Medium format, anyone?

[Spock]

So who here uses medium format films? What cameras, lenses, etc?
I've been using them for 3 years now. I'm a college photography major, and although my program is digital, they allow me to use film and scan it.
I use a Mamiya m645 with a 55 f/2.8 lens. And an agfa 6x9. And of course the trusty old Holga!

[Angry__Panda]

I would love to get into this, recently moved though and I have no models ;) . I have a friend who is really into photography and he has quite the bank account so I know he has some really nice Hasselblads that he enjoys shooting. My mother might have an old medium format camera as well, I'll have to dig through her stuff when I am there to find out brands and lenses. I have taken a few pictures with it (about a decade ago lol) and I enjoy it a lot.

So does scanning do the pictures justice? Sucks that your program is all digital, would be nice if they let you do some stuff with straight up film without having to scan it in.

I'd love to see some of your work.

[xillion]

For years I shot with a Mamiya RZ Pro II, Mamiya 7, and a Blad. All are fantastic cameras and each has their own ups and downs.
My vacation camera is my good old Yashica Mat 124g. Some of the cameras I would love to own are a Zeiss Super Ikonta C, Super Ikonta IV, and a Plaubel Makina 67.

[rickboone1]

Holga and Lubitel TLR. Looking for good place to get film and processing done. Film has gotten so expensive! Any suggestions (other than doing on my own)?

[Phog Allen]

Hello chaps. This is a bit interesting. I should add that I am not contemplating a jump into medium format film photography. I have enough trouble using a point and shoot digicam with any success. However, there is one thing has always confused me. When we speak of medium format, I am pretty sure the film is larger than the 24x36mm exposure area of 35mm film. Is this correct? For that matter, is 24x36mm correct in reference to 35mm film? I ask because if you look at old box cameras most used 120 or 620 roll film which is referred to as "medium format." Is it essentially the same stuff the Hasselblads use or am I way off track here? It always seemed odd to me that a film like 120 always seemed to be associated with smallish prints of 3x4 inch or thereabouts. It is something I have always wondered about. Sorry to get a bit OT.

Regards, Todd

[xillion]

I am pretty sure the film is larger than the 24x36mm exposure area of 35mm film. Is this correct? For that matter, is 24x36mm correct in reference to 35mm film?

Yes, medium format is larger than 35mm. There are a few different medium format frame sizes.

The 6×4.5 frame size measures 56mm × 41.5mm, 6x6 is 56mm x56mm, 6x7 is 56mm x 70mm, 6x9 is 56mm × 84mm, and there are a couple larger panoramic sizes.



Your dimensions of 35mm are correct.



Above images from Wikipedia.

I ask because if you look at old box cameras most used 120 or 620 roll film which is referred to as "medium format." Is it essentially the same stuff the Hasselblads use or am I way off track here?

Regards, Todd

Correct, Hasselblads shoot 120 (12 exposure) or 220 (24 exposure) film with specific film backs.

[Spock]

I would love to get into this, recently moved though and I have no models ;) . I have a friend who is really into photography and he has quite the bank account so I know he has some really nice Hasselblads that he enjoys shooting. My mother might have an old medium format camera as well, I'll have to dig through her stuff when I am there to find out brands and lenses. I have taken a few pictures with it (about a decade ago lol) and I enjoy it a lot.

So does scanning do the pictures justice? Sucks that your program is all digital, would be nice if they let you do some stuff with straight up film without having to scan it in.

I'd love to see some of your work.

Hasselblads are gorgeous, great cameras!
Scanning works well, if your scanner can do transparencies. I do all mine at my school and they've been good.
As for seeing my work, I'm in the process of creating a brand new portfolio, so I'll have some links in the darkroom for some work-in-progress and finished product.

For years I shot with a Mamiya RZ Pro II, Mamiya 7, and a Blad. All are fantastic cameras and each has their own ups and downs.
My vacation camera is my good old Yashica Mat 124g. Some of the cameras I would love to own are a Zeiss Super Ikonta C, Super Ikonta IV, and a Plaubel Makina 67.

Yashica Mats are nice, I borrowed one once and it was fun to use. The RZ pro is also nice. In the studio we've been using our school's Phase One, it's digital MF but the quality is astounding.

Holga and Lubitel TLR. Looking for good place to get film and processing done. Film has gotten so expensive! Any suggestions (other than doing on my own)?

Doing it yourself is so much fun. Buy a $20 dev tank and some chemicals, and enjoy it. It's like shaving, you have to enjoy the process!

[DNG]

I still have my mamiya rb67pro. I reach for it when I'm not shooting street photography in 35mm. It's a great camera for more formal portraits and a joy to use and compose with.
I only wish it was lighter...but then again, it wouldn't be as solid and durable as it is.

[djh]

As much as I love the idea of a medium-format outfit, I still haven't gotten back into film since trading my last F4 on a digital body. Digital medium-format is still pretty pricy, huh?

