Will digital photography replace film photography?

Answer 1

I believe the answer is yes - once sensors can match or beat film in terms of depth (the range of intensity they can record) and the amount of noise produced. It may occur gradually as die-hard film users retire. But it will happen in my opinion.

The question isn't If! It already has. I mean, you don't see many people- other thna those that are just studying Photography- still using Film SLR's. I've used Film SLR's in the Past, and have completely left it in the dust. From around a year ago, I've been Using Digital SLR's, more convenient, equal image quality, and you aren't limited ( to much ) Who'd rather change rolls of film, when you can shoot 5 Frames per second, and not stop. Digital Photography has already taken over- I can't say film is dead, but suffering from a terminal disease. Manufactures, like Canon, and Nikon, will soon stop Making Film SLR's- So you'll have to shoot Digital.

Nathan

An Historian and Archivist adds

Although most photographers have made the switch to digital there is still a niche that will remain film based for perhaps the next generation. That niche is archival Photography, which includes microfilm and preservation of important legal documents. Not that digital archives are not important, but if a legal question comes up the film record will hold up better in a court of law better than a digital because of the ease of which fraud can be commited with digital imaging.

----------------------- It definitely has already occurred. Film offers no real benefit over digital, and I think the last of the old time pros have switched. Some of them left kicking and screaming, but 99% have migrated. There are some people who "just like film." Some digital cameras now have secure one-way hash functions built into them for evidence preservation where if the picture is altered after the fact, the hash won't be correct. It's not perfectly secure, but I'm sure its designed to address the issue above.

Answer 2

Film cameras need the actual literal film while digital cameras need the memory. So basically you can take a lot more pictures with a digital camera compared to one roll of film camera.

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You don't NEED to send digital camera photos to a lab to be processed, unless you want prints and then you really should--they make inkjet printers for photos but it's actually cheaper to send them off plus they'll look better if you do. Film has to be developed.

You can use film one time. Digital memory cards can be erased and reused, which is not necessarily a good thing--I know I've thrown away files I wish I hadn't.

Film can be enlarged much more than digital.

Answer 3

Absolutely. What makes a photograph? Light. If you are familiar with a SLR camera, then you can apply the same knowledge to a Digital SLR camera.

The most important aspect of photography is the TIMING of the bend of your elbow, the aim of the camera, and the press of your shutter finger. There is no science that can substitute for the eye of the photographer.

Answer 4

because there is no place to put film in the camera. The memory card takes up too much space.