# The Omnibus Digital Photography Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** photo\ **Created:** [November 15, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301 "2024-11-15T20:42:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/1 "2024-11-15T20:42:05Z")
I’d like to limit digital photography in [The Omnibus Film Photography Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-film-photography-thread/1007354) to its use in scanning film photographs; so to help keep that thread on-topic, I’ve started this thread for discussion of digital photography and video. I’d always used film cameras until I got a Motorola flip phone and, later, a flat phone with a keyboard on it. The photos weren’t very good. Eventually I bought a [Nikon D3300](https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3300.htm). With so many other things going on in my life, I learned to use it just enough for casual photographs; snapshots, if you will. Before that (until 2007) I was involved in shooting digital (mini DV) videos at a local studio. Not too long after buying the Nikon, I got my first iPhone 6s. A couple/few years ago I replaced it with an iPhone SE. The phone is much handier than the DSLR. It’s with me most of the time, and I can carry it in my pocket. So the DSLR sat unused, literally gathering dust. And now I want to develop my own film and scan the negatives… which means I have to learn how to shoot with a DSLR again. (I’ve forgotten everything, and never learned other things.) I will have questions, and I’ll post them as they arise. In the meantime, here are a few posts talking about using a DSLR to start things off > [@The Omnibus Film Photography Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-film-photography-thread/1007354/284): > > The 35RC doesn’t have 14 different settings on its mode dial, and who-knows-how-many settings on its menu. 😉 > [@The Omnibus Film Photography Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-film-photography-thread/1007354/285): > > Well, the good news about the mode dial is only 4 settings are worth learning about. > > P: program mode, fully automatic. Nikon now says “P” stands for professional. That’s a stretch. > A: Aperture priority > S: Shutter priority > M: Manual mode > > The rest of the modes are all gimmicks thought up by some marketing team. > > About 99% of the photos I’ve ever taken were in A or M. > > … > [@The Omnibus Film Photography Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-film-photography-thread/1007354/287): > > Yep. I think I’m at about 95% M, and 5% A, and never really use anything else. I need control over aperture creatively (though very occasionally shutter speed will take priority and I will use S) – I don’t want the camera choosing both shutter speed and aperture for me. I used to shoot a lot more on A on film (when shooting neg), but since digital and being able to see my results immediately, I’ve shifted over to mostly M. I’ll use A when I have rapidly changing lighting conditions or have to be ready for two different lighting scenarios (in shade and switching to in sun quickly.) I don’t really see any need for any other of the modes, myself (though my cameras don’t have anything beyond that except that AUTO mode, and then user-definable settings like U1, U2, U3.) > > [@The Omnibus Film Photography Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-film-photography-thread/1007354/284): > > > > The 35RC doesn’t have 14 different settings on its mode dial, and who-knows-how-many settings on its menu. 😉 > > Yeah, M is the ticket for me, although tbh the way I have my Fuji set up, A or S essentially behave like manual modes because with my index finger on the exposure compensation wheel, I can almost instantly get to the exposure I want with just a little plus/minus action. > > My camera also has 4 saved settings on the mode dial and I actually do use them some. One of the stronger features of the Fuji lineup is their color science. You can load some really nice [film stock simulations](https://fujixweekly.com/fujifilm-x-trans-iv-recipes/) into those user defined settings for those times I either down feel like shooting RAW or just want some inspiration. I particularly like one of the Portra simulations, the Ektar sim, and one called Pacific Blues. The [Cuban Negative](https://www.osan-bilgi.com/fujifilm-recipes) sim is nice too. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/2 "2024-11-15T21:48:55Z")
