SLR film cameras--are they still used today?

Question

In this day of digital everything, is anyone using the older type 35mm single lens reflex cameras? I have two very good cameras. To be honest, my other digital cameras actually take better pics and with the self serve kiosks in stores today, it is simpler to go and just pick and choose and have it printed. Appearance seems to be about the same.

Anyone still using the SLRs?

Answer 1

I still shoot primarily in film (35mm and Pack Instant Film).  While the "simpler and more convenient" arguement stands, it holds little weight for me.  

I perfer the process of developing film and I am setting up a darkroom in my apartment.  I like taking time composing and exposing the shot, placing the film into a dev. tank, processing the film, exposing the paper all leading up to the big moment of seeing the image on the paper slowly fade into existance in the developer bath.  I feel more accomplishment for the time put in than just pluging a card into my computer and it appearing on screen.

Answer 2

National Geographic certainly still uses film for a lot of their shoots.

The nice thing about using film SLRs is that everyone is trying to get rid of theirs these days. You can get a sweet film SLR for $50 or $100 on Craigslist.

Answer 3

Yes because nothing beats a well developed negative. Did you know that there are more shades of gray and deeper colors in film prints than digital ones.

Answer 4

Oh Yeah, there's way too many people still using old school (35mm SLR) which they aren't dead yet and still too much of a demand for them. plus most schools still require a 35mm SLR to be used for most of their classes.

Answer 5

I will ONLY use a SLR camera. Digital is seductively easy, but some people truly love the ART of print photography, the better quality (which is sometimes more detectable than other times), and the freedom and creative possibilities that film gives you.

Answer 6

They most certainly are.  Film is still a much more forgiving medium, allowing you to be off, and in many cases to get a much wider range of tonalities in your print that many dSLRs that are on the market today.

It is true that it is a bit harder to get film developed as more and more of the processing houses go away (especially the discount ones making it more expensive), but in most (if not all), you can usually get your pictures digitally on a CD as well as in prints making future prints and keeping them on your computer (or sharing them on services like Flickr).  Just avoid any place still offering pictures on Kodak's old "PhotoCD" format disks, as Kodak has ceased supporting it.