Analog Is Trending!

The digitization removed many tactile experiences from our daily lives. Letters are written less and less on paper, many purchases are made online without physically interacting with the goods and the smartphone has become essential for our daily survival. Let’s be honest, it is an age of screens and electronics.

Nonetheless, analog is trending and this is more than a hipster spleen. It is a conscious decision of many people to allow tactile experiences back into their lives without abandoning the advantages of the digital revolution.

Analog Developments in Photography

Analog experiences gained more and more popularity in photography as well. I could write many articles about this but I just want to list some very obvious trends of the past few years:

The analog photography revival in general
Old school control concepts on digital cameras (e.g. Nikon Df, Fuji digital cameras, Leica digital rangefinders)
New film stocks (e.g. Kodak E100, Ilford Ortho Plus, Kodak P3200) and darkroom papers
New analog cameras (e.g. large format, Leica rangefinder, Ilford Sprite)
Increase in community darkrooms

Can you spot the similarities? The analog Leica M4-P and the digital Fuji X100V

The DSLR Is a True Analog-Digital Hybrid

Now looking at the DSLR, its heritage can be traced back to the analog SLR. It combines traits from the analog and the digital. While tech enthusiast might say that this is a disadvantage as it hinders certain technical advancements when compared to mirrorless cameras, I’d say quite the contrary is true!

The DSLR offers the perfect user experience for photographers who appreciate analog processes but need digital files for their work.

Some thoughts:

The SLR Experience

Looking through the viewfinder of a DSLR is just like looking through the viewfinder of your favorite film SLR. It offers a unique immediate viewing experience. And the occasional dust spot on the reflex mirror reminds you that this is real and serves as a reminder that you are not looking on another digital screen. Oh and it is as lag-free as it will ever get.

Pressing the shutter results in an audible sound and a short blackout. This is a true analog reminder that you’ve just taken a photograph. I just love that.

Turn Off the Screens

To add to the analog experience, you just have to turn image review off and the DSLR behaves almost like any analog SLR (or very expensive Leica digital rangefinder) would.

Vintage Glass

Nikon DSLRs take almost every F-mount lens ever made up to this day. To further enhance the analog experience you can always attach your favorite manual focus lens.

An Almost Analog Control Concept

Although a camera like the Nikon Df excels in this field, it is noteworthy that even the latest Nikon D850 can be operated almost like an analog camera back in the days. You can even set the aperture via the aperture ring if you like.

The Nikon Df with the manual focus Voigtländer Ultron f2,0 40mm SLII-S AIS Nikon - a digital camera with analog feel

Get a DSLR!

So if you are like me and look for analog experiences in a digital screen world, then don’t hesitate. Get a DSLR over a mirrorless camera and integrate a genuine analog user experience into your digital workflow.

I shot only mirrorless for many years (before it was mainstream…) and I don’t miss it at all. One screen less in my life.

Book Recommendation

Check out the excellent book “The Revenge of Analog” by David Sax.

The DSLR - As Analog As a Digital Camera Can Get