Film vs. Digital Photography — What is the Difference?

January 11, 2021

Digital cameras were first introduced in 1975, however, they didn’t go mainstream until the early 2000s.

Today, digital photography has surpassed film photography by leaps and bounds as the format of choice, with few exceptions. Thanks to ever-improving smartphone technology, the quality of digital photos taken on some smartphones far exceeds that of mid-range digital cameras.

But what is digital photography and how does it differ from film or analog photography? For starters, a digital camera doesn’t require film — instead, it requires a rechargeable battery to power it and a memory card to capture images. The basic principles are the same regarding shutter speed, aperture, ISO to create exposures, and an eye for creating compositions.

Film is a strip of plastic coated with gelatin emulsion layer with microscopically tiny light-sensitive silver halide crystals. The film’s sensitivity to light is referred to as the ISO. Film is available in many sizes to fit different cameras, varying number of exposures (24 and 36 are the most common for 35mm), and ISOs, as well as negative and slide formats.

Film captures images at different resolutions while digital cameras have electronic sensors that perform these same functions. Just as you can’t take photos on a film camera without film, a storage device (e.g. SD card) is necessary to take pictures on a digital camera. And then you end up with file formats like JPEG, TIFF, PNG, SVG and others that don’t exist in film photography.

Film vs. Digital Photography

There are pros and cons of film cameras vs. digital models, although this isn’t an objective thing because like any other topic, people have different viewpoints about photography.

Many film cameras cost less, although there is the added expense of film and processing
Film is better at capturing black and white and subtle details far better than digital
Minor focusing issues and exposure problems aren’t as noticeable on film
Film captures photos at a higher resolution than most digital cameras
A limited number of film exposures on a roll requires a person to think more about shots than shooting hundreds of photos on a smartphone, which could be seen as a pro or con
Film delivers the thrill of the unknown because you have to wait for it to be processed vs. “what you see is what you get” with digital
Film cameras don’t run out of battery power like digital cameras, which often stop working before you can recharge them — anybody who missed once-in-a-lifetime shots on a dream vacation can attest to this
If you ever printed your own photos in a darkroom, seeing images appear is a near magical experience that can’t be replicated

Digital vs. Film

Instead of waiting for the photo lab to return your pictures, digital photography makes it possible to see images instantly and post them to social media sites immediately. If you don’t like the results, you may be able to retake the picture, depending on the situation.

The versatile resolution of point-and-shoot cameras of 12 to 20 megapixels is high enough to create quality prints
Digital cameras allow you to change as many if not more settings than film cameras, including ISO, white balance, resolution size, etc.
Memory cards are small and can store many images, but they also can get damaged or lost
Images can be edited directly on the camera or retouched after you download them using a wide array of apps or software vs. retouching dust or spots on prints the old-fashioned way with tiny brushes and dyes
You can choose to print the best images rather than an entire roll
Digital images don’t clutter physical spaces, although you need to be diligent about storage to avoid computer or smartphone clutter

Photography is a magical medium because it captures moments in time, connecting the past to the present, regardless of whether you opt for film or digital!