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What are the Advantages of Using a Traditional Film and Digital Camera?

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Written by:

Christen da Costa
Updated July 26, 2022

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Asking yourself, “What Are The Advantages Of Using A Traditional Film And Digital Camera?” will help you determine what style of photography you’re best suited to. Film cameras work differently than cameras that produce digital images. Knowing the difference between traditional film and top-rated digital cameras work will help you make an informed choice.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • While film photographers still exist, digital photography now reigns supreme and is more often used by professional photographers.
  • The most significant difference between film photography and digital photography is the methodology behind capturing images and production.
  • If you are trying to be a professional photographer, you’ll most likely need to use a digital camera for most of your work since that has become the industry standard.

What are the Advantages of Using a Traditional Film and Digital Camera?

So, what are the advantages of using a traditional film (non-digital camera) and a digital camera, like the Sony Alpha A6500? There are a few things to know about each, including what they are and their differences.

Explaining Traditional Film

Often thought of as a way to practice more traditional photography, photographic film is still pretty popular. Many people are still firmly convinced that traditional film is the superior method of photography.

The Benefits of Film Photography

There are quite a few benefits you can expect from using film photography. Here are a few of them:

  • It offers a lower initial cost for amateur photographers
  • The maximum resolution tends to be higher than in digital
  • Film is more forgiving of inexperience and beginner mistakes
  • There is software available to turn film photography into digital files (the storage for pictures is film, not digital material)

The Drawbacks of Film Photography

Of course, there are going to be cons that film photographers have to accept. Some of the cons include the following:

  • Having to use a dark room to process your images can be inconvenient
  • Film cameras often have bulky setups that make travel difficult
  • The lack of storage space limits the number of photos you can take

Explaining Digital Photography

The rise of digital photography has been swift, and most photographers are choosing this route over traditional film. This is primarily due to the ease with which you can capture photos and the file-based workflows often used in professional photography. It is then important to learn what the advantages of a digital camera are.

The Benefits of Digital Photography

Digital imaging has become more and more popular. It is now the leading style of photography in most industries. This is due mainly to the fantastic benefits below:

  • Image review can happen immediately in your viewfinder
  • RAW files make the post-production process easier
  • Internal memory means being able to capture far more when shooting. You should also know what the two most common digital camera file storage formats are.
  • The ability to invest in a memory card means even more productive shoots

The Drawbacks of Digital Photography

Even with growing popularity, there are still some cons to using digital cameras. Here are a few of them:

  • You need far more expertise for producing usable photographs
  • Post-production editing is crucial to image quality
  • You will have to upgrade your camera far more often than with film

F.A.Q.

Why do digital cameras compress images?

The pixel count of digital images is well into the millions. This is far too much information to hold onto, so digital cameras have to use compression to make digital files easily readable.

How do digital cameras compare with smartphone cameras?

Realistically, most cell phones simply cannot replace digital cameras. However, digital technology has come a long way, and most smartphone cameras are somewhat comparable. There are entire communities dedicated to smartphone photography.

Which digital cameras are used in Hollywood?

There is an extensive range of digital cameras being used in the film industry. The Canon EOS is famous as a lower-budget option, while models like the Sony PMW-F55 CineAlta can run upwards of $20,000 and more.

Why Consider Digital Imaging?

In short, digital imaging makes your job as a photographer far easier. There is little expertise needed when you can use a digital camera and fix errors in post-production.

STAT: Since 2016 over 90% of major films were shot on digital video. (source)

Christen da Costa Profile image
Christen da Costa
Grew up back East, got sick of the cold and headed West. Since I was small I have been pushing buttons – both electronic and human. With an insatiable need for tech I thought “why not start a blog focusing on technology, and use my dislikes and likes to post on gadgets.”