He is not into the hobby at all. Brought the camera home, took it out of the box, didn't bother to read the manual. Shot with factory defaults! Got great pics. For every advanced consumer/hobbyist, there are ten like him. For those people, your extra steps are skipped.
rg
William Robb wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kristian Walsh"
Subject: Re: It's over (was Re: Ilford in trouble? and digi snappers)
Digital *is* simpler. 35mm only seems simpler to us (meaning the
people
on this list) because handling film has become a trained reflex.
As Cotty just said: We are the exception.
Imagine the most unsophisticated picture-taker using an
auto-everything
35mm P&S. Here's their typical process:
1. Buy Film. If you don't know what type, bring your camera and
ask
the assistant. 2. Insert film. Best to do this in the dark. Pop the film
cartridge
in, and carefully extend the film leader to whatever mark the manufacturer has put on the back of the camera. Be careful not to
tear
or crease the film leader. Close the camera back. Wait for the
camera
to load the film. Does the display say "1" or is it flashing "E".
If
it's "E", carefully open the back of the camera, make sure the film cartridge is sitting properly and try again. 3. Take your pictures. 4. When the camera is full, wait for it to rewind the film, pop
out
the cartridge and drop it to the developer. 5. Repeat
Okay, now the same user, but with a digital P&S:
1. Buy your CF/SD/whatever card. If you don't know what type,
bring
your camera and ask the assistant. 2. Open camera slot, insert card. It only goes in one way. Close
the
slot. 3. Take your pictures. 4. When the camera is "full", turn off the camera, open the slot
and
pull out the card. Take the card to the photo shop. 5. Repeat.
There are a couple of extra steps in digital that you have left out: Prior to your step one: Go into menuland and set up the following: 1) resolution. 2) file compression 3) colour space. 4) saturation. 5) contrast 6) sharpness 7) sensitivity (not as necessary, as the default will work).
Doing this requires something that most consumers don't want to do, which is reading the owners manual, and retaining the knowledge. If you really think that digital is easier than film, I have this house for sale on Jefferson Avenue. It's white, and it hase a teriffic rose garden in the back yard.
William Robb
