Why Shoot Film? 

Well, it's now a Grainyday fund

Brb gonna design a digital camera that takes $1.00 from your bank account every time you take a picture to simulate the experience of shooting portra 400

"Let the fear of death push you to take good photos" Taking this with me into '21.

For me its simple. It makes me wanna look for and take photos. Film = Sniper Digital = Heavy machine gunner suppressive fire

In the mid 1970's, I sold cameras. More than once, a customer would ask me: "What do I need to be creative"? My answer was: "People do wonders with a Quacker oats box and a pin ". IMO the equipment one uses is only a means to an end, and you need to know what your goal is. Nowadays it seems that if people do not understand something immediately, then it is off to another topic. I recommend that people get a hold of a view camera [I think you can still rent one] and spend some time under the focusing cloth. And don't shoot until you feel something. Also, you can take photos mentally without a camera. Look until the image in front of you makes your heart feel richer.

This is the best summary of “why I choose to shoot film in 2020” that I’ve ever seen.

Absolutely agree. It just has a different “feel” to it. Something organic about it. It’s one of those things that’s hard to describe but it’s there.

The looks I get when people realize I'm still shooting with film are damn near terrifying. I mean, not long ago there were one hour film development spots all over. Now they're only urban legends.

I am genuinely the same as far as film cameras go. I actually found film to be more liberating. It made me compose different and actually start adding story to my images more than just going for sharp, clean images. Probably weird but, it took jumping to film to expand my approach to photography.

I’m predominantly a digital photographer who occasionally shoots film because it helps me think differently both about my digital and film photography. I loved this video and your channel because I love the way you approach photography and the production of these videos, and I totally agree there shouldn’t be a war between types, just to each their own!

I’m military stationed in Europe with my family for the next 3 years. Something about this pandemic and being stuck at home made get back into film and really learn the hobby. One, I’ve always loved film photography over digital. The photos are so much more personal since I can’t just blast away. Also I wanted to document my time here traveling, being with my family and experiencing different cultures. Since then I’ve been putting my photos into scrap books, saving my negatives on binders and just having lots of fun doing it. My Canon AE-1 Pro goes with me everywhere just in case I need to capture a moment. I also have a Mamiya rz67 Pro S with 90mm lens I’ve been playing with too. Lots of portraits and landscape work. I don’t think I will ever get into digital. Sure not every shot comes out perfect, but the ones that do make it so worth it.

What you said about film “looks like a memory”is how I’m start explaining it to ppl.

Back in the day, you could get your pictures back in two weeks, later a week, and much later, an hour. But the thing that never changed for me was shooting a roll, and the anticipation you felt between turning that roll in, and opening the finished pictures up and the feeling of delight each time you run across a good shot. That never got old to me. And you are right, it made you take notes on exposure, and that helped you grow to get better, because the reward was more joy when you had mostly winners in your next envelope of finished prints.....🙂

I think this is a beautiful video in its expression of what makes photography and video meaningful. That’s really what it’s about at the end: making something meaningful. Film was the dominant medium of imaging for decades and decades, and all of us probably remember seeing some old family video or photo taken with a camera that was made before we were even born. I think a lot of the allure and romanticism of film comes from that nostalgic power and value. Talk about literally putting your money where your mouth is; each shot costs, and you only have so many. Then you have that timeless look and the beautiful texture of a frame of film. This video sparked that longing in me to make each shot count, even if right now I use all digital. I’d love to one day try to see what using film brings out in my creativity. Thanks for reminding me why I love photography and video.

My most favorite thing in film photography is the chemistry part of it. I have absolutely no idea why people deprive themselves a joy and huge advantages of hand processing. I highly enjoy messing with cheap minilab chemicals and sometimes mix my own from powders (usually for ecn-2). Everything is better. Color balance and densitometry. Always fresh chems. No scratches and fingerprints. No one can see what you're shooting as well 😂 And if you failed (which is usually really hard to do actually cause color is very tolerant to temps and times unlike BW) there is the only one person to blame for that :)

I understand your point about how shooting will make us put a bit more thought into choosing what we take a picture of. Once, in 1978 I gave my Konica to my seven year old son. My instructions were... stick around the family, shoot the whole roll... take your time. He brought me the camera in about two hours and we got some good reunion photos. All from a kids point of view. Two hours for 24 exposures. I try to use my film in a measured pace.

ektachrome chrismas 3???!'11'1'1'1'???'1'1''1!!!!!! this is a joke, but it would be appreciated if you made it for real

"Let the fear of death push you to take good photos" I NEED THIS ON A T-SHIRT OVER A PICTURE OF BAXTER, JASON ❤️

The fact that a camera from the 1920's is still usable to this day is incredible.

