I'm thinking zoom factor may have played a role. 50-58mm lens with a 35mm film negative is not far from what you see yourself. Lenses that are wide angle (e.g.

I'm thinking zoom factor may have played a role. 50-58mm lens with a 35mm film negative is not far from what you see yourself. Lenses that are wide angle (e.g. 28mm) make things look farther away and distorted, and lens that are telephoto compresses things and makes them look closer. A lot of photos taken today are "wide". It's true about the colors though. Kodachrome and Velvia had very distinct looks.