RonFrank
Contributor
New Bubbles:I am very much a film photographer - F3 and FM3 - and embarking on u/w photograpy. I am deciding if I should go digital or stay with film camera. I am considering the MM III or MM II. Can someone share your experience with the MM? Thank you.
Go digital. There is a reason it's replacing film, it's better.
I grew up on film, and have owned both the camera's you name. Those along with the F4s, Hassy systems, Cambron large format, and a ton of film gear from Mamiya, Contax, Bronica, Linholf, and more.
I have sold it all, and work now exclusively with Nikon Digital. Why?
White Balance. There is little with film, you shoot Daylight (5500K) or Tungsten (slow shutter speeds) and that's about it. Sure filters help, but it's just not the same as having a built in WB meter that adjusts both color temp and color levels based on the light.
Histogram. The single biggest factor in exposure info in digital. Look at the histogram, and you have all you need to decide what to do.
Shots - shoot all you want! No more 36 exposure limitation, or 24 in the case of MF, or 1 shot in the case of LF. You shoot to the limit of the cards, and they are CHEAP.
UW shooting is difficult. One has varying color temps generally lacking the red channel, and you are task loaded with diving and shooting, and using the viewfinder UW is more difficult. With a rangerfinder like the Nikonis, you are basically guess focusing.
So here's the bottom line.
Film Pro - Cost of equipment - A once high end film camera is going to cost relatively less vs. a digital DSLR.
Exposure - Assuming you are using negative film, you can worry less about overexposing images. Digital behaves more like shooting positive film, so is less forgiving of exposure error, especially overexposure.
Digital Pro - Near live review (DSLR) or Live preivew.
Histogram.
Almost unlimited shooting.
Custom WB settings.
Current technology, and all that buys (warrenty, maintenance, parts, technology).
Resolution - Don't kid yourself. Medium format backs rival Large format film. High res 35mm type sensors (10mpix~16mpix) rival medium format film. If you doubt this, then read some of the tests on:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/
Here is a group if high end film shooters that have done the comparisons. Bottom line, digital competes with larger format film cameras dispite what dye in the wool film junkies would like to believe.
Digital Cons - Price - maybe.
You have to carry around STUFF. Batteries, chargers, laptop, media.
The bottom line IMO is that it's not about the ride, it's about results. Digital is just hands down better, and while I may sound opinionated, I shot film for two decades, and did everything short of making my own emulisions.
If you decide to go film,I have a Durst 4x5 enlarger and complete wet darkroom I need to get rid of sometime soon!