January 3rd marks one year since I picked up my first film camera. Now, I'm ten cameras deep, have darkroom and enlarging equipment, and significantly less money. Worth it

have a great Christmas, man! Your channel is unique and I appreciate tf out of your dry humor and ode to the idea of "not giving af."

Honestly you are the reason I got into film photography in the first place

With digital you take a photo, with analog you make one. They're a lot of film camera and lens kits that have way more charm and build quality over plasticy digital which I like. Make a video talking about how certain film camera's can be so much better (and fun) to use over digital.

Love the shoutout to my underrated beau. The Nikon FE2 has been one of my favourite cameras

fell in love with your channel over the past week and i pulled out and dusted off all my old 35mm cameras. can't wait to go shoot

This is pure nostalgia for me. I took my first shots in the 60s obviously film but changed to digital twenty years ago. I still have my old gear and out-of-date filmstock now you made me want to shoot with film again. Thanks.! Subbed.

Good point about digital; however, I was a long time 120 Mamiya RB67 Pro S amature shooter back in the day, the cost of film was extortionate then too in real terms_salary/disposable income. Now I shoot medium format digital. Yes, one can blast away at 60 fps, but I like to take things slow, and yes, I like to compose, expose etc and do the image in 1 to 2 shots, just like in my long gone film days. It does still give me a great sense of satisfaction getting it right first time instead of machine-gunning the autobracket and continuous focus and shooting. Keep it real, and digital can be just as satisfying as film. Love your videos BTW, keep up the good work. Best wishes, David in the UK.

Wow that Cantonese from 1:25 ❤️

What Jason forgot to mention is that creating film is the greatest thing that man has ever achieved (second is the landing on the moon). "That's one giant leap for a man, freeze time forever in one finger click".

I need to start shooting film again! Happy holidays and happy new year!

As a nerd i wanna say, isn’t it wonderful that every time you shoot film there are actual chemical reactions happening as you pressing down the shutter release? Analog is wonderful in a sense that it proves that you really exist; unlike digital, just a bunch of 0 and 1s that can easily get lost and never being remembered by anyone, just like myself:( yeah ik there are photoelectric effects and thb they are also pretty amazing, but lets be honest, not remotely comparable with film Sry for my english tho

Compliments of the Season to you Jason. I nominate you as 2020’s analogue photog of the year! Outstanding commentary. This update should be viewed by every analogue photographer period. Keep at it champion.

Ok so here’s the thing.... DOPE ASS VID AGAIN BOOO 1. Love the ending subscribe photo... dope sauce 2. Haha you got in trouble... 10 points to Monica for house Hufflepuff (please god let me get that right or it’s my head too) 3. Merry Christmas Bro .... Can’t wait for photo challenge 2021 haha

Film has really helped my Digital business plan. I have a studio in a flea market where I take portraits and print them out immediately. This forces me to get it right the 1st time. I learned back in the film days to make sure of my shots were as close to right as possible because when I was in my dark room fixing would take a very long time and lots of prints. I shoot digital for money and film for me now.

Just commenting to thank you how you remind me why I still wanted to shoot film. Reminds me of the emotion and gratification that each shot gives, that I think what counts.

That Porta stock is gorgeous.Havent used it for years.A lovely chat and so true in so many ways.

You absolutely nailed it on the Challenge aspect. Cant wait to see what you come up with this year

I love your videos man! Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas!

This was your first video that i saw and i subscribed you right away ! The sheer knowledge combined with the sense of humour in poker face makes your videos 10× more enjoyable. Looking forward to binge your content lol , have a good day ahead ❤️

Dude, I super appreciate this video and your thoughts on shooting film. You’re spot on. The ending was also perfect haha 😆 wish me luck- I’m learning to shoot film and just bought my first film camera. Cheers man

Shit dude, got into film last year right when corona started, spent 15 eur on a pentax sp1000 with the 55 2.0. completely functional. I'd say film is way cheaper to get into if you know what you're looking for. And i've got 1 person to thank for getting me into it, you ofc! Thanks bruv, your videos are an inspiration and a good watch when i've been feeling down.

