I've forgotten the name of the digital camera but it competes with the Sony 900 series for like half the money. It's a 6MB and the pictures look really good. My friend spent $4,000 on the set-up and it's definitely a rival of film with the added flexibility of instantaneousness.
However I do remember the older style of camera that can shoot without any battery power and for 1/10 the money is still a logical choice or spare for many occasions.
SLOT: THE Advantage Of Old(er) 35mm SLRs vs Digital.
Moderator: Andreas Wideroe
Although not really an SLR, the underwater Nikonos 3 has some distinct advantages over any digital camera in a similar working environment. Being fully mechanical, requiring no battery and owing to a very simple but effective design, it is possible to save this camera after flooding. That's right - there have been a number of cases of these cameras flooding underwater and if attention is given to them straight away and they are serviced, they can be up and running fine again with no problems. Try that with a digital camera in an underwater housing!
The only problem I see with digital cameras is the infrastructure you need. A simple (OK, but expensive) camera, my Leica, needs only film wo work. That stuff still can be had everyplace in the world, and i need no gizmos whatsoever to keep on shooting.
My digicam however drags behind it like a comet a large tail of stuff to remain operational.. batteries, cables, memory cards, charger, and mostly even a notebook is very appreciated. Many of these things are still a serious pita to use and haul around - today. I predict that soon all that digital infrastructure will be self contained, tiny, and freed from the computer. We're close today, think of the printers that print directly from the memory card, or the photo iPod that should cure all storage needs even for a long hike!
Using a mechanical camera now is a freeing experience for me, since i'm tired of all that fragile digistuff. Lose a cable, or adaptor worth 1€, and equipment worth thousands of €€€ turns into a doorstop. Happened many times in my former day job..
Sooner or later, sooner I guess, the balance will change in favor of digital, and then a mechanical device will be the pita to use in comparison.
My digicam however drags behind it like a comet a large tail of stuff to remain operational.. batteries, cables, memory cards, charger, and mostly even a notebook is very appreciated. Many of these things are still a serious pita to use and haul around - today. I predict that soon all that digital infrastructure will be self contained, tiny, and freed from the computer. We're close today, think of the printers that print directly from the memory card, or the photo iPod that should cure all storage needs even for a long hike!
Using a mechanical camera now is a freeing experience for me, since i'm tired of all that fragile digistuff. Lose a cable, or adaptor worth 1€, and equipment worth thousands of €€€ turns into a doorstop. Happened many times in my former day job..
Sooner or later, sooner I guess, the balance will change in favor of digital, and then a mechanical device will be the pita to use in comparison.
have fun!