- This topic is empty.
Medium Format Photography
-
I am interested to know if anyone here regularly uses medium format, and if so, what their recommendations would be for picking up something on ebay. I have done a bit of research but know very little about roll film, and wonder if anyone would consider responding with some sort of ‘idiot’s guide’ or ‘idiots intro’ to medium format.
For instance I have been looking at various 645 cameras (which seem to be made by Mamiya and Pentax). Does a 645 camera take 120 roll film, or something different? When you hear people talk about 6×9, 6×7, 6×6 and 6×4.5 etc what is this referring to in terms of film? Are they just different crops on the same type of roll film, or is it a different type of film altogether?
I have to say the Mamiya 7 and 7ii look very interesting – medium format rangefinders. Does anyone have experience with them?Thanks for any pointers, suggestion and advice.
HI,
Up until about 2 months ago I knew nothing about Medium Format cameras etc, but
after researching equipment and alternatives for shooting Architectural and Interior
images I happened across various discussions regarding Medium format lenses used
on 35mm cameras.I looked into this a lot and on my journey through cyber space learned a few things regarding
the different manufacturers.Pentax I have learned make or made the finest 35mm medium format lens and their optics
for the 67 and 645 are supposed to be right up there with the Contax and Mamiya.And the pentax is the cheapest make out there!
Check it out . . .
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/645nii.shtml
Hope this helps.
Alan
The medium format cameras all take the same film, 120 or 220 roll film… these only differ in their length (the number of frames you get). 120 roll films are readily available in many shops, not sure about the 220. The 645, 6×6, 6×7, 6×9, 6×8, 6×12 etc are the approximate sizes of a frame in centimetres, eg. 6cm x 4.5 cm, 6cm x 6cm… The larger frames you use, the less pictures you get on one roll.
Alan – Surely your references to ’35mm medium format lenses’ is a contradiction in terms?? However I appreciate I am not an expert, but I certainly know my way round 35mm film photography. :oops:
randomway wrote:
…The 645, 6×6, 6×7, 6×9, 6×8, 6×12 etc are the approximate sizes of a frame in centimetres, eg. 6cm x 4.5 cm, 6cm x 6cm… The larger frames you use, the less pictures you get on one roll.
Does this mean with any medium format camera, you can somehow put a different frame in the back of the camera, in order to achieve a negative exposure of different sizes?
In some cases you can set the film back to smaller crops, like 6×4.5 on a 6×7 camera or 6×4.5,6×6, 6×7, 6×8 on a Fuji 680 for example. The Mamiya 7 you were asking about uses a 6×7 crop factor only.
Here’s some interesting reading that you might find useful:
http://photo.net/equipment/medium-format/choosingI would suggest you buy a fairly cheap 645 like a Fuji or Bronica to get a feel for medium format. They use 120 film and produce 15 shots 6*4.5. A Fuji will set you back about €300 and hey have really good lenses, ideal for landscapes and street photography.
The Mamiya 7 or even the Mamiya 6 is top of the range rangefinders and will still set you back a few grand to get started. Great all round camers from street to landscapes if you can afford them. You want to be really commited to film before you buy one of these.
The other end of the medium format is the standard square format 6*6 like a Hasselblad 500 series, Bronica and Rolleiflex. They are bulky and slower to use making your photography slower and thoughtful. I would consider them most suited to landscape, architecture and still life photography.
Rossco wrote:
Alan – Surely your references to ’35mm medium format lenses’ is a contradiction in terms?? However I appreciate I am not an expert, but I certainly know my way round 35mm film photography. :oops:
Sorry Rossco the 35mm refers to the focal length ??
it is a prime lens with a focal length of 35mm.
Thanks Alan – I misunderstood what you were referring to. :oops: 35mm focal length presumably must be very wide in medium format – any idea what the equivalent focal lenght would be in 35mm terms?
Rossco wrote:
I have to say the Mamiya 7 and 7ii look very interesting – medium format rangefinders. Does anyone have experience with them?
