One of the things you’ll need to decide when you want to take up photography as a hobby is whether to opt for a classic 35ml camera or to go for a new digital camera. Purists will say that nothing beats film; in much the same way they vinyl lovers will say they’re better than CDs.

There is a lot to be said for 35ml film. It’s the way photography was supposed to be, with pictures crafted as an art form. However to take it seriously you’ll need your own darkroom, which for developing the film itself has to be completely dark. Then you’ll need all of the chemicals, and the projector. It’s a very expensive, time consuming hobby.

Of course you could always have your films developed in a shop, or by sending them away. But when you do that you’re putting your trust in someone else and you have no control over the outcome.

Then the film itself isn’t cheap. Every picture you take costs you to develop. Whereas with a digital camera you can take as many photos as you want without any extra cost. You don’t need to pay to develop any film, because there isn’t any, and the camera’s themselves, with the aid of SD cards, can store hundreds of photos.

Digital cameras are easier to use, and the results are instant. When you use a film camera you have to wait to get the pictures back. With a digital camera you can see the photos straight away, so you know if you have the shot you want or not.

Also with a digital camera you can choose which photos you want to print, you don’t have to get them all developed.

If you’re looking to get into photography for the first time, you’re probably better off with a digital camera rather than a 35ml film camera.