Gen Z has made a hobby out of reviving nostalgia from a time before they were even alive. In the music industry alone, vinyls, CDs and even Walkmans have been surging after decades of irrelevance. Though film camera companies, such as FujiFilm and Polaroid, have seen significant increases in popularity in recent years, digital photography will continue to be a staple in modern life. 

First and foremost, digital photography is far less expensive and much more accessible than its traditional counterparts. Most people already own a cell phone, which can function as both camera and editing software for those who are starting to develop a passion for photography. Film cameras are typically fairly expensive, and the disposable versions need to be replaced frequently, which adds unnecessary waste to the environment.

Since film photographers are required to buy film for their cameras, it automatically means they must be more careful about how many photos they’re taking, and what they’re taking photos of. Digital cameras can take up to hundreds of photos at a time, with no additional cost or inconvenience to the photographer. Additionally, on cell phones and digital cameras, one can immediately view their image and determine if they want to reshoot, an incredibly useful feature that is impossible for film cameras to implement. 

In addition, digital photography is far easier to share than traditional film photography. Images captured on cell phones can be transmitted instantly, while film photos require the user to wait until their roll of film is finished, then they must go to a specialist to develop their film, which is an additional expense, and only then can they share their photos.

Following Polaroids making a resurgence in the mid 2010’s, many teenagers appreciate it when photos have a retro look to them, whether it’s the distinctive Polaroid frame or the grainy filter from recently popular film cameras. However, since cell phones can also act as editing software for images, it is fairly simple to add filters to digitally taken photos in order to give them more of a vintage aesthetic. This also preserves the quality and color-realism of the original photograph, if the photographer wanted an accurate snapshot of what the moment was.

Ultimately, it is clear that digital photography is superior to all other forms of photography because it’s remarkably convenient. Phones allow consumers to take multiple, high-quality photos with ease and practicality. Larger film cameras are far too bulky and heavy to comfortably carry with you to use throughout the day; and even the smaller disposable cameras prove to be an inconvenience, as they can get easily lost before you can develop the photos. 

Digital photography allows the user to effortlessly capture snapshots of their lives, while also allowing the images to be easily saved, shared, and used.