We've seen the future and

it's getting closer

For the past ten years we’ve enjoyed a rather lively debate regarding the direction photography is moving. We feel strongly that the concern on the part of some that filmless, digital photography will replace traditional photography is unwarranted.We, like many of our customers, have been intrigued with the rapid pace of growth in the digital arena. The improvements are vast and changes take place on almost a daily basis which makes it difficult to inventory digital equipment. Maybe we’re old fashioned but film based photography doesn’t change much at all and the images we turn out with a forty year old Rollei,

can’t be beat.

We think there is room in the photographer’s arsenal for both digital and film cameras. We own a Canon SD800 which we’ve had for a couple of years and it’s wonderful for those Polaroid moments. It’s wide angle lens (28mm) is just fine and making short movie clips is really a kick. When Phil Caruso, a working pro and old friend, showed us what he did with a Nikon D200 two years ago, we bought one. Other than a herniated neck or whatever you get from lugging that thing around with think that’s fine too although I would probably opt for one the light weight models that are around.

For more serious stuff we love our Leica M7, our trusty Contax T2, a Nikon FM2 and our Hasselblad. We would include a Rollei too but we sell them as quickly as we find them. The images created by the current batch of digital cameras could never rival our film cameras and we don’t care what anyone says.

If digital images created by a $250 digital camera puts a smile on someone’s face, if it records events that otherwise would not be documented that’s fine. We’re troubled when we see the masses, who might otherwise be turned on to photography, accepting, uncritically, images that will never be terrific. Since you can record and erase images with ease, being indiscriminate and undisciplined is the rule rather than the exception. We don’t think a digital camera would be an appropriate first camera for someone who expressed an interest in photography. An inexpensive manual focus camera with interchangeable lens capability would be a better choice.

As we’ve said many times in the past, load up your camera with some Tri-X and fire away. And if you need further encouragement we suggest you visit an art gallery or museum when vintage photography is being exhibited. When we see those black and white mid-century photos it really gets our juices flowing.