[legrandfromage]

I shoot with a Mamiya 1000S (45, 80, 210mm lenses), and occasionally with my daughter's RZ67 (whatever the standard lens is; 80mm?). I have shot film since I was a teenager and although I am pretty much committed to digital now, I still really enjoy periodically shooting film. Besides enjoying the process, I like the feel/build of the cameras. I dismantled my darkroom some years back and scan my film, for digital printing. Getting film developed is a pain and I am considering developing my own again, which is pretty simple. Scanning is a PITA, but with decent negs you can generally print quite well up to around 10 X 15 or so. If you have something special that you want to go bigger with, you can have a drum scan done; costly, but a huge improvement.

Just bought a Lomo 120 pinhole panoramic camera to play with; would buy a Rollei, but they are way too expensive for another toy.

[BillLamm]

I was one of the last Photo majors to go through my college with out digital photography.. love my 4x5 but have no darkroom access anymore.. about a year ago I started playing with hand made pinhole cameras.. if I pursue it further I will stick with med and large format, I think it scans better than 35mm...

@ Todd... I think the 3x4 prints were the common default size when 120 was popular camera size.. the film emulsion today is all pretty much the same on 35mm and 120 film so your correct, we get more detail from a 120 negative in an 8x10 print than from a 35mm negative at 8x10.. (or 3x4 for that matter)

[Phog Allen]

Thanks Bill. I can tell you that those Hasselblad cameras have to be one of the best looking I have ever seen. I know everyone fawns over Leicas but the Hasselblad look is timeless. When you look at one you just know it is something special.

Regards, Todd

[BillLamm]

Thanks Bill. I can tell you that those Hasselblad cameras have to be one of the best looking I have ever seen. I know everyone fawns over Leicas but the Hasselblad look is timeless. When you look at one you just know it is something special.

Regards, Todd

they are like a Swiss watch or Les Paul Guitar.. solid and dependable, built to last.. its kinda sad that so few things are built for the long hall these days..

[notsonewb]

I used to shoot a blad. But I've been shooting a Mamiya 645 and rz pro. Film processing costs have wiped that out as I now mainly shoot digital. If I dare to shoot film it's 35mm, as processing is too expensive for other formats.

[Blix]

I've used medium format for years (and large format up to 8x10"), mostly scanning negatives as I don't have room for a proper darkroom.
The image quality you can achieve from DSLR's are not truly fantastic, and digital MF is just mind blowing.


But, I love the feel of film, there's just this tactile quality I enjoy, especially using a classic film like Kodak Tri-X.
My main camera have been a Bronica Etrs, never was a fan of Hasselblads for handheld work.
I also enjoy the developing of film, and it's not that expensive really.

Here's a couple shots, first a portrait of my son using the Bronica, 75mm lens and Kodak T-Max 100



Same gear, Tri-X film:



Same as the first:


These is just using a Epson flatbed scanner, and the image quality isn't half bad.

[BillLamm]

I found a local camera shop that still develops 120.. but they send out the B&W.. I will develop my own B&W up to 8x10 but what are people using for scanners?? any DIY light heads for scanners?? I know my scanner will give me the resolution I want, I just need to back that negative up with some light

[echotron]

My MF camera is a Seagull TLR. I got the economy model with the knob advancement not the fancy winder.

I prefer B&W mostly ... beautiful enlargements.

The only problem with a TLR is people are all the time asking what I am surveying for?

[Phog Allen]

Man, I am getting to the point that B&W photos are about my favourite. Those shots of the lad are super. This is where my confusion with digital vs film gets amplified. Blix, if I am reading your post correctly DSLR(digital "35mm" so to speak) is not all that great but digital medium format is? I suppose what I am asking is whether we are getting to the point that lens and image sensor combinations are capable of the dreamy, Alice in Wonderland images we associate with great film photos? Again, great photos.

Regards, Todd

[Blix]

Man, I am getting to the point that B&W photos are about my favourite. Those shots of the lad are super. This is where my confusion with digital vs film gets amplified. Blix, if I am reading your post correctly DSLR(digital "35mm" so to speak) is not all that great but digital medium format is? I suppose what I am asking is whether we are getting to the point that lens and image sensor combinations are capable of the dreamy, Alice in Wonderland images we associate with great film photos? Again, great photos.

Regards, Todd

Thank you Todd. DSLR's are way past great now, especially the "full frame" ones(think Canon 5D and similar), digital MF is still in another league though, but got the $30,000+ price tag to go with it, if you want the best ones..
Film just got it's own quality going, and with a medium format camera and a decent, but fairly inexpensive scanner, you can get that "pro" look going without breaking the bank, if you develop your own film.
But I love good old 35mm film as well, it's got a rougher kinda a look to it. You can get great quality from 35mm too, but then a cheap flatbed scanner doesn't cut it anymore.

[riooso]

I shoot a 4X5 Toyo with a Fugi and a couple Schnieder lenses. Not medium and not really large, per se. I really love this format! I shoot mostly color slide film.

Take care,
Richard.