I am still a bit surprised when people inform me they have decided to keep using film cameras in this day and age of high-quality digital camera image output, and that is just what I was told by a couple last week. Of course, my response was that they should use whatever makes them comfortable.

I find that many photographers using film want to offer a rationale for using film and make statements like “ it is really all about how good of photographer you are” and “this camera has always taken very good pictures”. Two very rational statements, however, but the difference between digital and film is like driving an old 1970 Ford sedan and a new Ford hybrid model across Canada. There is a lot more performance, comfort and options available for the operator of the newer model so that the experience can be more pleasurable.

This couple were so emphatic about how great their cameras produced pictures that I assumed they do their own darkroom work, but when I made an inquiry kept to the subject to their cameras and equipment and so I had to assume they take their film into a lab that processes it, then scans it to a computer, then with predetermined settings the computer makes the desired print sizes. Hmm, not much photographer input there. Oh well, at least they are taking pictures.

I do believe that digital camera users become better photographers faster because of the instant reinforcement of their camera’s LCD, then again because it is so easy and quick to check images on a computer display. Last Thursday my store was filled with people discussing equipment. I have to mention that just before I talked to the film camera couple, I had been discussing digital cameras, but the question was “ I want to buy a digital SLR camera, what do you like?” Well, I like them all. I haven’t had the chance to try every new camera out, but from my reading (I like to search for users of cameras that aren’t trying to sell me anything) and those I have played with I think Nikon, Canon, and Pentax all have excellent products.

My advice was they should first decide what they had available to spend, and then decide on how they like to shoot: sports, landscapes, family and so on. Of course any camera will do everything, but some are better for sports and some won’t hold up to the elements if packed on your horse or bounced around getting cold on the back of a snowmobile. My suggestion was before they choose to do some research on the Internet. I have joined internet photography forums like www.fredmiranda.com and www.photo.net and when interested about a particular camera I ask a direct question about the equipment I am interested in, and readers respond with valuable insight about their experiences for that particular camera.

Another question last Thursday was from a photographer looking for a new tripod. Well, tripods are one of my favourite subjects, well anyway, tripods and tripod heads. At my store I stock the Sigma 700pro and 800 ball head because for the dollar they are good value, but there are some other real nice choices available for a bit more money, and the price keeps going up depending on the tripod and head one wants.

My advice for tripods is get a sturdy one that will extend to about six feet and has legs that can be used almost horizontally. This is the interior and it’s not very level, and we are always shooting from hillsides and a tripod that can be levelled and extended to eye level is comfortable to use. In my opinion, bending over to look through a camera viewfinder becomes very tiring.

I want a tripod that isn’t too heavy and has a ball head. Many of the cheap chainstore tripods come with heads that are best suited to those big old video cameras of yesteryear with the long adjusting handle.

I want a ball head on the tripod that has a quick release for my camera and that I can adjust by moving the camera’s position.

The head’s ball must be large enough so it can be finger-tightened easily. Some tripods come with legs that adjust with a clip, others by turning the leg shaft, and it’s up to the individual which works the best. My wife prefers the clips and I like turning the adjuster.

I have a couple fun and exciting things happening right now. First I have decided to update my website and so I will be going through CD after CD looking for images I’d like to show off. And this weekend I will be heading to the Oregon coast to photograph the wedding I mentioned some time ago.

The wedding will be fun and I expect to get many beautiful beach-location photographs for the bride and groom. However Linda and I are more excited about our drive back and are planning days and evenings of photography.

I’ll pack the trunk full of camera gear, and I guess some clothes, and I’ll write about the experience in my next column.

Have fun learning how to take pictures correctly with your digital cameras. 
If you have questions please don't hesitate to email me. I'll have more 
next week. Email your comments or suggestions to me at fotoplace@uniserve.com. 





John Enman owns and operates Enman's Camera at 423 Tranquille Road in 
Kamloops. Enman's Camera offers professional wedding and family 
photography, and sells selected new and used photographic equipment. Check out 
www.enmanscamera.com or call John at (250) 376-4715.