In 2007, I decided to enter the 21st century in terms of cameras. Up to 2007, I had been using a Nikon FG-20 SLR film camera that my parents bought me in 1985. I must say that this camera has been reliable and sturdy. The camera still take good pictures despite some of the automatic features no longer working. In this 22 year period I had to get the camera repaired only once. [My full disclosure -- I have no relationship with Nikon].
As digital cameras became more affordable and as quality improved, I swore that I would stick with my old reliable SLR film camera. However, the pressure to purchase a digital camera began to mount:
- I was missing scenic shots [my reliable Nikon FG-20 takes a little time to set the settings in order to take a photograph].
- The cost of digital SLR cameras have become affordable.
- While developing film has decreased, it was becoming more difficult to find developers who use matte paper.
- It was getting complicated and troublesome to digitize prints … why not just start with digital images.
- Last and most importantly, digital photography does not result in any lost of image quality, even when printing.
So, after many years of consternation, I purchased a digital SLR camera … a Nikon D-80 with a 18-135mm lens. Shame on me for not getting a digital SLR camera before now. How many photographs have I missed? My first trip using the camera, I took over 500 photographs over 4 days.
I still have my Nikon FG-20, but I have not used it since January 2007. With my digital SLR, I have all the controls that I had with the FG-20 plus many more.
