About

From Film to Digital: A Lifelong Love Affair with Photography

My journey with cameras spans six decades, beginning as a wide-eyed kid with a simple point-and-shoot. Back then, photography felt like a mix of science and sorcery – every shot was a gamble, every roll of film a small fortune. I worked my way up through various cameras as I grew up, eventually landing on a Canon EOS 600, which felt like a spaceship compared to my early gear.

But the real magic for me happened in the darkroom. I spent countless hours developing and printing my own black-and-white and color photos. There was something hypnotic about watching a black and white image slowly reveal itself in the developer tray.

The Digital Revolution: Freedom Without Limits

Times have changed, of course. Film, though enjoying a nostalgic resurgence and I’ll admit, I’ve been tempted to dust off my old SLR, is no longer the mainstream medium. Digital has taken over, and while I’ll always cherish the tactile joy of film, I can’t deny the incredible freedom that modern digital photography offers.

No more rationing shots, no more wincing at the cost of film and development. These days, I can take a thousand photos in an afternoon without a second thought – something that would have been financially unthinkable in the past. Just imagine the cost of shooting 50 rolls of film today, let alone developing them! Digital lets me experiment freely, review instantly, and refine my approach on the fly. It’s truly liberating.

From Canon to Olympus: A System That Changed Everything for Me

After my Canon EOS 600, I took a brief hiatus from serious photography – life got in the way, as it often does. But when I decided to go digital, I returned to Canon with a Rebel XT. For nearly 40 years, I was a loyal Canon shooter, and I probably would have stayed one if not for a game-changing discovery: Olympus and its phenomenal in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

The first time I tried an Olympus camera (an OM-D E-M10 III), I was stunned. The IBIS was so effective that it almost felt like cheating! Suddenly, handheld shots at slow shutter speeds were razor-sharp. That revelation led me to Micro Four Thirds (M43), which has been my primary system ever since. The compact size, awesome stabilization, and great lens selection made it the perfect balance of performance and portability.

Why Tech Specs Aren’t Everything

Though I’m a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast, I’ve never believed that photography should be about chasing specs. Modern cameras are engineering marvels, packed with features most of us will never use. It’s easy to get lost in debates over dynamic range, megapixels, and autofocus algorithms, but at its core, photography is about seeing and creating, not just measuring.

That’s why, despite my love for M43, I still enjoy shooting with older digital cameras. Are they the latest and greatest? No. Do they have eye-watering resolution or lightning-fast autofocus? Usually not. But they force me to slow down, think more deliberately, and focus on the fundamentals. And most importantly they’re fun!

So, if it’s not about tech specs what is the site about? Well, hands on reviews of equipment I actually own and use or have used for one thing. Hints and tips that I have garnered over the years for another including useful refernce sources.

The Best Camera Is the One You Use

So here’s my advice: Don’t get bogged down in gear obsession. I see folks selling excellent gear jump ship to a different system. Why? Because some influencer somewhere told them it was the best and they needed it to be a good photographer. The Internet is full of pixel-peepers and spec-sheet warriors, but the truth is, the best camera is the one that inspires you to shoot.

Whether it’s a vintage DSLR, a modern mirrorless powerhouse, or even your smartphone what matters is that you’re out there capturing moments, experimenting, and enjoying the process. Photography, after all, is about preserving memories, telling stories, and seeing the world in new ways.

So stop worrying about charts and graphs. Grab a camera – any camera – and go take some photos!