I’m an avid amateur. I exclusively shot film until 2011, because DSLR image quality was pretty low before then (larger formats were fine but I couldn’t spend $5k on just a camera body.)

DSLRs were bulky and heavy, so you were getting maybe 35mm IQ under ideal conditions, but with less dynamic range, in a package as big as a medium format film camera that was far superior and cheaper.

I started photography around 8 yrs old, with various film cameras, the first was a Kodak Signet 35. Perfect choice for a young boy because it was nearly indestructible.

My last film cameras before going digital were a Kodak Retina 1a as a pocket, go anywhere camera, a Nikon EM, Graflex Speed Graphic and a Mamiya C2 for more serious shooting.

Lack of a dark room, and capable mirrorless cameras that had more tolerable weight and bulk are what finally got me into digital.

Shooting film so long helped me understand light, DoF, DR, and focal plane vs leaf shutters (and now electronic), so going digital was fairly easy, and I don’t miss the chemical induced headaches from a 4 hour darkroom session.