I got back into film photography over the summer, and thanks to some awesome family members I was able to get an AE-1 and AE-1 Program totally free. I love the feel of film photography, and thank you so much for making this video!

Took the plunge into shooting film in the last few months of 2020 and it’s been a great experience so far! Very excited to blow my cash on more film cameras once I get comfy with the ones I currently have 🤞🏼

Holy, new Jason content on christmas day (at least in Europe), Love you and Merry Christmas!

i got into film this year and i love it, it makes me more creative. as well as explore my own aesthetics

the academy award goes to monica for “jason what the hell did u think i wouldn’t notice”

Just got my AE-1 fully repaired and it’s almost as if it is fresh out the box. Really excited to start shooting film. Something about the process that I really love. Woo hoo :)

I hope you have a merry Christmas Jason! And a happy new year too! 😌

Best photography channel I discovered in 2020. Unique style my friend. Greetings from Guadalajara, Mexico.

Considering the upcoming film price rises, there's no better way to be broke than do film photography. Hell yeah, I'm in

Jason really rocks it! Love his personality!

I fell in love with Rollei black and white film.... the constrast is damn on point. Thanks pal, love your videos. They inspired mine (in italian) Have a great 2021

I don’t think I’ve commented before. I have been shooting mirrorless for 4 years. I picked up a Minolta Hi Matic AF2-M that lasted all of 34/36 exposures! Well, I ordered another Minolta, 7S, shot my first 2 rolls and waiting for the first roll to come back. Full auto settings test. Second roll, using a light meter app while I save for a Sekonic. Hopefully, other than adjusting the rangefinder a hair, I am hoping I don’t have any light leaks. Then, first roll of Cinestill800T! Thanks for all the great content, Jason!

I'll hopefully be shooting more film in 2021. It's such a fun learning experience for me. Got several to try and my brother just gifted me a roll of Ectarchrome 100 and Portra 800 which I look forward to trying as I've never tried slide film

For the longest time I upgraded my digital cameras while reaching for what I felt was missing. And yea, it was the look of film. I’ve since dusted off the old canon AE-1 P, purchased some missing pieces to my development supplies and acquired a few Nikon models to complement the stash of old F Mount MF lenses I’ve gained over the yrs while using Nikon digital. And even added a Bronica to the mix. I love using both digital and film. I also draw and paint, so the film photography side is actually a tool for inspiration and ref photos. It really slows me down which helps to get to the essence of what I’m aiming for in my work.

People love to debate "film vs digital" because then they don't have to focus on whether their own work is good or not. This is the same as why most photographers love to talk about "gear." As long as you keep talking about the sharpness of a lens, you don't have to talk about why your own work sucks. As Marshall McLuhan said in "The Medium is the Message": things in themselves are neither good nor bad, it's what you do with it that determines it's value. A factory assembly line can be used to make teddy bears, but the same factor assembly line can be used to make weapons.

Your video on the Canon AE-1 was what convinced me to get one and get back into photography. Just got my third camera and my first roll of CineStill today.

Ive also always liked that when you take a photo with film, that piece of film was there in that moment, its not just a digital copy it was there when the memory took place

I have to strongly agree that film just looks great. Over the past couple of weeks I've scanned over 250 of my slides from 40-50 years ago. I am always struck by just how great they look from an artistic or emotional point of view. And I do mean they look great!

Nice. I love my digital work and I'm loving getting I to film over the past few months. A family member gave me a Canon F1 and an AE-1. Like you said, theres room for it all.

Needed this to close out 2020. Thanks Jason 🙏🏻

I wrote up your video for Fstoppers. Here's a few of my favourite comments. "I don't need some hipster Z-Linial with a conceited attitude telling me I need to shoot film." "Along with solid axles and drum brakes, this belongs in the past." "Sometimes you guys are so bleeping stupid! Film SUCKED!! If you lived it, you understand." I'm keen to post more of your videos to see if I can trigger some sort of explosion. Good times.

You said everything that was on my mind about film photography. Mind blowingly good. Special thanks to that section on a HK camera uncle speaking Cantonese. 🙇‍♂️

I have a 1979 Zenit that does great and i also have a Yashica 635. Love your channel

I give you another one: longevity. Do you know why at the age of 44 I still have all my photos as a toddler? Because my parents didn't have a smartphone 😄😉

well done , great arguments, thoughts and opinions ... well put togather and composed vlog

I used to shoot black and white film with a Minolta like 6-7 years ago. Stopped when I started shooting digital and man was that a mistake. I just recently purchased a Canon AE-1 program and I can't wait to start shooting film again. And btw, awesome video. Hilarious and super informative. New subscriber here!

