5 Reasons for TLR Film Photography

What would make a photographer want to use a twin lens reflex film camera, a throwback from the 20th century, when more technically advanced film cameras such as the 645, RB67, Mamiya 6 & 7 are still easily available on eBay, Kijiji etc? By extension I also include the Rolliflex, Yashica  and other TLR's which were popular during the period but lacked interchangeable lens feature of the Mamiya. To this I also add current digital technology.

In my case I am emotional attached to my first C220, the first professional camera I owned, purchased during a Labour Day weekend trip to Boston in 1969. Still works great but spends most of its time on a tripod in my living room. It cost near $200 CDN at the time. An inflation calculator says that's around $1200 in today's money. Not a whole lot for a professional grade camera, but big money for me at the time.

At the risk of sounding repetitive here are my 5 reasons:
 
1. An emotional attachment to film and a camera from one's youth. Although my career as a professional photographer has spanned over 40 years, mostly as a news photographer, it was when I was young photographer that I had the most enthusiasm. Trying to rekindle or re-live the past. Pathetic in a way, but reason enough.

2. Nostalgia is always in style. I often see skateboarders with a 35mm camera slung over their shoulder, especially Nikons and Pentaxes. Maybe they think it is just cool to zip around with dad's old camera. A lot of photo websites use film cameras in there marketing. Photoshop Elements 11 has a Mamiya TLR on its packaging. Traditional photography opens up the world of film products and all the nostalgia that accompanies that genre.

3. Cool people ( especially women) are often attracted to film cameras users. At worst it is the attraction people have for an oddball. At best they see a person with an artistic nature. An individual both creative and visually sensitive. Someone worth knowing.

4. A negative or transparency is an non-manipulated image from the moment of exposure. It is a documentary proof of the scene in front of the camera interpreted by the eye and mind of the photographer. Because it physically exists, a picture from film has more intrinsic value than the billions if not trillions of mindless images taken with smartphones and digital cameras which we see ad nauseum on social media.To get a b&w image many digital photographers use software to create pictures which to my eye are often garish and overly artsy. These manipulated black and white images are interesting but to me a dishonest approach.

5. Since TLR film cameras (as far as I know) are no longer being produced, the photographer is no longer subject to the new equipment trap perpetrated by the photographic industry. The continual marketing thrust, in which the newest equipment takes the best pictures, has become a belief of almost everyone. Film photographers do not need to fall into this trap and can concentrate on their work, not spending hours drooling over new equipment specs. A list of all the Mamiya TLR gear which was ever produced is available at: http://grahampatterson.home.comcast.net/~grahampatterson/grahamp/mfaq/m_faq.pdf