Speaking Frankly

Film Forever!

Will all dedicated film users please come out of hiding? I mean you classicists who believe the world's greatest black-and-white prints are created with heart and love in a chemical darkroom; you slide-shooters who adore examining images with high-powered loupes; you photographers tired of sitting in front of a computer screen when you long to be out shooting; and those of you who sense that the images created on film are, well, just better than digital images. Finally, let's also call out photographers who boldly use both film and digital. Like me.

Behind the Scenes at Photokina

This year's Photokina international photographic show, held every other year in Cologne Germany during the fall, was like no other. Thanks to the internet, information on virtually every important new camera, lens and software had been pre-announced to the media but embargoed until Photokina opening day. Then the floodgates opened on all internet-only sites plus photo magazine internet sites so there was little additionally new for writers and editors attending Photokina to report.

When Pros Are Cons

Do pros sometimes hold back equipment development?

It's a commonly held belief that professional photographers are asked to try out new camera models before production is finalized. Wrong. While pros may be among the first to see a new model, they have no more chance of altering camera features than you or I. During the design stage, pros (and trusted members of the photo press) may be asked for their opinions or ideas about features. But once the die is cast, we all take what the manufacturer gives us.

Looking back on the history of 35mm and medium-format film cameras, as well as digital SLRs, the manufacturers have a good record of success. Failures at retail have often been due more to a camera maker's financial problems than poor design.

But there have been some odd bumps and missed opportunities to advance camera design. And many have been caused by pros giving SLR makers misdirection during the design stage. Sometimes their opinions were (thankfully) ignored, but sometimes they were followed, resulting in problems that continue to this day. Here are some of my favorites:

From The Keppler Files: November 1968

It’s the easiest thing in the world for an SLR owner to forget the purpose of camera equipment. Look at that lovely gleaming chrome and leather, admire the huge expanses of superfast glass, click the shutter, dry run the camera, carry it loaded, discuss it with friends, compare it with enemies, shoot countless brick walls or test targets and what more is there really to the hobby? Taking a photograph you can really enjoy as a creative product is virtually an unnecessary anticlimax. Why risk a failure when all the other activity is so much fun?