedding photographers preference

The main group of people who are shooting film commercially is wedding photographers. Some shoot on film exclusively, while others take a more hybrid style where they will shoot digital and film.

What are the benefits of such a system? Many people think there is a certain aesthetic and look to film that digital can never achieve. However, digital usually provides more dynamic range and flexibility in post most of the time, which can be crucial when dealing with once-in-a-lifetime events.

Photojournalists preference

If you are planning to work on a paper or news publication of any kind get used to digital. Although most don't require that you shoot your pictures on digital cameras, the digital age is here and most require you scan your hard copies into their computers. Quickness is essential when it comes to meeting deadlines.

If you have never gone into a darkroom and developed your own photos then you might not have a clue as to the time it takes to do it. Without the right combination of chemicals or if you slip while dodging and burning, the picture might not turn out like it should. News publications want to be prompt in putting out there news and it is just easier to run the picture into a "digital darkroom" like Photoshop or Lightroom.

So Is One Really Better Than The Other?

In my opinion that really depends on you. I don't think that anyone can confidently say film is better than digital or vice versa. You have to look at the benefits and downsides of each and way your options. My personal view is that film will never completely go away, but in this fast paced world its obvious, digital is here to stay.

Finally, a little test to see if you could really tell the difference between digital and film or if it was just a preference thing for those pure-bloods out there.