Between each category the 'quality' of the image changes, is altered by the very medium it is shot in. Film holds with it a nostalgic intent, a crispness caused by carefully exposed grains, but a uniform contrast capable of capturing immense subtlety. Take the screenshot below from One Hour Photo (best viewed in original size). The grains are half the story, the uniform nature of the image. It is often the subtlety in film that brings the scene to life more so than what is on screen.
For comparison, the image below was shot on a RED camera, one of the most advanced digital film cameras of our time. The image is crisp, beautiful, but more than the lighting or scene, the entire feel of the image has changed. Compare both at full size, and the details will become even more apparent.
I am fascinated by these subtile choices. As much as editing or soundscape helps to set the scene the choice of filming medium/technique seems absolute. This embedded video shows a side/by/side comparison between the two, and the results are striking. Even with their filters applied, the film image remains different in characteristic. This is a topic I would like to learn more about.
