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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Keep it or sell it?
Thomas E. Witte, Photographer
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Cincinnati | OH | USA | Posted: 9:44 PM on 02.24.03 |
->> Over the past year I've only ran about 200 rolls of film through both of my remaining 1V's. I have one 1D right now and have used it 98% of the time compared to the film bodies. The reason I held on to the film bodies was because of the magazine market.
However even with the magazines I've been shooting almost 70% digital. Even with SI and ESPN, only two assignments necessitated film, but that was because we wanted to exploit the tilt/shift aspect on the medium format, so even then, 35mm has only been half of that 30%. Business Week, Newsweek, US News & WR, and all of the other big names are now fairly open to digital images.
I could babble on and on about it all, but basically I wondered how many of you out there have held on to your film bodies and for what reasons? I have a tasty deal on some new 1D's, and I'm sitting here looking at these film bodies as potential capital.
I think part of the reason I'm holding back is the stigma of banishing film from my arsenal. But that's a lousy reason to deny myself potential income from being able to capture more angles and more shots per game.
So what would you do? |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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Amherst | MA | USA | Posted: 9:46 PM on 02.24.03 |
| ->> So, if you are going to part with one of the 1V bodies, have an asking price in mind? |
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Thomas E. Witte, Photographer
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Cincinnati | OH | USA | Posted: 9:56 PM on 02.24.03 |
| ->> With two batteries and a charger, I'm looking at $1400 and seeing what sticks. One of them is already on eBay and listed in the classifieds, but I'm pondering the sale of it's sister as well. |
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Jeffrey Riley, Photographer
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Huntington Beach | CA | USA | Posted: 9:58 PM on 02.24.03 |
| ->> I want in on the tasty deals. :) |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | AZ | USA | Posted: 10:53 PM on 02.24.03 |
->> Thomas ...
Hang on to one of the 1V bodies. Even if it's collecting dust, hang on to it. You never know when you will need film, plus if you have a computer theft, or worse yet, a digital camera theft, you'll be glad you have a fall back. |
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erik schelkun, Photographer
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troy | oh | usa | Posted: 10:55 PM on 02.24.03 |
->> Thomas
I hear you my man. I am sitting here looking at an F5 and an F100 that have been just sitting on a shelf since i purchased a d1h. I still hate to part with them just in case. Of what I dunno. I haven.t shot a single roll with them in the four months I have been digital. I do mostly newspaper work, but in the coming months/years I would like to move more into magazine work as well. But from what I hear and have seen, the major publications are getting more and more used to the idea that digital is sticking around. I still just hate to see the ole film cameras go! decisions decisions...
happy shooting
erik |
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Ron Scheffler, Photographer
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Toronto area (Hamilton) | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 11:23 PM on 02.24.03 |
->> It's a fair chunk of coin, but for your more demanding clients who are iffy about taking digital files, might I suggest you consider the 1Ds?
It might not suit your sports photography the way a 1D will, but the files it produces are truly amazing. Clean, vibrant, and full of detail to rival (or as some pros report, exceed) what you can attain with MF and film.
While likely not at the level of a Phase One back, I suspect a 1Ds would be more useful for your purposes.
As for film... I suppose if you really needed to use a 1V for a job, you could rent one, and possibly bill that back to the client.
