Medium Format?

[FlipsidE]

Seeing that I hope to be shooting mostly models and hopefully mostly in a studio not too far into the future, I'm curious about Medium Format photography.

Now, one thing I will say is that I probably would've gotten much deeper into photography a long time ago had it not been for film. Developing costs, handling, etc. Plus, I'm an absolute gadget freak.

But, for some reason, Medium Format has just got me so incredibly interested...esp for the kinds of shots I intend to be taking. I've been considering buying a used Mamiya 645 or 645 Pro off eBay just to have around for the occasional use. The problem is...I know nothing about film, the different types of film stock, or how to use filters with film to get white balance correct.

In my case, would looking for an inexpensive Medium Format system be worth the effort? Or should I just wait until Medium Format digital backs become somewhat affordable?

Thanks in advance

[Longwatcher]

I would say (having a hassleblad that sits on the shelf)
You should get really good with what you have first and then when you just can't get anything better from what you have then go up a level.

In my opinion a 1DsMkII competes with MF film cameras for color photography. It is only in B+W where MF film is still obviously superior. Most portrait and model photography will be in color so not gaining a lot there.

All that said if I had the money to spare I would have a 39MP digital back in my hands for doing my model shoots. But I don't have $22,000+ for MF, I barely afforded the 1DsMkII. Heck even my 10D worked to some extent. I think the lenses make more of a difference then the camera after a certain point.

So use your current camera until it just doesn't for it for you any more. Then you are ready.

[Wilt]

White balance, before digital, was supremely simple for the typical photographer...
Buy daylight film, shoot in daylight or with flash. Buy tungsten-balanced film, shoot under tungsten lights. Shooting under fluorescent lighting, get a 10M filter and the result is 'close enough' to get rid much of the greenish tint, especially since every fluorestcent tube is a bit different in color output! Shoot color neg film, and let the lab deal with color balance! Only digital made photographers widely anal about WB (although pros shooting fim could sometimes be anal about WB, too).

Getting Med Format is not merely about resolution (which is where 1D2MkII can compete with MF). It is also about the absolute tonality and the realism of larger format slides. In photo workshops I personally have experienced "Oooooh! Ahhhhh!" when 35mm photographers collective see my medium format slides projected onto the same projection screen, at the same size their 35mm slides were projected, because of the better tonality and realism.

Medium format can also SLOW YOU DOWN so you are not machine gunning shots thru like with the digital camera. It makes you THINK about the shot before you take it, rather than merely getting photos a 2fps-5fps...if you want to shoot everything at that rate, bring a movie camera!!! The slower pace allows you to understand better, to debate the merits of one approach vs. the other and then decide what you want to create, not merely record at 5fps.

[Mark_Cohran]

I agree with Wilt. Medium Format, and to a greater extent, Large Format, require a slower pace and more deliberate process than shooting with digital. I use a Mamiya 645 Pro TL and it's absolutely great for studio work or landscapes when I want the best resolution I can get for prints or slides. But, with only 12 shots to a roll of 120 film, the process has to be thoughtful and deliberate, or you're going to waste those shots.

Mark

[condyk]

Originally Posted by Wilt

Medium format can also SLOW YOU DOWN so you are not machine gunning shots thru like with the digital camera. It makes you THINK about the shot before you take it, rather than merely getting photos a 2fps-5fps...if you want to shoot everything at that rate, bring a movie camera!!! The slower pace allows you to understand better, to debate the merits of one approach vs. the other and then decide what you want to create, not merely record at 5fps.

This is a fundemental piece of advice about how to really master the craft and your equipment. You don't need a MF camera to do it of course.

[mbze430]

Originally Posted by mcohran

I agree with Wilt. Medium Format, and to a greater extent, Large Format, require a slower pace and more deliberate process than shooting with digital. I use a Mamiya 645 Pro TL and it's absolutely great for studio work or landscapes when I want the best resolution I can get for prints or slides. But, with only 12 shots to a roll of 120 film, the process has to be thoughtful and deliberate, or you're going to waste those shots.

Mark

You sure you only get 12 shots to the 120 on the 645? I usually get 15-16 on a 6x4.5 120...... 12 shots is with a 6x6..... you must be out of practice

[mbze430]

I am pro-MF. Because it gives me much better flexibility in a studio. In anycase I shoot digital in MF as well as film. The amount of stuff I shoot in studio isn't that much. So I still get more useage out of the 1dsmk2 & 1dmk2.

Personally I love the images I get out of my Contax 645 than my 1dsmk2. The DOF is excellent, if you talk to anyone that uses heavily MF, that's the first thing they tell you is how much "seperation" of objects has on MF and LF has.

[Mark_Cohran]

Originally Posted by mbze430

You sure you only get 12 shots to the 120 on the 645? I usually get 15-16 on a 6x4.5 120...... 12 shots is with a 6x6..... you must be out of practice

Yep - you're right - 15 shots - I am out of practice

I've got two backs, preloaded they give me about 30 shots - but I haven't used the MF in about 9 months.

Mark

[Wilt]

>>that's the first thing they tell you is how much "seperation" of objects has on MF and LF has.<<

The landscapers bane is the portraitist's blessing! Longer focal lengths for same FOV as the tiny formats (sub-FF dSLR) overcomes the slow max apertures (and resultant deeper DOF) found with too many zooms on entry level dSLRs.