No, not a debate.
In my mind, there is no debate – there is no contest in fact.
When I look at my film shots, they are technically inferior to my digital ones. And most people who view my images always compliment the digital ones over the film ones.
Yet, I prefer my film images. When I look back at the moments I’ve captured, it’s the film shots that speak to me.
They somehow contain more truth.
Prosophos 
Right on. “Technically superior” is not what photography is about, but sadly some people do get caught up in the technical superiority of digital and forget and the potential ‘sterility’ that such pursuit creates. Film images will always be more ‘alive’ to me, more spontaneous, and certainly more fun to make.
Precisely.
Time and again I am dazzled by the awesomeness of the Leica M8’s DNG files. They are so otherworldly crisp, have such wonderful colour and definition, that I wonder why I bother with film at all. But when I take up a strip of slide film and hold it against the window, or when I’m through scanning a strip of b&w film and tune it to my liking in Lightroom, I am reminded again why film equally has its place in my heart – it is so entirely different from digital. So lo-fi on the one hand, but then on the other hand it has something magical that digital simply can’t offer.
You completely understand the sentiment I was trying to express Felix. “Lo-fi” indeed, but hi-evocative.
I just bought the “Magnum Contact Sheets” and let me tell you this, technical perfection is pretty much irrelevant when you get the important parts right. Sharpness will never save a bad image but a great image is often that regardless of softness.
Totally agree. Thanks Stephen.
When the frame counter on my M6 starts approaching 36 I get nervous and I’m trying to remember what I’ve been doing on the film that is almost done. As soon as the film is developed I ‘give’ myself a few evenings in the darkroom to print the images and I always have to force myself to quit.
After the prints are dry I put them in a frame and take the ‘old’ pictures out which I put in a file. I always look through the various pictures that are in the file.
The M9 brought a few of these feelings back when I switched from a 5D2, but the real magic is the film photography.
Film gives me the feeling I am a craftsman. Digital gives me the feeling I can meet up to todays standards. That’s it.
Ladies & Gentleman
one of the main reasons for the clinical sterile look of M8,M9
is the sensor.
If we take photos using digital cameras of ten years ago eg Canon 1D, Nikon D1H, Fuji S2, Sigma SD9
you will find how more organic and truthful they are.
Hello
Fom 2000-2011 testing from all the brands many different p&s, bridge, dslrs & of course Leica
I have found a camera with inbuilt lens I would put up against M8,M9 for image quality upto A4 size print due to its lens natural sharpness from wide open.
And I would put it above the M8,M9 for its natural organic render of images.
Resolution will not match the M8,M9 neither ofcourse shallow dof.
I would say what it is, yet I am in the process of acquiring more of this camera and have no desire to hike its price.
I can say is it is from the early part of the last decade.