Digital vs. 35mm - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**GoKrazy** · 04-20-2005, 09:34 PM

Once all the plane tickets are bought, the route all planned out then the packing begins! Clothes are gonna be easy, but what about the camera?

Do you prefer digital or 35mm? Obviously digital is very conveniant, but is it easy to find a cyber cafe in Europe to upload the pix or burn them to a CD? As fro 35mm - there is all that film to carry agound and develop after. Which one do you like better? And why?

**Tadpole** · 04-20-2005, 09:47 PM

Recently I've done alot of research about the two.

If you plan to take reg. 8x10 pictures then a 5 megapixel digital camera from the nice brands is the same as a 35 mm film camera. 6, 7, and 8, megapixels you can't tell a differnce from a 5 on a reg. picture unless you blow it up then the human eye can tell a difference.

Film can be messed up by x-rays at airports and the film can get lost or damaged.

Digital can fit in your pocket and can take infinte pictures as long as you have a card or CD to load pictres on. However, the cameras are almost complelty automatic. I've yet to find a good one with a manual focus.

I still can't decide which to take on ym trip either.

**TimmyJames1976** · 04-21-2005, 06:37 AM

unless you have a darkroom in your house...go digital

you can get great quality pics, and then edit them yourself....plus only prin the pics u like...digital is more affordable and honestly just the way of the future...many mnay pro photographers have even made the switch

**MeTurk** · 04-21-2005, 06:44 AM

You can get much nicer pics from an SLR. If it's just a basic cammera your looking at Digital is just much easier as long as you can get a massive card for it. I'll be bringing both, my old SLR cammera just takes really nice pictures but it's awkward and dieing. I'll take the digital for simple point and shoot pictures.

**GoKrazy** · 04-21-2005, 08:43 AM

Hmmm... The more I think about it the more I like the digital solution. My camera is a new-er generation one, so it does not eat batteries like crazy and I already have two memory cards (one is 256 and the other 512). I guess if (or should I say WHEN) i run out of room on them I'll try to burn my pix onto a CD or attempt to upload them to my web page from a cyber cafe.

Does anyone know if CD burners are common in European internet cafes or is it still a rare piece of hardware?

**omisan** · 04-21-2005, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Does anyone know if CD burners are common in European internet cafes or is it still a rare piece of hardware?

Plentiful

**TimmyJames1976** · 04-21-2005, 10:09 AM

and u can always upload them to the 1G of gmail space you should have

**space virgin** · 04-21-2005, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoKrazy@Apr 21 2005, 03:42 PM
Does anyone know if CD burners are common in European internet cafes or is it still a rare piece of hardware?

Yeah, they came into vogue about the time they got rid of the horse & buggy and stopped using straw as carpeting.

just kidding, man. But really-- you think a continent that has way better cell phone technology than we do would NOT have cd burners to spare?

**afterlife3** · 04-21-2005, 11:04 AM

Just splurge and get yourself a Digital SLR, my bro just got one(Nikon D70) and it is pretty sweet.

**kingcrazylegs** · 04-21-2005, 01:34 PM

35mm is still my preference...maybe that makes me old fashioned. A digital is handy, and I have one as well, but prefer 35mm for anything that is a truly artistic shot. There are excellent film (negative) scanners now that are small (size of a VHS) and not pricey. We'll be getting one of those soon.

**GoKrazy** · 04-21-2005, 05:00 PM

Hmmm... That gives me a lot to think about. Which ever way I decide I don't want to attract too much attention - getting the camera equipement stolen would not be fun. One thing's for sure: either way I'll come back with tons of pix!

Thanks for all the advice guys!

**agriadam** · 04-21-2005, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by afterlife3@Apr 21 2005, 01:03 PM
Just splurge and get yourself a Digital SLR, my bro just got one(Nikon D70) and it is pretty sweet.

OHH baby I am in love with the D70 grrrr.

**my retro career** · 04-22-2005, 07:53 AM

Yes - me too - love that D70...!

GoKrazy - I think it really depends on how much you'd really want to spend... and ... how much weight you'd like to lug around.

35mm cameras come in all sizes and shapes - if you're thinking of buying a point & shoot 35mm, then I'd say it's probably a better idea to go digital.

But if you're into SLR - then it might be feasible to go 35mm on that, due to the fact that digital SLRs are still plenty expensive compared to their analog counterpart.

Like KingKrazyLegs, I too love the flexibility and quality of SLR's but they do require some time to get used to the many options and ultimately take manual snapshots. Yes, most SLR's have that "program mode" that allows you to shoot either portrait/scenic/action etc. But if you're buying an SLR - be it digital or 35mm - and only use such functions, then you're not utilising the SLR's full potential; do realise that.

With a digital point & shoot, buy em, browse quickly through the manuals and you're ready to snap...

So there ya have it...

**agriadam** · 04-22-2005, 06:13 PM

ohh my dad just go the new Canon EOS 20D A beautiflu piece of hardware... very comparable to the D70....

**d_fresh** · 04-25-2005, 04:19 AM

definitely prefer digital. I used a 35mm for years.
experimenting with a digital is way more economical, and the results are instant. I've found that learning new techniques is much easier with digital as you can see what you've shot right away.
digital can be just as artistic as film. it's all in how you use your tool.

I have 2 digitals, a canon a10 (1.2 mp, 8x10 looks great printed. who says you need 5+mp?) and a minolta dimage 7hi. the quality in the minolta is much better (prosumer, digital slr, whatever) but the canon is great for just throwing in my pocket and going.

**GoKrazy** · 04-25-2005, 08:17 AM

The more I research and think about it the more I'm leaning towards going digital. It seems to be just as good for taking snap'n'go type of pictures as my old 35mm and it also allows you to experiment a bit. Plus you don't have to bother with developing the film to see what your pix look like!

**MeTurk** · 04-25-2005, 08:50 AM

If you don't use SLR cammeras then digital is the way to go. The only reason to use SLR is if you know what your doing with it and want your pictures to look a certain way. If you just want to take pictures of senery then a quick snap digital is all you need.

I've used the minolta dimage 5hi I think it was, it was five megapixel is that 7hi 7 meagpixel?? They have everything you need but are really expensive. The biggest downside to digital cammeras like that is the fixed lense. I don't know why they don't just let you use the 35mm lenses.

**voyd** · 04-25-2005, 09:46 AM

SLR cams are huge. Are you honestly going to lug that around with you everywhere on your travels to sites and clubs? Not to mention all those bulky rolls of film? No.

So, I suggest a tiny pocket-size P&S dig cam that you actually will. The pics will come out great, too. I myself am never going back to a 35mm now.

**d_fresh** · 04-25-2005, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MeTurk@Apr 25 2005, 12:19 PM
If you don't use SLR cammeras then digital is the way to go. The only reason to use SLR is if you know what your doing with it and want your pictures to look a certain way. If you just want to take pictures of senery then a quick snap digital is all you need.

I've used the minolta dimage 5hi I think it was, it was five megapixel is that 7hi 7 meagpixel?? They have everything you need but are really expensive. The biggest downside to digital cammeras like that is the fixed lense. I don't know why they don't just let you use the 35mm lenses.

the 7hi is 5 megapixels.
it wasn't cheap but I knew what I wanted (at the time it had the most manual features and flexibility I could find).