For me, the biggest difference between digital and analog photography is the fact that you have control over ISO on a frame-by-frame basis, something that really was only possible in the past with large-format photography using sheet film and some variation of Ansel Adams’ zone system. But with roll film cameras, the ISO of the film you loaded is all you have. If you decide to shoot at other than the box speed for push or pull processing, you have to do the same thing for the whole roll. So all your exposure choices are on a line, with “big aperture, fast shutter speed” on one end, and “small aperture, slow shutter speed” on the other. Add variable ISO to the mix, and now you have an [exposure](https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2022/09/19/capturing-light-power-exposure-triangle#:~:text=The%20exposure%20triangle%20is%20made,while%20the%20water%20represents%20light.) [triangle](https://creativeraw.com/practical-use-exposure-triangle-explained/) instead of a line. Worth the time digging into that concept first. [![](https://creativeraw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/exposure-triangle-photography-explained-1.webp) ](https://creativeraw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/exposure-triangle-photography-explained-1.webp) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/3 "2024-11-15T21:51:30Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Worth the time digging into that concept first. First thing is to just learn how to take pictures again! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/4 "2024-11-18T14:45:13Z")
Thanks, JLA! I’ll come back to this thread in a bit. Looking forward to everyone’s input ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/5 "2024-11-18T15:02:14Z")
@Johnny_L.A , from your comments in the Film thread it’s clear that you really like the film workflow and you don’t really like modern DSLRs with all kinds of weird modes. You might want to try something in the Fujifilm X world. They started with the X100, modeling it after classic rangefinder cameras, with awesome manual controls, but a very competent digital camera. I think if you could find a late-model X100 (e.g. the x100f) you would enjoy using it–that model has a standard aperture ring, shutter speed dial, and a lift-and-turn ISO dial. Its party trick is a spiffy viewfinder that can be switched between fully optical (with overlays) to digital, with variations like a little digital patch in the corner of the optical showing the center content. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/6 "2024-11-18T15:15:36Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > @Johnny_L.A , from your comments in the Film thread it’s clear that you really like the film workflow and you don’t really like modern DSLRs with all kinds of weird modes. > > You might want to try something in the Fujifilm X world. That is true. I really like film cameras. I have 24 of them. I’m really not interested in digital photography other than for snapshots. I did find out that the Nikon has a night mode, which my iPhone SE doesn’t. I was miffed that I couldn’t see the aurora borealis recently with my own eyes, and someone said I just had to switch my iPhone to night mode to see them. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/7 "2024-11-18T15:18:53Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’m really not interested in digital photography other than for snapshots. You’ll get no pushback from me on this. I also am no longer interested in digital photography other than snapshots on my iPhone. But I’ll avoid polluting a digital thread with my analog comments. See you back at the film place! My recommendation of Fuji X cameras still stands for anyone who really does want to have the digital experience with classic film controls. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2025, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/8 "2025-02-20T12:06:35Z")
Okay, I’m a little different. I always have my phone with me and no longer want to haul my DSLR and associated gear. iPhone cameras and software are decently advanced and my son and I want to learn how to utilize their capabilities. Can someone recommend an online iPhone photography class? (iPhone 13 ProMax) What’s a good online photography class for iPhone that my son (he’s 40) and I can take remotely together? He lives an hour away and this is something we want to do together but remotely. We have iPhone 13 ProMax, so it’s a decent iPhone camera, and we both understand the basics of SLR and DSLR photography. But, very basic. I’ve also shot with my dad’s old Rolleicord in 120mm format, many years ago. I still have that old camera box. But I’m interested in iPhone photography. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-digital-photography-thread/1010301/9 "2026-01-03T17:31:50Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Add variable ISO to the mix, and now you have an [exposure](https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2022/09/19/capturing-light-power-exposure-triangle#:~:text=The%20exposure%20triangle%20is%20made,while%20the%20water%20represents%20light.) [triangle](https://creativeraw.com/practical-use-exposure-triangle-explained/) instead of a line. Worth the time digging into that concept first. You always had that triangle, but it wasn’t per-shot, but rather per-roll. And at least with many films, you had a stop or two of latituude on the ISO side anyway.