I got my 1D back in December 2001 and have since only used my film bodies for a few weddings. And only then because I wasn't entirely certain about digital, the workflow and how I would handle digital weddings. As the year progressed, I found myself using the 1D more and more for weddings, to the point where the last one of the year was, as a test, 100% digital. Everything else has, and continues to be approached digitally whenever possible, and I love it more and more... now between 70 to 80K frames later. |
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Phil Sedgwick, Photographer
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Oceanside | CA | USA | Posted: 11:56 PM on 02.24.03 |
| ->> I don't know about you, but some of my images REQUIRE veliva plus an ND in daylight. Not too many digicams that can do that without stacking a lot of filters. Keep at least one. |
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Michael Hickey, Photographer
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Muncie | IN | USA | Posted: 12:08 AM on 02.25.03 |
| ->> All I know is you better make your mind up soon, because the bottom falls further every day on film cameras, as far as trade-in/resell value goes. As good a camera as the 1v is, they just aren't selling, along with all the other film cams around especially used medium format. You can't GIVE that stuff away! |
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Mike Doran, Photographer
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Foster | CA | U.S.A. | Posted: 12:15 AM on 02.25.03 |
| ->> I still have two bodies also an EOS 3 and 1N. I still shoot most of my weddings with film so the 1N is on the block or will be soon.I need to come up with some money for a new 300 2.8 as I just got the news from the repair facility that I now can use my 300mm for a door stop as it is unrepairable. |
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Thomas E. Witte, Photographer
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Cincinnati | OH | USA | Posted: 12:28 AM on 02.25.03 |
->> Phil, I know just what you mean. You can't cross process tungsten film with a digital body. Being the case, though, I more often than not do that in a very controled environment like a location set, where the fire power of a 1V is still overkill. I may still sell it all off and just pick up a used EOS 3 or 1N or something like that.
Michael- I know what you mean too. It's funny looking at how I spent $7000 on my Fuji kit two years ago and it's already down to maybe $3000 tops for a kick ass, top of the line medium format system.
I've been cleaning up the office all day long and going through closet upon closet of old gear and props. I'll probably be selling a lot of it off in the coming days. In 2002, 92.36% of my income came from one digital body.... That's just absurd considering how much film stuff I still own; both 35mm and 6x8....
I think my last statement just solidified my decision. EBay here I come. |
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Thomas Silknitter, Photographer
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Coatesville | PA | | Posted: 12:50 AM on 02.25.03 |
| ->> You can always buy another film body. I know when I had to upgrade I sold off some extra film bodies, then I got in a bind. I bought a good used EOS-3, I used it for a month or so, and then sold it on ebay and actually turned a profit... can be done. Its all a wheeling and dealing, but if the gear is not being used, then you have to look at what that investment is actually turning in. I know i have sold off a lot of gear because I just wasn't using it anymore. You can always get your hands on something else if you need to. |
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Evan Parker, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Shoreline | WA | USA | Posted: 12:52 AM on 02.25.03 |
| ->> I guess in many ways it's just like ditching your old tapes and LPs for CDs- hard to do emotionally, but how many people have a 33 player still attatched to their stereo and not stuck in the closet? Not many. And what can you buy an old vinal for now? 25 cents? 6 for a dollar? I shudder to think what the 1V will go for in a few years. $150? Geeze. But I would consider turning a little of that money around into a lower bracket SLR- perhaps even a manual one. Almost everything I shoot is on my D1H, but some days it's really nice to pop a roll of velvia or TMax in the old FE with a 50/1.8 and just go shoot some personal work. It's kind of a way of refreshing the soul- going back to the days when nobody came close to shooting 3 or 4 hundred frames in a game. . . |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Tucson | AZ | USA | Posted: 1:51 AM on 02.25.03 |
| ->> It's sad nobody has come up with a back that will convert film cameras into digital. Of course, the idea is to sell more cameras. |
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Steve Boyle, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 2:06 AM on 02.25.03 |
->> I like to dive in head first and not look back. With my decision I haven't regretted a thing.
Sold all my film bodies, a 1n and 1v, and bought 2 1D bodies.