Absolutely agree with ya on ALL points!! I haven’t stopped shooting film since I received my degree in 1989!

6:24 Since you brought up later that there are premium film cameras and there are cheaper film cameras, the same must apply to digital cameras. The current camera I use is a Fujifilm X-T1 and it costs me $260. I bought two lens to use on it, a 35mm f/2 ($270) and a 90mm f/2 ($520). That's a total of $1050. I have shot with this combo for the past 2 years, producing more than 20,000 shots. I could be buying more lenses to compliment by kit but that will also apply for someone shooting film buying more expensive gears. . Therefore, I think *Price* is the most difficult point to use to convince someone to switch to film. I'm looking for a film camera now because of the look and the slowing down, not the price.

You didn't even mention the little date stamp. I want it to be 1998 for lyfe.

Thanks for clarifying my thoughts!

Broo! 😂 I’ve missed your channel. Great tips for that 2021 film drip 🤙🏾

Love this. Thank you for sharing.

Upload from Jason on my birthday?! BEST DAY EVER!

As always, friday made better by Jason Merry christmas y'all, keep 2021 grainy

In reality, most people use both: I shot film for years, developed my own B&W and scanned the negs. Unless you're making prints the old fashioned way, you're combining digital and analog technologies, and unless you're making large prints, i'd wager most humans couldn't tell film from digital. I do love old lenses, so I keep those for my D700

The paint analogy at the end reminded me of an observation I made: If you tell people you paint, they reply "Cool!" But if you tell people you shoot film, they ask"Why?" Lol I agree, it doesn't have to be strictly one or the other. Both film and digital have pros and cons and both are fun to play with. Interestingly, the math you showed is the reason I don't own a full frame camera. I shoot APS-C for digital. If I want full frame, I shoot 35mm film :P

This is cool.however I shoot late 90s,early 2000s digital cameras...which are slow... especially the sony Mavica cameras which are my favorite...I never got into film at all not my thing..however I still admire people who shoot film.I just Appreciate the art that everyone creates.

That clip from SCMP, it was in Cantonese which is what I speak at home. This is the second year in a row I am away from home and the voice of the old man speaking really comforts me

Yeah! Nailed it on all points, great video.

I just bought a 3rd generation fed-5, and this makes me super excited to get it

In 1982 the national geographic photo "Afgan girl" was taken with the Nikon F2. I just picked one up on eBay for $91. That's a great camera. Pro level in 1972. I used to lug one around for years. I'd go off to europe with 6 roles of film. I could always buy more roles if I needed them. I used to guess at lighting cuz my prism didn't have a meter in it

Excellent presentation, thank you. I've been recently buying film cameras I used to have back in the day. I'm a retired pro photographer and just love the feel of my Nikon Fs and Mamiya tlrs. I recently bought a sinar P like the ones I used in the studio years ago. The examples I have bought now are in beautiful condition and were not ridiculously priced. It's reasuring to know that film.will be around for a good while and many others are going back to film, I have digital kit but just love the 'faff' of shooting film. Back in the day I bought a medium format Mamiya just to make me more selective and involved in my shots.....and the camera was a work of art and engineering too. Fully enjoyed your vid.

I used to shoot pentax 67, Fuji 6x9, even mamiya press and the biggest reason i was thrilled when digital cameras could approach the quality was xrays. I cant believe how many rolls were blasted to death in airports. Then they sometimes let you skip the xray, sometimes not. Then that shot is gone. Also not knowing what you got when you need it is too painful. And not having to swap rolls constantly, or dropping a roll when you are loading the camera. Or missing the shot because you need to load a new roll, film flatness problems. Then the money for all the film, processing, then all the scanning time and problems that adds. Man, i do not miss the old days a bit. I certainly learned how to shoot well because it was all manual and you had no way to see what you did until way later.

If only I could give you more than just the one like. Cheers. Have a good holiday, shoot more film and keep making very entertaining videos. - Mike from Canada....

Totally agree. Also, the less photos you take, the more you appreciate them. Having a few albums for each year vs tons and tons of files full of tons and tons of digital photos on your pc. People use to have a great time with a vacation photo slide show, now they scroll unenthusiastically tons of photos on Instagram a couple a times a day!

