Dollars and cents rule in my case. I can buy 5 years' worth of film and chemicals for much less than the cost of a good digital SLR. By the time I've used that much film, a digital camera, should I have bought one, would be obsolete.
My cameras, lenses, darkroom gear are all paid for. My only expense is film and processing chemicals. I scan and print digitally. My output of images is fairly small. The economics of the situation keep me in film. I do like my little Canon G12 as a pocket companion on LF shoots. It has the same aspect ratio as my whole-plate camera. 1:1 scans from the whole-plate camera blow me away. I'm 55 years old. I can buy and freeze enough film to last the rest of my life.
I frankly find digital photography frustrating in the field. Too many menus to pick through, too many decisions to make. I like the simplicity of focus, shutter speed, aperture setting, expose.
I rarely shoot 35mm any more, and my digital P&S camera fills what need I have for snapshots. It's amazingly versatile. I feel stupid putting it on a tripod, though. That's the place for a real camera.
Peter Gomena
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