The flash was directed straight ahead. The ambient light was good to illuminate the corners. However I am not sure if my camera settings could ensure a correct exposure. I haven't used a light meter yet.

Films are still widely available here in India. The only hitch is the processing has gone digital. So they make the negatives and then scan them and print them digitally. There's a lot of correction that happens during this process which you may not necessarily want. But I have yet to reach the stage where it will actually matter. I have noticed that the older photos I took with a P&S film camera and an automatic SLR film camera are usually sharper than what I have been getting with the Nikon since last year. My suspicion lies with the digitizing of the printing process, but I am not sure.

Going digital is way too expensive for me. An entry level digital SLR with a stock lens would cost upwards of Rs. 35000/- (approximately $1000 onwards), while I bought the Nikon FE with a 28-55 lens and the flash all for Rs. 6000/- (approximately $125). I can take the camera out without fear of damaging anything inside or without worrying about a heavy repair/maintenance cost. I do lose out on an instant feedback on the images I have shot, but then I am not a pro. Each time I use up a film, it costs me around $5-7 or so in the cost of the film, developing and printing. I typically shoot about one or two rolls in around 4 months. Investing in a digital SLR doesn't make sense moneywise.

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