Preference for outdated technology

[pbromaghin]

Real paper maps. Books. Newspaper. 20-year-old car with a 5-speed. I code in COBOL.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I believe there is a difference between outdated technology, and technology that isn't "cutting edge".

There is nothing outdated about the technology behind Kodak Portra 160.

The technology behind Kodacolor-X is outdated.

And there is certainly nothing outdated about a fountain pen for which you can still obtain new ink and nibs.

Being retro is 'cutting edge' to me;love my fountsin pen but,using a quillis an almost religious experience,pens are so 1900s

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Love the comment about portankys! I also prefer valenki, in winter over Sorel boots.

Hard to believe what film called here outdated. Old, maybe. Here is nothing advanced in the Leica Monochrome comparing to bw film for example. Just huge pile of pixels with awful IQ.

it is same nonsense as calling vinyl outdated. Most aren't capable to hear the difference in their ear buts at not even looking at the album pictures on their zombie phones. While I'm listening a Day at the Races through studio monitors and holding the album in the same way and meaning as photo album.

Cheers, Ko.

 

[4season]

I blame the kids: A generation of underemployed young adults has scoured the thrift stores and attics of the world looking for something fun to do on a limited budget. Maybe because they were too young to have preconceived notions of what film photography was "supposed" to be, they produced something of a remix. 99% of which may be nothing more than blurry, off-color and overly-vignetted photos of someone's feet. But in that remaining 1%, sometimes there's something intriguing that I had never considered before! I want to see what I can do with that.

Suppose you could say that I'm approaching film as an "alternative process" this time around.

I own a 24 year old car. F/R with stick. Not as a statement: I bought it when I was unemployed and didn't want to risk buying something I couldn't pay for outright. It's a bit of a classic and in decent shape, and I just don't drive enough to want to spend the $20k+ it would take to buy a new car. I would probably love a Tesla or a VW R32 with dual-clutch transmission. But maybe not at the price of a very posh overseas holiday.

 

[Xmas]

What's a Biro?

Ah, the inventor of the ballpoint. I know what a ballpoint is of course (I have a fountain pen and rather like them, but admit I almost never use it and use ballpoints) but never heard it called a Biro before.

HiRoger

Some of the USA and UK words are different cause we use generic words or specific

Box knife- Stanley knife
Hose clip- left as excersise for readers

Biro has been archic for a while.

Noel

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

I've never owned a DVD player, but I think an 8-track would be way cool. Generally, things from the 1970's (*) appeal to me (except cars); perhaps that's because I was in my 20's then.

I was born in the early 70s, so I appreciate what you say.
My father had an 8-track in the car, a Renault 16 TS from 1974.

And I agree with you on the cars, that is the American cars were awful.
Now, the French cars were something else.
I still miss my Citroen CX 2500D Pallas from 1979 and its Diravi steering. Not to mention its beauty or its comfort.

I don't believe Photography is outdated.
Now, Digitography outdates itself every 2 years.

 

[Jim Jones]

In 1873 Timothy O'Sullivan captured an iconic image of the White House at Canyon de Chelly on a glass plate. Sixty-nine years later Ansel Adams attempted at least two photographs of the White House on film from almost exactly the same spot. I like O'Sullivan's version better. Perhaps the difficulty of using technology of the earlier time drove the photographer to try harder to make it right. It makes one wonder if people nowadays with their newfangled d****** cameras manage to get anything at all of such an inspiring subject.

 

[Marvin]

I enjoy going to car shows and photographing the old cars. Sometimes I think taking my F5 or Maxxum 9000 out for a spin is like that guy in the 57 Chevy going out for a ride in his vintage car.
Marvin

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Nothing more than a film vs. digital thread in disguise. A rather poor disguise at that.

 

[pdeeh]

Nothing more than a film vs. digital thread in disguise. A rather poor disguise at that.

Say it's not so!

 

[railwayman3]

Nothing more than a film vs. digital thread in disguise. A rather poor disguise at that.

No, I don't think so.

The point is that older technologies still have their values, and newer technologies are not automatically "better" for every purpose.

If I wish to make an image of a particular subject, I can choose from numerous methods, from a pencil-and-paper, various types of paints, many photographic processes, right through digital imaging. I decide, not on whether someone thinks a method is outdated, but according to the situation and result I need at the time....I can (try to) draw a historic building if I want a picture to put on the wall, but might take a quick digital image of the same buildng if I just want to record some point to check later, after which it can be deleted.

Another analogy is transport.....I still walk or cycle to the local shop, but take a plane to visit my friends on the continent.

 

[4season]

As a kid I loved science fiction, and for me that gleaming Jetsons future couldn't arrive soon enough! Or the world of Logan's Run, minus the bit about getting terminated at a certain age. Of course this was before the future became so dystopian.

My current sound system is very much a 21st-century thing: It's small and growing smaller with each iteration. DSPs don't need a lot of space after all. Only part that I can't really shrink are the speakers, physics being what they are.

Nothing against digital imaging, but I thought I'd re-examine what I could do with film, especially as a lot of nice film cameras seem to be available pretty cheaply.

 

[Paul Howell]

I don't like to put value judgment on what technology I chose. I have no grip against the modern world, it is just that find some older technology works better or not in different circumstance.

Film: I shoot 90% film, because I have it, cost very little to replace or upgrade. I have an wet darkroom, a comparable digital set up would me $1000s. On the other hand if I was to return as a professional PJ, it would be digital, analog is blown of the water by modern DSLRs.

Sound: When in the darkroom I listen to either radio or CDs, otherwise I still prefer vinyl, my best amp is tube driven.

Transport: A modern car, older cars are great to look at and drive around the block, but in terms of safety, mileage, and power, a lot has changed in the past 50 years.