Best thing I have ever done. No regrets. Haven't needed film since. |
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Jay Abend, Photographer
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Framingham | MA | USA | Posted: 8:52 AM on 02.25.03 |
->> Buy a cheaper EOS body as film backup-
Sold the 1v and the 1n, bought a 1d and a 1ds AND a used EOS A2 body on Ebay for $250- Now I have a 35mm film body when I need it. (Also sold off my bricks of Provia) |
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Rich Pilling, Photographer
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New York | NY | U.S.A. | Posted: 9:28 AM on 02.25.03 |
| ->> Thomas: My two cents...if you can afford to keep the V's, keep them. I also have two relatively brand new V's which I haven't used since we switched to digtal. In fact, I still have an older 400mm f2.8 even though the company purchased a new IS model for me to use. If needed I could use this lens on a remote body. I understand that the longer you hang onto your equipment, the lower their resale becomes. I am not certain whether or not I'll ever use the film bodies again. But if I need them, I'll have them. |
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Robert G. Stevens, Photographer
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Halifax | NS | Canada | Posted: 9:52 AM on 02.25.03 |
->> Thomas:
I would keep one of the film bodies. Some time you may want a decent body, but not want to carry all the extra gear associated with digital.
For example, I am going on vacation to France next month and will be taking film cameras only. I wouldn't even dream about carrying a digital and a laptop. A box of film is lighter and much easier to manage.
Evan is right that it is nice just to shoot some film sometimes. |
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PJ Halper, Student/Intern
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Surf City | NC | | Posted: 10:32 AM on 02.25.03 |
->> I picked up an old - in nice shape- nikon fg a few months
back reason being :
- it shoots at1/90 with out battery power-
{I still have a few manual film bodies around too]
reason being - and this is a bit of a stretch- but when hurricane floyd ripped through eastern nc and flooded the hell out of everything- and power went down- I was still able to shoot -and keep on shooting-
with digital- you are only as good as your last battery charge- and then where to dump the imgages- fine until the laptop dies-
true I couldn't process the film either- but 35 rolls later- at least I was able to keep shooting-and shooting and shooting- until power was restored- -my digital buddies went only so long-
then their cameras turned into bricks-no more juice
and if the office still had the wet lab I could have possibly processed by hand- |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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Amherst | MA | USA | Posted: 11:00 AM on 02.25.03 |
->> PJ:
Forget home power, I use an AC inverter in my car. Off of this I hook up to two battery chargers and a laptop (off an added Aux power port), as well as a cell phone (using the standard cigarette lighter port). I've never had a problem, and use a surge bar ('84 and '85 Mercedes 300D Turbo...also had this in my '97 Jeep Cherokee before it was stolen in Jan 2002)
But I usually carry a 1965 Nikomat , sometimes a '59 Nikon F....but more than likely a set of Nikon FA bodies with Vivitar 283.....I love 'em, but they always stay warm and dry in the car now, and have since pretty much Sept 2000.
On my trip overseas last week I brought an EOS 3 for a backup film body. Shot 7 rolls.....wow what wierd feeling getting only 36 shot to an image card....uhhhh I mean roll :0) |
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Ron Scheffler, Photographer
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Toronto area (Hamilton) | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 11:48 AM on 02.25.03 |
->> Robert, I'm not sure I agree with your argument in regards to traveling...
I now only take my 1D, a laptop, some cards and the usual lenses & accessories. My bag does not seem to be much heavier...
With film, I would be in situations where I'd have to decide if I wanted to use 100 or 400, colour or B&W, or if I had enough (or too much) film with me, etc. Now with digital, no worries, especially at the airport x-ray check..
And once I'm home, no more trips to the lab (and associated costs) or souping film in the darkroom, or scanning!
In my opinion, photography while traveling has become easier with digital. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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Amherst | MA | USA | Posted: 12:30 PM on 02.25.03 |
->> On a side note, I find traveling with digital much easier for a the very simple reasons below:
A) Haul a chemistry set
B) Find a lab
C) Hope a lab is open when you are done
D) Not scan images
E) Not pack a scanner
F) Transmit from anywhere |
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Ed J. Szalajeski, Photographer
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Yarmouth | ME | USA | Posted: 3:07 PM on 02.25.03 |
->> Thomas,
Business wise you are answering your own question.
