A roll of 35mm film
Since the introduction of digital cameras, there was been a hard-fought battle between the film and digital media. Some filmmakers hold tight to their faith in film, while more and more people are converting over to digital video. While the two media have their differences, the lines are becoming blurred.
Resolution
It is widely thought that film has a much higher resolution than even the best digital cameras, due to the fact that film is captured on a 35mm frame through a chemical process. However, it must be noted that there is considerable quality loss from the original print to the edited copies that are distributed. Digital cameras are rapidly advancing in resolution. Standard high definition TVs can display up to 1,080 vertical lines of resolution that are scanned progressively. Top digital cameras can record with a resolution of up to 4,000 vertical lines. To the average audience, the differences between film and digital are hard to define.
Cost
The cost to shoot film must factor in rental of the camera, purchase of film, processing and transfer from negative print to positive for editing, and film copies for distribution. The film in particular can get pretty costly, as you need 400 feet of film for every five minutes you plan to shoot, and at roughly $300 for every 400 feet, that can add up on full-length features. For digital, all you really need is to rent a camera and any digital equipment, such as computers and hard drives, to go with it. However, when transferring digital to film, the conversion and print costs roughly equal that of shooting film in the first place.
Work Flow
The work flow you wish establish most likely will determine the medium you should use. It your output is going to be film, it is best to shoot film in the first place because of the costs of transfer. If the output is digital, such as digital projection, Blu-ray or the Internet, then digital is the way to go. Because the immediacy and ease of use of digital, you can shoot, edit and output all in the same format.
Longevity
When it comes to longevity, there is still much debate as to what is better. Because of the chemicals used in to create a film image, the quality of a film image will decline over time. Prints of "Casablanca" will not look as good today as they did on opening night in 1942. Digital, on the other hand, will hold its image quality over time. Film, though, cannot be accidentally deleting. With digital, storing footage on a hard drive or memory card can sometimes be tricky. If the hard drive crashes, all of the footage will be lost forever. The same goes for DVDs and Blu-rays, which may become unreadable over time.
Which is Better?
So, after all is said and done, which one is better? The truth is there is no definitive answer. Neither medium is inherently better, and they both have their strengths and weaknesses. Digital is expanding every day, opening up movie making for people who would have never had a chance to make movies with film. Film, though, is not going anywhere and will be here for a long time to come. It really comes down to personal preference and the needs of the shoot that determine which medium is better for your project.
Tags: digital cameras, over time, between film, between film digital, film digital, film first
