National Photography Day: This is the reason why Gen Z is using old film cameras and ditching digital

The death of analog photography was announced back in the late 80s/early 90s. And yet the silver-based process is still going strong, although finding the actual material - rolls of film and the chemicals to develop them, photographic paper, and even labs that offer C45, E6 and black and white processing services is getting harder.

In an age where every smartphone houses a high resolution digital camera, and built in memory card to store thousands of images, photography has never been so accessible or so easy.

But digital has its downside too. You have less control - that’s because the camera (at least the ones in smartphones), does all the work for you. So there’s no need to figure out the correct exposure, use a faster or slower shutter speed or control depth of field etc to get the results you want...

And because the camera takes care of those things for you, the results can sometimes seem a little sterile - an interesting landscape or scene turned into an algorithmic image with enhanced, saturated colors.

Sure, it’s true that high-end SLR digital camera will allow you to control most or all of the above, so why are Generation Z photography lovers gravitating back to analog?

Analog photography seems more authentic

There are several reasons for the shift. Some may argue that photographs taken using traditional film with an analog camera tend to have more character than a digital equivalent - especially when it comes to black and white. You can see the grain, details in the shadows - they have a different feel to digital.

Another is that using film forces the photographer to be more selective and considerate about the image they are capturing as well as the moment to release the shutter. By going digital, in some ways you could be letting yourself open to taking throwaway images, snaps.

A roll of traditional 35mm negative film usually comes in three lengths - each roll will have enough space for 12, 24 or 36 photographs, give or take one or two.

More care needed not to waste shots

That means you can’t afford to waste a shot - unlike digital where it’s possible to snap away and then edit later, if you only have one roll, the maximum number of frames you can take is 36. Some photographers say that forces them to be more thoughtful about composition, light... etc. making the whole experience of taking a photograph more rewarding and special.

And perhaps the most magical part of analog photography - at least if you decide to print your own photographs, is watching your images slowly emerge under the red lights of the darkroom.

In short, digital photography and analog photography requite two very different approaches to which we respond to differently emotionally. Where one is instant gratification, the other is much more mentally stimulating and requires deeper thought and concentration.

The odyssey of finding old, expired film stock

Getting your hands on old film stock is still a task in itself - many of the classic 35mm film such as Kodak’s Technical Pan, Ektachrome, Ilford FP4, Fuji Neopan... etc are long discontinued although old, unused stock crops up regularly on Ebay and luckily, B+W film is generally stable so will still be fine to expose and process decades down the line.

The dyes in expired color film do deteriorate over time - especially when not stored in a cool, dark environment. However, they give interesting results which many people seem to like, so it’s worth experimenting if you come across an expired roll.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.