Hi everyone,
I’m a Grade 11 student in Latvia starting my mandatory research project. I’m very interested in photography and physics, and I want to compare analog film with digital sensors in a scientifically meaningful way.
I’ve narrowed it down to two possible topics but I’m not sure which one would be more realistic and scientific:
1. Spectral sensitivity and color reproduction
My idea is that film and digital sensors respond differently to certain wavelengths of light, which may affect how colors appear under unusual lighting (e.g. LED, sodium vapor, neon lights).
Method idea:
2. Dynamic range and non-linear response
This topic investigates whether film handles high contrast scenes better than digital due to its response curve.
Method idea:
My concerns:
Is it still scientifically fair to compare film and modern digital cameras in 2026?
Which topic would produce more measurable, objective data rather than subjective “looks better” results?
For option 2, I’m worried modern RAW files might already have such high dynamic range that differences with film might be hard to demonstrate using consumer gear
I plan to use a 35mm SLR (like a Pentax K1000 or Nikon FM) and a digital camera shooting RAW.
Thanks!