Long have most of us heard the debate: that analog photography is better than digital photography, or that the reverse is true. As in any such discussion, there is probably no clear, single answer or objective fact of the matter. It just comes down to what features of each type of photography people prefer, right?
Let’s dig into each type of photography to give you some idea of what you’re up against when entering this discussion.
Analog Photography
Ah, film. There’s nothing quite like it, or is there? A lot of the disagreement about analog vs. digital photography centers on the resolution of the photos taken. The resolution of digital images is measured in pixels, and although analog film does not contain pixels, it still has a pixel equivalent that simply cannot measure up to digital photos in the twenty-first century. Now, medium- or large-format analog film can far exceed the pixels of digital photography, but if we are considering analog photography in its standard form, digital resolution wins hands down.
We don’t want to get too technical for readers who are maybe just getting into photography and looking for some basic contrasts between analog and digital. We could get into other aspects of photography such as film speed and grain, but the typical photography beginner will probably be concerned only with what the final result looks like. That may just come down to personal preference. You might love the look of a true film photograph or fall in love with the ultra high definition of a digital image.
But there are other things to consider when comparing analog photography to digital. Chief among these is the fact that analog photography exists on rolls of film that cannot be deleted, hacked, or compressed into low-res files. What you take is what you have. To that point, remember that analog photographers have a limited number of exposures on a roll of film. They must ensure that each shot is truly worth taking, which means thinking about it for probably quite some time first. With digital photos, if you don’t like it, delete it instantly and take another. Analog enthusiasts might say this takes the thought out of the photo.
Digital Photography
Of course, you’ll find probably just as many digital photography supporters out there, and they come with their own set of reasons for why they prefer it to analog, aside from the issue of higher resolution.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of digital photography as compared to analog is the convenience of it. You can take 25 shots of something, decide you like 10 of them, and delete the remaining 15. This doesn’t waste any digital space, since you’re keeping only what you want. On top of that, if you choose to transfer your good photos to another form of digital media–say, to a flash drive–you can save even more space by deleting the original files from your digital camera’s storage card.
Now, probably one of the most attractive elements of digital photography is that you can upload your photos instantly to whatever photo-editing software you have to make all kinds of touch-ups and other alterations. In that department, the possibilities are sort of endless. You can use this software to fix blurs, correct colors, and introduce realistic sunlight effects. Depending on what you are using your photos for, this software can be your best friend.
A niche market you may not have considered when investigating digital photography is the photo booth. These are becoming increasingly popular outlets for professional photographers to make some extra cash. Just put up the initial investment costs to purchase one, and then you can rent your booth out to weddings, parties, and corporate events for several hundred dollars per rental.
The best part of a photo booth from a company such as HootBooth is that you can instantly edit the photos you just took of your customers. Add in all kinds of wacky effects, from GIF technology to green-screen backgrounds. Those of you out there looking for that best photo booth for sale would be remiss not to look into HootBooth’s products. You have a ton of options to choose from, including booths with either DSLR or iPad cameras. These booths are great for breaking the ice at social gatherings and really any kind of festive event.
So there you have it: some good looks at analog and digital photography. You may have to try each type to discover which you prefer, but we hope we were able to give you a decent look at the main differences. Keep snapping away!
Image credit: Digital-Analog-Photography via Pavel Kapysh/Shutterstock
