This is a long video, but you really must watch at least the first two minutes of it, until it fades to black and the titles roll. The ultimate in film vs. digital! Thanks very much to Joseph Brunjes for this. Made me laugh....
I'd really like to know more about this mythical land where a local photo exhibition draws crowds in droves. And that Rolleiflex makes very strange focusing sounds, doesn't it?
Mike
(Thanks to Joseph)
Joseph Brunjes adds: "The other great moment is the description of why they know some photos are digital at the 1hr 30m mark."
["'And they say cameras never lie.' 'Cameras don't lie. People do.' 'People...with...computers.'" —Ed.]
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Featured Comments from:
Steve Renwick: "The nice feature of that mythical land is that its inhabitants show up in droves 'cos they appreciate art. The bad part is that in its scores of cute villages, two or three people get bumped off once a week. Perhaps that's why they enjoy the art so much. Each one knows he might be a murder victim any day now."
One of the best Midsomer Murders of all time. The digital biker gang is a bit broad, but the humor found in the longitudinal study of a single tree and the same approach to a downtown street view is just ripe.
Posted by: Michael Matthews | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 10:23 AM
That is so hilarious. I got about eight minutes in and had to stop when the young man said to the young woman who asked for clarification on their relationship, "I like...showing you my photographs."
Posted by: John Krumm | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 10:33 AM
The ratcheting noises were added in post-production, probably to exaggerate the clockwork nature of vintage cameras. The visceral reactions of the "photographers" in the intro, however, were quite authentic.
Posted by: Gordon Lewis | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 10:34 AM
You didn't watch all of it, did you? Five minutes was enough for me. Feel as though I've eaten too much sugar.
Posted by: Andrew Lamb | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 10:40 AM
We are fans of the Midsomer Murders series and I had seen that episode several times. The film/digital debate is exaggerated for the sake of creating a murder mystery (at least I don't think any proponents of either have resorted to murder, yet) but then their plots always stretch credulity a bit. The writers seem to like murders in threes too but occasionally go with two or four, I suppose just to mix things up. It is a fun series to watch. They stretch the credulity just far enough that you don't take it seriously and get horrified by the murders.
Posted by: Jim Bullard | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 11:07 AM
After many (many) online and face to face discussions, I have come to the conclusion that film and digital have a similar relationship as watercolour and oil painting. Similar 2d expressions, but completely different paths to get there...
Posted by: Alan | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 11:09 AM
Midsommer Murders, an excellent series to this day. We in Canada watch it in TVO, and yours truly has purchased the series on DVD s as it has appeared.
This particular episode is remarkable for the photographic details, which in the course of the episode prove interesting results from a certain camera.
High approval from this viewer. The metod of recording images was the jist of the episode yet strangely for me initially did not see the camera connection per se.
Also ironic perhaps, the actual episode itself may have been recorded on digital media, and not film; only an assumption on my .though.
Posted by: Bryce Lee | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 11:31 AM
They seem to be speaking some sort of foreign language -- I can only understand occasional words of it. (Reminds me of listening to the Swedish in "Der Dove.")
Posted by: Bill Mitchell | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 12:11 PM
Ahem, I like the way he points the incident light meter ...
Posted by: Michael Martin-Morgan | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 01:08 PM
That Rollei could stand a CLA.
Posted by: mike plews | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 01:10 PM
I think the most incredulous thing (disclaimer, I only watched the first two minutes) is the choice of subject.
I mean, these guys are getting into a fight about who gets to photograph for a bunch of trees in the distance at midday. That'll sure wow them at the local photo exhibit!
Posted by: Markr | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 01:25 PM
Damn those digital bully-boys, you can certainly see how film has the high-ground! Punks!
Posted by: Crabby Umbo | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 01:42 PM
There are so many delightfully tacky details on view, but my favorite has to be the photo vests that the film guys where everywhere and the runnerup is how the digital guys wear black.