I don't really have any film photography friends, so I guess I'll share this here because I think someone is likely to find it entertaining. I recently purchased a film camera as a birthday present to myself back in March 2022. Its a Pentax ME, which I know is a super basic camera, but I'm a noob and I didn't want my photos to look like ass. Anyway, I purchased a roll of Superia 400 along with the camera. I was a bit apprehensive about loading the film into the camera, but as luck would have it my wife's friend and her husband came to visit later that day and he is an avid film photographer. I thought that I could make a new friend based on our shared interest, but I was wrong. He spoke about his duffel bags full of vintage cameras and remarked about how he often does street photography with them. I asked him if he would show me how to load the film into the camera, which he did. I have a Fujifilm digital camera and am absolutely guilty of spraying and praying with my shots. In contrast, as you would expect, I was very meticulous about my shots with my new film camera. It took me about 2 months to fill up the roll. During that time I had taken photos with my family interacting with my infant daughter. Precious memories to say the least. I took the film back to the camera shop to get developed and scanned and thought I'd treat myself with a nice roll of Ektar 100 for the summer. I bought the film, went home, and watched a RU-vid video on how to load it. While I was watching the video I mindlessly wound the crank in the wrong direction and sucked the film back into the roll. I (like an ignorant jabroni) tried to get the film back out by twisting the roll of film. Obviously I was unsuccessful. I drove back to the camera store to see if they could help me. They tried, failed, and told me I was out of luck. I went to Walmart, bought a 3 pack of Kodak Gold for the same price as the one roll of Ektar, and vowed to never make that mistake again. I still haven't finished shooting that roll as I am once again taking my time. But, it seems fate wasn't done tormenting me. As I eagerly awaited the email from the camera store advising when my film had been developed, I received an email from them telling me that the roll I submitted to them was blank. Naturally I was upset, but I also couldn't help but laugh at myself for being so unfortunate. All those precious memories might be gone, but at least I have a great long winded story to share in the comments of a RU-vid video from 2020. For anyone that actually read this comment I hope it brought you some joy, and I want to thank the maker of this channel as it was one of the reasons I purchased a film camera.

Another thought provoking video. Good for you for standing up for what you believe in. Now, where are my old boxes of slides? Was I the only guy in the world shooting Fuji Sensia - never hear it mentioned.

Think it's time for my first analog year. Thanks for the dry humor and inspiration.

It's a Grainydays Christmas special!

I mainly do bird photography so digital is the main medium for me, but I recently got into film photography and shoot a role every now and then. It has improved my photography overall as I don’t just take ‘a photo’ now. Plus I’m in love with how cool the film cameras look, only few digitals look that cool to me. I want to have one of each style - a TLR, an SLR and a modular medium format one now (I already have a rangefinder). I also started shooting Polaroid and due to their film price it makes you think about composition a lot as well before you press the shutter.

I would love to see you make a video on the process of how you make a film photography video. And it would be awesome if you had a discord server where people could talk about film photography and their experiences with it.

As someone who has just recently entered the World of film photography. I just wanna say after binge watching an unhealthy amount of your videos. Thank you for making not shitty content. Sincerely, someone you don’t know.

Honestly the only answer I give when people ask me why I shoot film is that it's fun and I like it. Photography is a hobby for me, and I have more fun shooting on film than on digital, so obviously I do the more fun thing for my hobby. I don't really feel like I need to have a justification for film

Real nice Jason! Thank you 🙏🏻

I can't believe I just am now finding you.... queue the binging. you're brilliant

As a boomer who started off shooting film then went digital in about 2008 only to go back to film last year there have been hurdles I've had to negotiate. First, finding a serviceable camera. Buying online can be real nightmare, luckily I knew what I was looking for and more importantly what questions to ask the seller. I bought a Canon A-1 which I highly recommend as a camera you can grow with as your abilities improve. Second, Film availability. Long gone are the days when I could pick up 10 rolls of K64 at my local drugstore. Thank God for the internet. Thirdly, Processing. I don't do it at home any more so in my area it's Mike's Camera which is not a bad choice but it's my only one. Ok for C41 processing but C6 or B&W well... Lastly despite the shortcomings I'm back to film for good and Jason's channel has been a great inspiration to me. Happy Holidays!

Got more motivated after watching this video about film Photography i have bought three film cameras and when i bought people were like you like wasting money. Great job man

yeah, I was starting to take photos from last December with Canon A-1 and Canonet QL GIII for those reasons :)

4:18 This is the thing I can agree the most 😊