Shooting film is something that I’ve been doing for quite a while now. I own a half-dozen or more wonderful film cameras. I have scanners for digital display and a darkroom for making prints. It’s all very cool and interesting. There is something about shooting film that is magical and cannot be replaced by digital means. It’s also a pain in the ass and I’m running out of patience. Scanning 36 exposures of 35mm film is a horrible process that eats up an hour or two every time. That would be ok if the results I was getting were worth it. They’re not. On the other hand, I love the results I get from the medium format cameras. So let’s just say 35mm film is out, but 6x6 is in.
Now what? The answer, I’m almost ashamed to say, should maybe be digital. I’ve been thinking about what’s next for weeks. My first reflex told me that I wanted to replace my Leica M cameras with an M9. I owned the earlier M8 briefly but didn’t like the compromises it required (cropped sensor and IR issues.) The M9 is much more attractive, but at $7000 it would be a life-changing investment for me. Leica rangefinders have a fairly limited range, photographically speaking, and spending that kind of money on an M9 would mean I’d need to be limited by that range as well.
The question to ask is what kind of shooting do I do? Truth is, not much. That realization hurts a little, but there it is. I tinker, mostly. To a normal person, that would mean that any little point and shoot would be enough, but I’m not normal. What I want to shoot are portraits, some “street” and possibly some fine art things I haven’t even thought of yet. I also don’t want to give up medium format film - it’s just too great. And I don’t want to always wish I’d gotten a better camera.
I’m now thinking I’ll own 3 cameras.
Hasselblad 500C/M. I already own this camera, and a couple of terrific Zeiss lenses, film backs, prisms, and cases to go with it. The Hasselblad is a very frustrating camera to use at times, but I just love the results. Besides, it’s like a work of art and an engineering miracle all rolled into one even when it’s sitting on a shelf. I’m keeping it.
Nikon D700 There’s a reason everyone walks around with a big-ass DSLR all the time. They’re versatile, fast, and they do a great job. I keep selling my DSLRs because they’re uninteresting and I hate walking around looking like every other schmuck. But, the D700 is a terrific camera. I’ve owned the D300 and loved the autofocus and flash system. The D700 is full-frame, built very well, and does wonders in low light. It’s an obvious choice for just about any type of photography, and I should have one.
Fuji X100 For everything else, for just walking around, and for the serious cool of it, I want the X100. An APS-C sensor and a real optical viewfinder. Plus a retro cool look and feel that fits my tastes exactly. This will be the camera I carry with me everywhere, replacing the M4 I use now. Not the same, but not so different either.
So I’m covered. Medium format film, do-everything DSLR, and compact cameras. Sounds good to me.
UPDATE - November 24, 2011
I was close. The D700 is indeed an awesome camera. Auto ISO up to 3200 results in the cleanest available light photos I’ve ever seen. Really terrific.
The X100 never really captured me enough to try. Fixed lens point-and-shoot cameras make sense, but something with the image quality of the X100 begs for interchangeable lenses, so I purchased an Olympus E-P3 with viewfinder instead. Nice camera, and I can put all sorts of interesting lenses on it.
What I didn’t expect back in June was that I would enjoy the D700 but wish it took film. As much as I find film to be a pain in the ass, I still prefer it. So I went all out and bought an F6. It’s everything everyone said it would be. I love it.
UPDATE - December 24, 2011
Ok, I did end up buying an X100 and so far I’m glad I did. Now I need to decide whether or not to sell the E-P3. And so it goes.