>...In 2002, 92.36% of my income came from one
>digital body....
Go with the Bell curve. By all means have a film body, but do you really need your cash tied up in 2 1V's?
Like was mentioned before, rent when needed, and that is an expense.
One a side note, if you are selling, your accountant, and you will see that you WILL get Hammered with TAXES if you depreciated those assets, or expensed them if you sell them more than the remaining depreciated value.
So, sell them to someone for what you have value is minus what you took for your depreciation schedule, otherwise Uncle Sam, will get his the next quarterly you file.
On that note, renting you get to either pass that expense off to your client, or take that as an expense against money earned.
Ed Szalajeski |
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Robert G. Stevens, Photographer
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Halifax | NS | Canada | Posted: 4:28 PM on 02.25.03 |
->> I used the Vacation example specifically because there is no need to develop, scan or transmit. Another example is magazine work. The stuff I shot at the World Junior Hockey Championships, was just published this week. Even though I shot it in digital, they did not need the images until about three weeks after the event.
In regards to deciding how much film, there is always the option to buy more film when away. I can bring a lot of film before it begins to get even close to the weight of my laptop. I have a pretty light thinkpad and it weighs about five pounds with adapter, battery and accessories. In reality, the bag with the laptop, probably weighs close to ten pounds. Ten pounds of film is a lot of film, about eight propacks (5,700 exposures). Just for curiosity sake, how many actuations do you put on your digital per trip?
It is now as much of a pain in the ass to carry a laptop through security as it is to get film inspected. In Halifax at least, they have make you boot the computer if you are carrying it on and through security. |
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Jim Owens, Photographer
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Cincinnati | OH | usa | Posted: 5:09 PM on 02.25.03 |
->> My .02
Keep one 1V. Velvia is a good reason alone. |
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Ron Scheffler, Photographer
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Toronto area (Hamilton) | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 6:50 PM on 02.25.03 |
->> This is going off topic from the original post, but I would like to address Robert's argument regarding film vs. digital for travel:
It really depends on your priorities. Some people travel (on 'vacation') to make photos, others would rather not haul around all the gear. I'm one of those who wants to spend time doing photography because I find it to be a creative, relaxing and introspective way to explore new places. I bring my usual assortment of gear (but not usually the 400 or 600 ;-). By using a digital camera, it has simplified many of the considerations I used to make, especially regarding the kinds of film to bring, and which film to use in a given situation. Digital is more flexible, and that is important to me.
The laptop serves purposes other than image storage, such as entertainment if needed, and a way to show off and share photos with people you meet along the way. In fact, if you just needed storage, you could use one of those portable multi GB drives that are lighter and more compact than a laptop.
For me, there is no going back to film, but that's my decision.
Robert, I can understand your issues with travel and digital, especially if your only digital camera is a big @$$ DCS520! :-)
As for laptops and airport security: In the last four to six months, there must have been a change in policy, as I haven't recently been asked to turn on my laptop... that's in Canada, the US and now also in Germany. However, you do need to remove it and have it x-rayed separately. If you hate being forced to boot the laptop, do what I've done for a while: carry it in sleep mode and when asked, open it up and in a few seconds it's on and you're on your way...
And since you asked, my latest trip was not so heavy on the picture taking, with less than 1000 frames, or about 7 GB of data.
I stick by my opinion and recommend Thomas sells his film bodies. |
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PJ Halper, Student/Intern
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Surf City | NC | | Posted: 12:30 PM on 02.28.03 |
->> stephen good idea about power inverters-
I'll look into it !
but back then-when I say the power went out- I mean the power went out !!! no pumping gas to fuel the car either--
roads blocked , flooded etc-
everything came to a standstill- and what gas we had was saved for the few miles you could drive-
hopped rides with nat'l guard trucks, boats, etc,
teaches one a lot about preplanning for storms-
generators,clean drinking water, canned food- can opener :) etc.--
cheers ! |
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