I have owed a Mamiya 7 and now have the 7II. I was a bit unsure if I would take to it at first as I had never used a rangefinder before but I got to say its great. Only a little bigger than a 35mm SLR but you get 6×7 negs :) The focusing seems strange at first but you get used to it and its spot on.
Its a joy to use and I would highly recommend it. You can also get a 35mm adapter to shoot 35mm panoramics in this camera.
Peter
Hello Rossco,
It might be a very good dea for you to consider laying out a relatively small amount of money on a rollfilm twin lens reflex camera like a Seagull or a Yashica 635 to see if you have a liking for the film format.
You should be able to pick one of these cameras up on the bay for bewteen 50-100 quid.
Very quickly you will realise if medium format is for you or not. Love it or hate it at least you won’t have invested hundreds or even a grand or two on a camera format that you may or may not be able to live with.
Remember one thing – this is NOT the same as shooting 35mm but just a little bigger. This is a whole different way of shooting. The tonality you can achieve with the bigger neg is very often breathtaking.
Alternatively, I see that you have your name down for Fintan’s ‘One Camera’ project which, last time I checked, showed a poll that would likely mean we will be shooting a medium format tlr anyway. So why not wait for that opportunity to try it out?
Regards,
S.I’m going to go against the notion of buying a cheap one to try it out. You are on a forum with dozens of photographers and I’d say between us all we probably have every MF model you can get. Lets face it the Film Photography end of this forum is rocking at the moment.
I have a hassleblad 500cm (a slr), a lubitel (a tlr), a holga (toy camera) and a mamiya 6 (rangefinder), they are all medium format, all 120 film and all 6×6.
If you can make it down south someday I can show you these and maybe expose a roll or two.
thefizz who is my friend and partner in the FPWorkshops thing we do has a Mamiya RZ67 (6×7 slr with waist level viewfinder) and a Mamiya 7II (6×7 rangefinder) and a 6×6 Lubitel tlr
Meet up with some people who will show you their kit and then decide what you want and whats right for you.
Fintan
Actually If there was enough interest Peter and I could arrange a few hours of a ‘class’ for people wanting to get into film photography.
Rossco wrote:
Thanks Alan – I misunderstood what you were referring to. :oops: 35mm focal length presumably must be very wide in medium format – any idea what the equivalent focal lenght would be in 35mm terms?
No Worries,
35mm I think is equavilent to 22mm in mediuym format terms.
I am using a Pentax 33-55 medium format lens on my canon 5D with a shift adapter
for architectural work and its amazing!Alan
Thanks to everyone for their very helpful responses. I may look at one of the Fuji 645 cameras which has a built-in lens and takes 120 roll film. Sort of point and shoot medium format by some accounts. I had not heard of these before, and they can be sourced second hand for less than the Mamiya 7 (although I appreciate I am not comparing like with like). If I like the Fuji GA645 I am sure I would LOVE a Mamiya 7… 8)
Fintan – sounds like an invitation which would be hard to turn down :D
Rossco wrote:
randomway wrote:
…The 645, 6×6, 6×7, 6×9, 6×8, 6×12 etc are the approximate sizes of a frame in centimetres, eg. 6cm x 4.5 cm, 6cm x 6cm… The larger frames you use, the less pictures you get on one roll.
Does this mean with any medium format camera, you can somehow put a different frame in the back of the camera, in order to achieve a negative exposure of different sizes?
Hi Rossco,
no, just like a 35mm camera, each MF camera will only expose a certain size of image onto the film. This image circle is cropped down into a rectangle or square of the given dimensions: a 645 will produce an image 6cm wide x 4.5cm tall, 6×6 6cm x 6cm , etc. The camera you pick will generally decide the size of image produced.
Probably the main thing to bear in mind with MF cameras is the WEIGHT and SIZE: they are seriously heavy and bulky. I have a Mamiya 645AF with a zoom and it weighs several kilos … Mamiya 67 have an excellent reputation but they are much heavier again: you are getting into the realms with a 67 of probably requiring a tripod for pretty much any shot.
A rangefinder will be lighter and more compact (for a MF anyway!)
Alfa
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
