Having read, with some amusement, the digital debate on this thread, I must
comment on my experience. Like I suspect most people on this list are, I am
an avid but amateur photographer. I have aquired a fairly extensive EOS
system of lenses (2 L's), 3 and Elan IIE bodies, and 420EX flash. I've
poured quite a bit of money into aquiring this equipment as well as film and
developing costs. Yet not one 8x10 of my work hung on my walls until about
a year ago. Most of my stuff sat in albums or boxes. As we all know, a
vast amount ended up in the trash bin as worthless "not quite perfects." A
couple of shots ended up in the local paper. All in all not a very good
return on my investment (except for the fact that the act of photography got
me out into nature which, for me, is the real reward of it all).
About a year and a half ago I got a film scanner. I spent countless
hours scanning film and burning CD's of my favorite shots. I printed quite
a few at 8x10 and 11x14. Some of these were given as gifts (My mom loves my
lighthouse shots). Then came the Epson 1270! Suddenly I could print
photographs that I would hang on my wall! Suddenly old photos from my boxes
were new again. I could print them or post them on the web to share with
others. The best part was that I only spent money on the shots I really
cared about, not the slightly off-composed or under-exposed trash shots we
all make!
Still, I was tied to the cost of film and developing. The first 3.3
prosumer cameras with 'real' camera functions were coming out. I thought I
would get one just to play with it. Since there wasn't a Canon 3.3 at the
time, I got an Oly C3000z about a year ago.
Like anyone who has actually made the investment, I've found that digital
has made photography much more accessible. I suspect that the vast majority
of photogs out there will find that much more of their work makes it out
into the world. While I currently spend 1/2 my time with my EOS equipment,
I love the freedom digital gives me. If the shot doesn't really
work...delete it! No cost but a few seconds or minutes of time shooting! I
only spend money on paper to print the really good shots, and then only if
that is the intended target! I get similar, if not more, satisfaction from
posting images to the web! I am experiencing much more fulfillment for my
time invested.
Having said all of the above, I love EOS. I am now halfway in saving for
a D30 to use my wonderful EF lenses with. Am I worried about being passed
up by technology as soon as I have it in hand? Heck no! If I worried about
that I'd spend all my time in camera stores and surfing the web and WAITING
because there is ALWAYS something better just about to come out! I didn't
by my 3 until just before the 1V came out.
I have read many posts to the effect that one should "wait" for the
"real" Canon digital. I say that 3.3 is plenty for the vast majority of us.
It will open up your photography much more than spending another year
pining away and/or saving for that "something better." Not only that, you
can liken your camera purchase to your computer. Remember that
state-of-the-art machine you bought a couple of years ago to enter the world
of the internet? Well, it isn't so state of the art anymore! In fact its
probably a downright dinosaur! But you can still get on the net and read
this list can't you? Two years from now the D30 will be quite dated.
However, it'll still take you and your photography to the places that, until
now, most of you have only dreamed of! Imagine going out for your
spouse-alloted-because-you-still-have-to-mow-the-yard 1 1/2 hours on your
weekend morning to take those pictures of those deer in the corn field
you've been watching for weeks, then coming home and immediately having them
available to print or post to the web! Or you can keep waiting and keep
admiring OTHER people's work on the internet while you're at it!
Others rail against digital! To them I say: you don't know what you
don't know! "It'll never replace film," some say. Hogwash! Ever hear of
something called the Compact Disc? Ever see any vinyl these days? While
that argument is NOT completely analogous, it serves as a blueprint for the
evolution to digital. The vast majority of photographs are taken by moms,
grandmas and friends. These people are rapidly switching to low-end digital
just to free them from slavery to the local Wal-Mart one-hour developing!
That is where the $ which drives the photo market is heading, and in a big
way.
Sure the pros and eccentrics will always have a use for film. There are
still freaks like me who still listen to vinyl too!
Bottom line: Stop waiting for perfection! Step over to digital. Get a
D30, G-1 or whatever floats your boat (and doesn't float your wallet!). You
will not be sorry.
B Fancher...
standing by for the flames of the retro-grouches!
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