It's official now--Nikon Hates Film

[Barry S]

Oh, how the worm has turned.


Submission guidelines for the 2014-2015 Nikon Photo Contest

Still photography

Image data files created with any digital devices including smartphones, digital still cameras (including medium and large-format cameras). Images that have been retouched using software or by other means will be accepted. Retouched photography using camera app or photo editing app is also accepted. Both color and monochrome images will be accepted. We will not be accepting any entries taken on film.Scans of photographs taken by film cameras are not eligible.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

D-bags. Funny though, they're the last man standing as far as manufacturing 35mm film SLRs. You can't use one of their current products to enter their own contest.

 

[Bill Burk]

They don't want anyone to have an unfair advantage.

 

[pdeeh]

This has been in the rules of their contest for a couple of years at least.

 

[BetterSense]

Why? I can't understand the reason behind the rule; can someone enlighten me?

 

[lxdude]

Bizarre. A picture taken with a brand new F6 is not eligible, but a picture taken with a friggin' PHONE is.

 

[DannL.]

If those are the standing rules, then it's not a photography contest in my opinion. It's a "Digital Imaging" contest. It would not be in their interest if a film product won a top prize. Or any prize for that matter.

 

[Hatchetman]

D-bags. Funny though, they're the last man standing as far as manufacturing 35mm film SLRs. .

Did Canon discontinue the 1V?

 

[markbarendt]

They don't want anyone to have an unfair advantage.

Giggle.

It would be fun to win with a scan from a print, even if disqualified later.

 

[darkosaric]

They don't want anyone to have an unfair advantage.

 

[gone]

I'm wondering how they would know if it was scanned film anyway? A jpg is a jpg, right?

I certainly understand their parameters though. Why have this sort of brand name, self promotion contest, if all they sell is digital cameras? It would look pretty bad for them if the winning pic came from an old Nikkormat! OK, they may still reluctantly sell two old-design film cameras, but still, you know their thinking is 100% digital these days.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Film-Cameras/index.page

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Did Canon discontinue the 1V?

I thought they had, but B&H lists it as new in stock. The situation may be the same with both products, that they have stopped making new bodies and are only selling current inventory. I don't know, though. I do recall reading somewhere that the 1V was no longer being made, and I have a similarly vague recollection that that is also the case for the F6. I hope that I am colossally, spectacularly wrong on both counts.

edit:
B&H may have it in stock, but it is NOT listed on Canon's website as a current product.

 

[Barry S]

Imagine a major piano competition disqualifying anyone that uses a Steinway Grand, but hey--that $15 Casio keyboard is just fine, even if you let it autoplay some songs.

If Nikon made the competition only open to current Nikon products, I could at least understand that more than allowing cell phones, Canon and Sony digitals--but heaven forbid--a Nikon F.

 

[snapguy]

parade

the parade has gone by, dudes, and all that is left are the elephant rosebuds. sad, but true.

 

[jp498]

Simply the other side of the coin from someone "hating" digital if that's the right verb. Such talk is favored here.

By all means if anyone actually cares about the contest, enter and pretend it's from a digital camera.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I'll bet they'll make an exception if something shot on film and scanned on a Nikon scanner.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I'm wondering how they would know if it was scanned film anyway? A jpg is a jpg, right?

I certainly understand their parameters though. Why have this sort of brand name, self promotion contest, if all they sell is digital cameras? It would look pretty bad for them if the winning pic came from an old Nikkormat! OK, they may still reluctantly sell two old-design film cameras, but still, you know their thinking is 100% digital these days.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Film-Cameras/index.page

Digital cameras write metadata into their files that say the name of the camera used to make it. Most digital SLRs not only record the camera model, but the lens model, aperture and shutter speed used, exposure mode used (manual, program, etc.), if flash was used, date and time the photo was taken. Some film scanners put in the file the model of scanner used. You can read this metadata in photoshop by choosing FILE INFO under the file menu, and you can add to it by adding a copyright notice, your contact info, a title, a written description, and a list of keywords.

So, Nikon can easily see what the photo was shot with.

 

[pdeeh]

Ah but there are plenty of tools available (e.g. exiftool)to allow one to write EXIF data, even into scanned files, and make them look like they were produced by any camera you like ...

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Why? I can't understand the reason behind the rule; can someone enlighten me?

this way, the winner will be shot with a digital camera,which is great advertisement for their expensive DSLRs

 

[BetterSense]

Ah but there are plenty of tools available (e.g. exiftool)to allow one to write EXIF data, even into scanned files, and make them look like they were produced by any camera you like ...

You don't even need to do that. My current method of "scanning" is a Nikon D70.

 

[lxdude]

It makes it clear that Nikon does not really care about the pictures- it's just a promotion. I guess that's to be expected.

 

[MattKing]

A number of photo competitions now make it a requirement that a potential winner submit an original, unedited file in exactly the form it came from the camera.

I have a couple of friends who have been caught on that, because as part of their workflow they convert everything initially to "DNG" and then discard the original "RAW" file.

I expect that this Nikon contest's rule is essentially a "provenance" ensuring rule, which allows "digital" rather than physical proof.

It sucks though.

 

[TheToadMen]

If I make a photograph with a Nikon F2 and Fuji film, develop the film and print the negative, then rephotograph the print with my Nikon D200 (or iPhone), would that be eligible ???
:munch:

 

[AgX]

I guess no, if establishing "provenance" is the idea behind such contest rule.

 

[yulia_s_rey]

Well, whoever came up with those rules isn't invited to my birthday party. I wonder if one were to email them asking why whether they'd reply or not?