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Author Thread: What are Medium Format Cameras?
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Gold Member
Username: Rovin


Trinidad & T...

Post Number: 5287
Registered: Jul-05

U mean absolutely no 1 ever posted anything on this section !?

Well then i'll be the very 1st then .....

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Gold Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 5218
Registered: Dec-03

If they have a question about medium format cameras, then I'll start answering questions. There are better forums out there for medium format users.
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Gold Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 5221
Registered: Dec-03

So...you have a question about these type of cameras?
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Gold Member
Username: Chaunb3400

Huntsville, Alabama
U.S.

Post Number: 4948
Registered: Jul-05

what is it??, i dont no any thing about cameras
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Gold Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 5315
Registered: Dec-03

It uses bigger film than 35mm.

Don't worry about it, though. You probably won't be using one in your life time. Just get yourself a nice little point and shoot digital camera and you'll be fine:-)
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Gold Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 5335
Registered: Dec-03

This is a digital medium format camera
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Gold Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 5991
Registered: Dec-03

What?!?
Nobody wants this wondrous camera?
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Gold Member
Username: Rovin


Trinidad & T...

Post Number: 7493
Registered: Jul-05

lol - there was a time i did not know Berny .....


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Bronze Member
Username: Frankthetank

Post Number: 53
Registered: Jul-04

damn no wonder why it never caught on
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Bronze Member
Username: Frankthetank

Post Number: 54
Registered: Jul-04

Ill stick with digital camera
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Bronze Member
Username: Frankthetank

Post Number: 55
Registered: Jul-04

like my canon that I just bought
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Bronze Member
Username: Frankthetank

Post Number: 56
Registered: Jul-04

kicks some serious @ss if you ask men
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Bronze Member
Username: Frankthetank

Post Number: 57
Registered: Jul-04

anyone ever heard of an APS apparently its the new age camera for hippies
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Bronze Member
Username: Frankthetank

Post Number: 58
Registered: Jul-04

I love fox news they just had a show on cameras
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Bronze Member
Username: Frankthetank

Post Number: 59
Registered: Jul-04

anyone know any other shows?
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Bronze Member
Username: Frankthetank

Post Number: 60
Registered: Jul-04

that focuses on digi camera?
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Gold Member
Username: Frank_abela

Berkshire
UK

Post Number: 1495
Registered: Sep-04

The term 'medium format camera' comes from the days of film and denotes the size of the negative. The most popular film ever is always 35mm (measured as the diagonal of the negative). The most popular medium format was 6x4.5cm. Next up was 6x6cm used predominantly by Hasselblad (you know, the cameras that went to the moon). Mamiya and one or two others use 6x7cm negatives. There is also Large Format!

The main benefit of medium format over 35mm is the larger negative allows you to blow up the picture much further than the 35mm allows before grain and blemishes set in. Furthemore, the medium format cameras were aimed much more at the pro-photographer. Most allowed you to change the film back even when part-used. In this way, the pro could take a few shots with a back containing polaroid film to see the results there and then, and then switch back to alternative film and shoot away. It also meant you could have black and white film in one back and colour in the other, a combination which a lot of nature photographers would carry with them. All of these are features we take for granted with digital of course, since it allows us to make these changes in software. The killer advantage of medium format over digital remains - to this day - how far you can blow up the picture and remain tack sharp. 16 megapixels isn't a patch on the resolution of 6x4.5, let alone the larger formats.

The downsides are that the cameras have to be a lot larger than the standard cameras. The lenses are typically a 72mm minimum and for fast lenses you're talking bigger and heavier. This raises the cost of lenses significantly too since the glass has to be precision ground in order to avoid abberations. A standard lens in medium format is of the order of £500 whereas the equivalent in 35mm would be £200. You also therefore get limited zoom lenses in any medium format range purely because of the cost, size and weight. You usually only get prime lenses.

For many years I lusted after a Bronica ETRSi. I've never bought one, and I still really wish I'd enjoyed the experience, but with the advances and convenience of digital, I fear I'll never give medium format a go.

Regards,
Frank.
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Gold Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 8378
Registered: Dec-03

I don't think theTank was ever interested in Medium Format.
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Silver Member
Username: Ftalife

Post Number: 226
Registered: Jul-06

lol, well I never new what a medium compact camera was till now. Thanks
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Gold Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 9245
Registered: Dec-03

I doubt you'll ever use that information.
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Gold Member
Username: Illuminator


USA

Post Number: 4258
Registered: Apr-05

Interesting features, but, it's definite that they're useless for any normal consumer, even pro's.
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Platinum Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 10152
Registered: Dec-03

You'll be surprised at how many pros use medium format, specially digital.
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Gold Member
Username: Illuminator


USA

Post Number: 4326
Registered: Apr-05

What surprises me is that there are more posts in the MDF camera section than the 35mm SLR section...
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Platinum Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 10277
Registered: Dec-03

Oh, that was just Frank the Tank trying to increase his post count.

And of course, off topic stuff.
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Silver Member
Username: Claudermilk

Post Number: 375
Registered: Sep-04

So back on topic. I've been browsing the MF areas at KEH & the prices of bodies & lenses surprised me...as in they are reasonable affordable in comparison with the fancy DSLRs we're playing with. It's the digital backs that cost a fortune. Then of course, you can go Holga for all of $30 and be shooting MF. :-) I'm sorely tempted....
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Platinum Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 10354
Registered: Dec-03

Holga...holga...holga!!!!

I've been wanting to get one of those.
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Platinum Member
Username: Project6

Post Number: 10372
Registered: Dec-03

Did I miss all the excitement?
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Silver Member
Username: Claudermilk

Post Number: 377
Registered: Sep-04

I'm looking at this guy's site: http://www.holgamods.com/

Ran into a guy with one of these & the mod work looks well done.
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Gold Member
Username: Rovin


Trinidad & T...

Post Number: 8887
Registered: Jul-05

Upload
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Gold Member
Username: Illuminator


USA

Post Number: 4445
Registered: Apr-05

Nice use of a non-MDF camera haha.
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Gold Member
Username: Rovin


Trinidad & T...

Post Number: 8911
Registered: Jul-05

lol ya jexx - i wanted 2 show only some ppl that pic

bassman3 this pic is 4 u

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Silver Member
Username: Claudermilk

Post Number: 379
Registered: Sep-04

Doesn't this belong in the car audio forum? Not to be forum police, but how would anyone know to find those pics in a medium format camera area?
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