Communication: I use a typewriter to write first drafts, makes me slow down and think about what I am writing, cut and paste, spell check are a life saver, in my case for the second draft. Fountain pens, I like writing with a fountain pen, but too messy, I get ink all over. Cell phone or landline, not a smart phone, but that will change. Internet, my friends have stopped answering their phones, if they still have a landline.

When I travel I send post cards, folks get a kick out of it.

Entertainment: As above for sound, a new 1080P television/monitor, I do have a old CRT television in a bedroom, I could not imagine watching a movie on it. I have a Kendal, but don't use it much, usually a hard back.

 

[cliveh]

Nothing more than a film vs. digital thread in disguise. A rather poor disguise at that.

Not true and not my intention, as my OP was more about learning what other older technologies people may appreciate alongside their love of film photography. I think it has generated some interesting posts and like some others, I also like clockwork and mechanical mechanisms. The last time I was in Italy, I remember spending several minutes while looking round some church, examining the mechanical design of the door catch on a confessional box. I find these sorts of introspective details fascinating.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Now, the French cars were something else.
I still miss my Citroen CX 2500D Pallas from 1979 and its Diravi steering. Not to mention its beauty or its comfort.

Eventually I came to admire and love the DS21. I have all sorts of sales brochures (in French) and other memorabilia.

A few weeks ago, I spotted this excellent DS21 -- a rare sight here -- and took a photo with my cellphone:

 

[removed account4]

but with all this old technology does your car get forty rods to the hogshead ?

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Eventually I came to admire and love the DS21. I have all sorts of sales brochures (in French) and other memorabilia.

A few weeks ago, I spotted this excellent DS21 -- a rare sight here -- and took a photo with my cellphone:

AH THE DS was the most beautiful car and the most innovative to have been created.

 

[OptiKen]

Printed text.
I don't care how hard I try, I simply do not function well in a 'paperless' environment.
I don't want my bills emailed to me...without the paper reminder, I'll miss them
Emails that involve research prior to replying are also printed out and I make handwritten notes on them.
Right now I'm comparing two spreadsheets for changes...not by having them side by side on the computer screen but with one on the screen and a printed copy of the other one I can mark off on my desk.
Besides, a piece of paper with writing on it has personality. The typed text on the screen does not. It becomes homogenized.

 

[removed-user-1]

...and he uses this to play his collection of mp3 old time radio through his antique receivers, usually in another room so it looks and sounds absolutely authentic.

That is simply the coolest thing I've heard of in a long time.

 

[Marvin]

As far as cars I like the Corvette old and new technology.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

My interpretation of many of the responses in this thread is that people are choosing activities which allow them to slow down to become more involved in a process - and that in itself is satisfying and rewarding.

 

[Roger Cole]

but with all this old technology does your car get forty rods to the hogshead ?

Only when driven at an even pace of 161280 furlongs per fortnight. (60 MPH)

 

[Truzi]

My interpretation of many of the responses in this thread is that people are choosing activities which allow them to slow down to become more involved in a process - and that in itself is satisfying and rewarding.

I agree that being more present in a process can be very satisfying; but that is rarely the impetus for me. Some things I simply prefer, even when I don't want to work slowly.

When comparing the differences in the final products (not process), it is film and wet-prints that are more towards my tastes. I enjoy the process, but that is not why I prefer film.

At work I carry a pen and scrap of paper. It is quicker than pulling out my smart phone, unlocking the screen, dealing with a virtual keyboard, saving the file, etc. The "traditional" or "conventional" process is more efficient for most of my very temporary notes. For more involved writing, I prefer a fine instrument with a good feel, whether new tech or traditional.

I type about 90 wpm (slow by typing standards) on a real computer keyboard - faster on something like a Nortel, which, like an old typewriter, is designed for speed and reduction of repetitive stress, not cheapness. Keyboard shortcuts are faster (and older) than a trackball, which is faster (and older) than a mouse - efficiency of motion.

For research, learning, and cross-reference I prefer computers; they are far more efficient and it is easier to access large quantities of data. They are certainly superior for formatting and editing, even if the end result is an hard copy.

My 2003 automobile has traction control. The only close calls I've had are the two times I forgot to turn the traction control OFF in the winter. Even when "off," there are situations it will still engage. Its high-tech safety features took control away from me, and created dangerous situations that I never encountered in less modern cars.

I prefer CDs (and some vinyl) through a good amp and old Marantz floor speakers. Even at 320 kbps, I can tell an MP3 from CD/Wave, and that difference matters to me.
In a car, road noise makes compression-loss a non-issue, so I prefer a media player and trans-code music to ogg/vorbis (newer than MP3, and arguably better reproduction). FLAC is in my future (storage has become so inexpensive).

Books certainly appeal to my relaxation and enjoyment of the process, but there are practical considerations as well. An actual book is easier to read than sitting in front of a computer, or the gymnastics of using a laptop while in a chair. They are also easier on the eyes than a kindle/tablet (even with OLEDs), don't require electricity, and won't suddenly stop working. I also don't like repurchasing the same items repeatedly.

I use "technology" that best suits my purposes.

 

[Sirius Glass]

My interpretation of many of the responses in this thread is that people are choosing activities which allow them to slow down to become more involved in a process - and that in itself is satisfying and rewarding.

Taking time when photographing improve the final result.

 

[gzhuang]

I have a friend, long time radio friend, who combines very old and very new in an interesting way. One of his hobbies is collecting and restoring very old (1920s and 30s) broadcast radio receivers. He also collects old time radio shows - on mp3. He has built a very excellent quality (all solid state) AM transmitter of allowed power that covers his house with a good signal, and he uses this to play his collection of mp3 old time radio through his antique receivers, usually in another room so it looks and sounds absolutely authentic.

I presume no stereo music is the drawback?