There's something about film that digital just can't do.

[sir pball]

I think it's the randomness of the grain, but at any rate the halftones and gradation of film just eclipses anything that digital can do...this was a 12mp scan, cut down to 50%, and I dare a D800 to do better.

Also, it's me and my dad shortly after my first birthday. I sent him a rag print of this for father's day

ETA: Thanks so much for all the warm replies already! The emotion was the first thing that hit me when I saw just the preview...the instant that frame was scanned I jumped on processing it for a print. The more analytical thoughts came as I was trying to use my usual tricks I Photshop and failing; it was then that I realized the entire soul of the image was different, deeper...and, truth be told, better. I just got the camera (my mom's Nikkormat) that took that shot refurbished, this may be a good inspiration to take her out.

[Blue_In_AK]

1. That's a really nice photographic keepsake.

You were cute.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. What a beautiful picture, my dear sir pball!

There's no denying the warmth and love in this gorgeous picture.

I'm sure your dad just loved his father's day present!

[Wilms]

3. It's not about the grain.

It's the tear in my eye!

Wonderful.

[alfredo]

4. The colors are so warm and wonderful.

You can get some of the feel by using old manual lenses, but the dynamic range and grain of the film isn't the same.

I'd suggest using manual lenses from time to time, just to make you slow down and think about what you are doing.

[sir pball]

5. I'll confess, there was some extensive Photoshopping involved.

It's a duplicate of a Kodachrome so the colors were...idiosyncratic to say the least. No automatic correcting that; I spent a good quarter-hour tinkering with color balance and individual curves.

I went with Nikon when I jumped into the DSLR ring precisely because I have a bagful of ancient manual lenses, most of which are better than the stuff on the market today. Except for the one that picture was shot with...the epically bad 43-86 zoom. It's great fun with cheap negative film, opened wide and fully zoomed - the authentic vignetting, coma, chromatic aberration and general crappiness are way better than an Instagram filter. But that's about all she's good for, I much prefer the 35-200 for walking around with Provia or Velvia.