Posted by: JG | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 04:48 PM
And of course the biggest clanger if I recall correctly in that episode was a character holding up an SD card which they claimed came from the digital camera - a D2 series Nikon :-)
They are usually quite good with details.
Well, at least in midsomer there is always a Billingham bag or two floating around. Very twee, don't you know, old chap.
Posted by: Willie | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 06:56 PM
We watch the series (and miss Tom, though we enjoy Ben). This episode was so goofy, the digital camera gang was pretty hilarious. And the old timer taking countless pictures of a tree, that was quite a synchronicity for me, as I had just watched Michael Kenna's documentary where he is walking in the snow, then spends (hours?) looking at a tree. I did enjoy that by the way. Educational. I went to google "Kenna's Japanese tree" and found out it was the "kussharo lake tree". Now I know. I wonder if the show writers were thinking of M. Kenna?
Posted by: Mike Cytrynowicz | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 07:55 PM
The best of British Comedy exactly perfect in its tone. Usually they have a 'go' at most things. An added bonus is that they made many many seasons all of which are available on streaming.
This and the fishing club are brilliant. Some of the Art ones are great to.
Posted by: Brian | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 08:52 PM
"["'And they say cameras never lie.' 'Cameras don't lie. People do.' 'People...with...computers.'" —Ed.]"
Actually, cameras _always_ lie! I could write more about that, but I'll let it stand for now.
Dan
Posted by: G Dan Mitchell | Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 09:59 PM
It's hard to determined who's ahead: the pro "Midsomer Murders" contingent or the anti. I'm in the latter grouping, and the few minutes I endured watching this video are offered in evidence. These are the least worthy Brit mystery exports to arrive in Westpondia. Or is this just late "camp"?
[I must agree Armond. Too broad for me, although I understand that is part of its appeal for fans. --Mike]
Posted by: Armond Perretta | Friday, 10 April 2015 at 09:26 AM
Very amusing!
Posted by: Godfrey | Friday, 10 April 2015 at 10:16 AM
Ya, but where's Doctor Who?
Posted by: Nic | Friday, 10 April 2015 at 10:28 AM
I think Doctor Who uses a post-digital camera.
Posted by: Chuck Holst | Friday, 10 April 2015 at 03:57 PM
It's kind of unfortunate that this show is even watched overseas - it's straight 'Sunday teatime'; easy, gentle, 'ain't that pretty', schlop that won't cause any offense or tax your mind too much. Pap. The wonder of it is that as they wipe out villages at such a rate, why do people moving house not feature more in the background? They surely shouldn't be able to take more than two paces without falling over a tea chest!
Posted by: Andy Sheppard | Saturday, 11 April 2015 at 08:04 AM
That's the only episode of Midsomer Murders I have ever seen - and I intend to keep it that way!
Posted by: Steve Smith | Saturday, 11 April 2015 at 08:21 AM
You do realize that's a therimin in the theme music.
MM is a long running series, although it doesn't rivel Dr. Who. I've only seen the episodes shown on public tv, 5 seasons worth maybe. Over and over. Have never see this episode.
Posted by: Dennis | Saturday, 11 April 2015 at 11:20 AM
Watched the full episode last night (from Netflix). It's really pretty good, except for the sound effects associated with the cameras. I was particularly stuck by the ratcheting focus action on the Rollei.
Amusingly, the crazy son of the crazy film faction leader was working on a crazy project which was so typically a digital type of crazy project (photographing all his meals).
Posted by: David Dyer-Bennet | Saturday, 11 April 2015 at 12:30 PM
From the description of this episode: "In the build-up to Luxton Deeping's annual photographic exhibition, a battle rages between the traditional and digital photographers of the pretty village. The dispute seems harmless enough - until Lionel Bell is found murdered in a nearby woodland, strangled with the cord of his light meter."
Another impetus for switching to in-camera metering!
Posted by: GKFroehlich | Monday, 13 April 2015 at 08:22 PM