a few question about digital vs film camera

I have using film for more than 10 years with nexus master with my nikon f90x it's work well with ikelite TTL strobe and I'm very happy with it . untill the digital age coming I just wait and see every model go by from nikon d1

d1x d100 until d70 it's change too fast ! For me 4,000 USD is a big money! to buy a camera , housing and a pair of new strobes . It's ok if it last long for 5 or 6 years but if you need to up grade your camera and housing every 2 years compare to my f90x that I have use for 10 years ! that mean I should spend 4,000 USD OR more every 2 years!

I still need a good result from shooting digital but I 'm not dare enough to spend 4,000 USD every 2 years!

Does anyone can show me the light at the end of tunnel?

ps. I don't know why nikon create a new d-TTL for ? to improve lighting technic or to sell a new SB flash ? But for underwater photograher it's not a good idea at all !!!

May be I should keep my 4,000 USD and still shooting on film for a year

Nat, I do not think it is a situation that will call for you to upgrade to a new system every 2 years. You currently shoot with a great system. Other film cameras have come out since you initially purchased your Nikon and you did not upgrade so I do not think that you will be forced to change with digital. Just look at some of the images being produced by the current line of DSLR's and you will see some fantastic stuff. It is a matter of preference between digital and film. I chose digital because of the ability to review and control my final output. With that said, I now find that I have more "keepers" with digital and have no intention of upgrading from my 10D in the future. I also shoot with my old SB105's and my YS350 strobes. None of these strobes have TTL capability with my digital but I have hit more keepers in manual mode than with fully automated TTL. In fact, I have doubts at this time that I will ever change to a digitally matched strobe system. If you truly love underwater photography, I would sink your $$ into digital and go out and have fun for a long time to come. Good luck with your choice.

thank you for your advise. but for me f90x or f5 or f100 not diffrence much at result on film that why I don't need to upgrade my film camera. But for digital everytime they change that mean the quality of picture is change! that's the point ! Actually I have already bought nikon f70 for a month but I didn't buy housing yet because housing is much more expensive than camera ! If D2x or D200 coming out with 12 mega pixel what should I do with my 6 mega pixel system?

nexus d70 (3000 usd) and 2 inon 180 strobe (800 usd)

hi Nat i agree with your comments

I've switched to DSLR (fuji S2) a year ago after a nikonos , a n F90 and finally an F100 nikon

Ive made , a lot of progress since I shoot in digital and today i can resume pros and cons of the system :

pros :

excellent way to make better pictures, you see what you've just made

a shoot dosn't costs a lot

cons :

highlights are still very BAD even with one of the best sensors (Fuji)

But finally I would say : Why would you change your 6MP DSLR if this one gives you good results for what you like (F.e. I like prints in 25/38 cm and for this I don't need 30000 MP )

Hi Nat,

You have some interesting (and very true) points. But step back and try not to let the camera companies snare you in their "new is better" marketing net.

Just because a new model of digital camera comes out -- that does not make older models spontaneously combust. In fact, if your camera (whether it's film or digital) is giving you good results you enjoy, then why upgrade?

Let's look at the Fuji S2 for example. I've used a lot of DSLR cameras over the last two years or so so I can comfortably say that this is THE DSLR for film shooters to move to if they want to feel "at home." Couple the Fuji S2 with the new digital 12-24DX lens and you really won't know you're shooting digital and not film. The Fuji does true TTL and does it pretty well. The output is somewhere between 6 and 12 megapixels - more than enough for 16 x 20 prints.

So I'd feel comfortable saying that if you bought an S2 setup when they first came out, if you didn't get marketting inflicted "pixel envy" you'd probably be happy with the results for your required 5 years.

The reason that Nikon can't do TTL is that their sensors are not reflective like film. They absorb the light that hits them, so there IS no "reflection off the film plane" for the TTL sensors to read. I can assure you that Nikon and their engineers were just as frustrated by this as you are. Digital TTL is an evolving area and it will surely keep changing - a challenge for us underwater shooters.

You also made a good point about digital "film." The capture media is the sensor, so when you buy a digital camera you are getting the camera and the "film" bundled together. So, you are thinking, you won't be able to keep your camera but switch film when a new and better type comes out. That's true for most digital cameras - but it's probably marketing driven too. Kodak recently released a new DSLR, but they also offered an upgrade program where owners of older cameras could send in their units and have the sensor replaced with a newer one. Pretty neat, eh?

Cheers

James Wiseman

The reason that Nikon can't do TTL is that their sensors are not reflective like film. They absorb the light that hits them, so there IS no "reflection off the film plane" for the TTL sensors to read.

How Fuji solved this problem?

The sensor in the S2 is reflective enough for TTL to work.

I’m in the same boat. I want to get a digital underwater setup but refuse to get caught up with the update game. Ant has a good point that I’m struggling with. The film in a film camera is upgradeable. The sensor in a digital camera is upgradeable when you purchase a new digital camera. This is cost prohibitive especially when you need to get a new housing when you upgrade. I’m still on the fence.

thanks james I ve learned something about my sensor today

i ve always asked me how was the TTL sytem working on the S2

Do you think we'll be able to upgrade it ? new firmware or even better with the new S3 sensor ? :?:

I use a 10D, but I'm sure I won't be using it in 5 years. 6.3 megapixels and 1.6 FOV crop are two areas that, for me, are not really what I want. I see it as a stopgap camera, that lets me shoot digital with reasonable quality, whilst I wait for technology to move on. I expect to use it 18-24 months, and then upgrade. I believe digital to be evolving technology, whereas film cameras are mature technology.

or even better with the new S3 sensor ?  :?:

AFAIK, The S3 will NOT have true TTL as the S2 does.

This is the primary reason I purchsed the S2.

In reply to the original post, I just purchased a "new" camera about a month ago, one that is about to be replaced by a new model. I did this knowing the new model was coming, and that I was buying "last years" toy. I personally feel that the Fuji S2 is the best underwater dSLR. That said, I also have no intention of upgrading this camera for a long time. It will do everything I could ever want.

I also print my images up to 16x20 on a regular basis and consider the 6-12 megapixel output of the S2 to be more than enough.

I alreday buy nexus d70 for my d70 yesterday before a trip to lembeh I end up with d70 because only one reason nexus doesn't make housing for s2 pro!!!!!

and I was up set with that because if I plan to buy

seacam or whatever housing I should buy a whole new system and when I travalling I should carry 2 system!

I feel not so good with nexus if they have s2pro housing it should be more than better for me!!! and I will have digital camera last 2 years