I enjoy using mechanical cameras.  I love the sounds they make. I like the
feel of the innards moving when I change speeds. I want to be able to wind
the film to the next frame with a lever or a knob. I like to focus the
camera myself. I actually find a red window that lets me see the backing
paper a cool thing. I enjoy using stuff that feels like it was made before
I was born as it makes me feel not quite so old.

Going out using the camera is the part I enjoy. I could spend the next 2
years printing negatives yet instead I go shoot more film. I enjoy going
out and looking for things to photograph. Visiting the same spot looking
for a new way to see it. Looking at the world in this capsulated 2D way
that only a camera's ground glass can do. Seeing the small details that I
would otherwise miss. Trying to envision the world as shades of gray
instead of colors. Getting a nice smile out of an old woman at the park
while shooting with an old folder knowing the sight of it brought back some
fond memory. I would enjoy all of this even if there was no film in the
camera.

Then there is the fun of picking up the developed film and seeing what
happened good or bad. I love slide film as it doesn't lie. It's so
unforgiving and I'm always nervous if I exposed it right. Sometimes I don't
but that's part of the fun. Then, when using soviet cameras, I always have
to wonder if the camera came through as well! Finding the problems and
making these work just adds to the pleasure and sense of accomplishment
when things turn out good.  

Other senses get involved as well, for me it's mainly the sounds. I actually
hunted down an old tower slide projector like we had when I was a child and
just the sounds it makes when changing slides gives me a warm fuzzy
feeling. I don't think I would enjoy a camera that didn't make some fun
noises when it's operating. Maybe that's why I like my newest Hartblei so
much? It makes wonderful sounds when I fire it that years from now will
remind me of this part of my life.

I don't like shooting digital. Having a confirmation view of what I just
shot removes all the fun. It's like knowing what you're getting for
Christmas a week before and then trying to act excited when you open the
present. I like the mystery of not being sure I'm going to get what I want
and the good feelings I have when I do. I don't like the idea of the image
being stored as ones and zeros. This sanitary digital storage feels too
much like a hospital with it's digital artifacts instead of grain. I don't
like a camera that makes no sounds.

Is any of this rational? Of course not and if my goal was only to produce
images I would be fighting the most efficient way of doing it. But that
isn't my only goal and no one is paying me to do this. I do this for fun
and I don't think I would enjoy capturing images electronically even if it
was just electronics controlling the camera.

That said, I think I'm going to load some 220 ektachrome in my Pentacon-6
and find something to shoot in the morning. :-)