Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Digital Photography Will Replace Film

Dec 6, 2005 12:48AM PST

First of all, good photography is good photography, regardless of the technical details. They started with wet metal plates, progressed to glass negatives, and finally, flexible film was invented and improved over the years. Now we have digital and it keeps improving, not over years, but over days. It can now do almost everything film does. It's simply a different technical medium. We can't ignore the fact that film production is by companies that are in business to mass produce profitable goods. At some point, probably before we know it, film will become so uneconomical to produce that it will go away. Already, over 30 percent of feature film production is digital. Just think what Ansel Adams and other great photographers from the past two centuries could have done with PhotoShop! How long will the film to digital transition take? I'm no expert, but I'd guess fewer than 10 years or before 2016. Anybody care to comment?

Discussion is locked