Film vs. Digital, Why I'm a Hybrid Shooter / by John Wineberg

In the age of digital cameras some people are confused why someone would choose to shoot film. The high cost of film and developing, lack of control of the image, limited camera choices and so much more. With all these negatives there are still millions of people worldwide who are making that choice and I am one of them.

I grew up with film. There weren’t any other options for photography. In the late 70’s I had a teacher that taught us how to create a pinhole camera out of an oatmeal box. I was instantly hooked! My parents always had cameras in the house and I took advantage of that. In 1985 I bought my first camera, the Nikon FE2. I also purchased a 50mm and 70-210 lens to go with it. I shot on that system, exclusively, for close to 20 years. I’m still using that camera to this day.

When digital arrived I jumped right in. I started with the Nikon D70 and then graduated to the Nikon D7000 and D7200. I made money with those cameras. I started doing portrait and event work. My film camera collected dust during this time. I then switched to Fujifilm, the X-T1, X-T2 and now have the X-T4. I’ve made money with all of them. When COVID hit I stopped taking photography jobs. My photography is and will always be my passion so I continue to shoot. I sold some of my gear and bought my first Leica, the Q2. I love that camera. Great build quality, feels good in my hands. This then sparked my interest in the M6. The Leia M6 had been a camera I looked at many years before but could never afford. A dream camera. Not practical and definitely not cheap. I had some more equipment to sell so I went for it. I absolutely love it. I’ve shot both color and black and white film and I couldn’t be happier.

So my bag has the Leica Q2 for digital and M6 for film, in it. I carry both, everywhere. I shoot based on my current mood. There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason for my choice. All I know is that I love the images I have been making with these two cameras.

Shooting film will always remind me of when I was a kid. Winding the film, opening the back of the camera to reload film, adjusting all the setting, manual focus! I love it all. I want control. I like analog. It is what I did for most of my life. It is how I learned photography. With the Leica Q2 I have found a digital camera that feels right. Manual focus when I want it, shooting in manual. All those things work for me. The digital output, lately in black and white, is amazing. Each, film/digital, has its place. Going forward I will always have both. I’m looking forward to creating my art with both mediums over the coming year.

Until Next Time,

John