Jan 247 min read

Medium Format Photography: A Deeper Look

If you’re looking for a way to take your photography to the next level, you might want to consider medium format. Medium format is a type of film photography that uses larger film sizes than the standard 35mm. This gives you more resolution, detail, dynamic range, and depth of field than most digital cameras can offer.

Medium format photography is not for everyone. It requires more skill, patience, and investment than shooting with a 35mm or a digital camera. But if you’re willing to embrace the challenges and rewards of this format, you’ll discover a whole new world of photographic possibilities.

In this article, we’ll explore the art and craft of medium format photography, and show you some examples of how it can elevate your images. We’ll also give you some tips and tricks on how to get started with medium format, and what equipment you’ll need. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, medium format photography can open up new horizons for your creativity. Let’s dive in!

A black and white photograph of a flower in macro, very high resolution. — Shot using a Kiev 60 and Biometar 80mm f/2.8 with extension tubes on Adox CHS25, the marriage of a high resolution, slow film and medium format renders a creamy smooth image with excellent subject separation, despite the busy background, adding a sense of dynamism to the overall image. Photo credit: Michael Elliott

The Basics of Medium Format

Before we dive into the benefits of medium format photography, let’s first understand what it is and how it differs from other formats. Medium format refers to the size of the film or sensor that captures the image. The most common film size for medium format is 120, which is about 6 cm wide and can vary in length depending on the aspect ratio. There are also other film sizes, such as 220 (double length 120, with no backing paper), 620 (the same as 120, but with a slightly different gauge reel), and 127 (baby medium format, 4x4), that fall under the medium format category.

Medium format is larger than the standard 35mm film, which is about 24 mm wide by 36mm long and has a fixed aspect ratio of 3:2. It is also larger than most digital sensors, which are usually based on the 35mm film size or smaller. The only digital sensors that are comparable to medium format are the ones used in some high-end cameras, such as the Hasselblad X1D or the Fujifilm GFX.

The size of the film or sensor affects the quality and characteristics of the image. Larger formats can capture more light, detail, and colour than smaller formats. They also have a shallower depth of field, which means that the background is more blurred and the subject is more isolated. This creates a distinctive look that is often associated with medium format photography.

There are different types of medium format cameras that use different mechanisms and designs. Some of the most common ones are:

SLR (Single-Lens Reflex): These cameras use a mirror and a prism to reflect the image from the lens to the viewfinder. They allow you to see exactly what the lens sees, and have interchangeable lenses and accessories. Some examples are the Pentax 67, the Mamiya RZ67, and the Hasselblad 500C.
TLR (Twin-Lens Reflex): These cameras use two lenses, one for capturing the image and one for viewing it. They have a waist-level viewfinder that shows a reversed image of the scene. They are usually fixed-lens and have a leaf shutter. Some examples are the Rolleiflex, the Yashica Mat, and the Mamiya C330.
Rangefinder: These cameras use a separate optical system to measure the distance and focus of the subject. They have a viewfinder that shows a frame and a patch that indicates the focus. They are usually compact and quiet, but have a limited range of lenses and accessories. Some examples are the Fujifilm GL690, the Mamiya 6, and the Plaubel Makina 67.
Folding Bellows: These cameras use a flexible, accordion-like material to connect the lens and the film plane. They can be folded into a compact size when not in use, and extended to adjust the focus and the focal length. They are usually simple and lightweight, but have a limited range of apertures and shutter speeds. Some examples are the Voigtländer Bessa, the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta, and the Agfa Isolette.

These are just some of the basic types of medium format cameras, and there are many variations and models within each category. Choosing the right camera for you depends on your personal preference, budget, and style.

A picture depicting a selection of medium format cameras, from left to right: Fujica GL690 with 100mm f/3.5; Rolleiflex 2.8E3 with Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8; Kiev 60 with Flektogon 50mm f/4. — A selection of medium format cameras, from left to right: Fujica GL690 with 100mm f/3.5; Rolleiflex 2.8E3 with Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8; Kiev 60 with Flektogon 50mm f/4. Photo credit: Michael Elliott

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The Benefits of Medium Format

One of the main reasons why medium format photography is so appealing is the quality of the images it produces. Compared to smaller formats, medium format offers several advantages that can make a big difference in your photography. Let’s take a closer look at some of these advantages and how they can enhance your images.

Image Quality: Medium format film and sensors have more surface area than 35mm or digital ones. This means that they can capture more light, detail, and colour information. The result is sharper, clearer, and richer images that can be enlarged or cropped without losing quality.
Depth of Field: Medium format cameras have a shallower depth of field than smaller formats. This means that the background is more blurred and the subject is more isolated. This creates a distinctive look that is often associated with medium format photography. It also gives you more creative control over the focus and the mood of your images.
Dynamic Range: Medium format cameras have a higher dynamic range than smaller formats. This means that they can capture more details in the shadows and the highlights of your images. This gives you more flexibility in editing and processing your images, and allows you to achieve a more natural and balanced exposure.

These are just some of the benefits of medium format photography, and there are many more that you can discover as you experiment with this format. Medium format photography can help you achieve stunning results that are hard to replicate with smaller formats. It can also challenge you to improve your skills, creativity, and vision as a photographer. If you’re looking for a way to take your photography to the next level, you might want to give medium format a try.

A photograph of the Lesnes Abbey Woods in black and white demonstrating the increased dynamic range of medium format film. — When deployed correctly, medium format does afford the photographer a markedly improved dynamic range over medium format. For instance, in the above, the almost 6x size of the negative means that there were 6x the light gathering grains in the emulsion exposed to light in the shadows, resulting in finely graduated tonality throughout the photograph. Lesnes Abbey Woods, shot on the Fujica GL690 with the 100mm f/3.5 lens, on Fujifilm Neopan Acros 100. Photo credit: Michael Elliott

A Note on Dynamic Range:

Dynamic range is the difference between the darkest and the brightest parts of an image, and it depends on many factors, such as the film stock, the exposure, the development, the scanning, and the editing.

Some people claim that medium format film has a higher dynamic range than 35mm film, because it has larger grains or pixels that can capture more light and colour information. However, this is not always true, as different film stocks have different characteristics and sensitivities. For example, slide film tends to have a lower dynamic range than negative film, regardless of the format. Also, the exposure and the development can affect the dynamic range of the film, as overexposing or underexposing can reduce the details in the shadows or the highlights. Furthermore, the scanning and the editing can also influence the dynamic range of the film, as different scanners and software have different capabilities and settings.

But broadly speaking, the greater number of light gathering grains in any given part of a medium format negative mean that, certainly in the shadows, there is more information to extract and so more of the shadows will be preserved, and thus an apparent increase in dynamic range is observable.

It is hard to compare the dynamic range of medium format film and 35mm film in a general way, as it depends on many variables and preferences. Ultimately, the dynamic range of film is not the only factor that determines the quality and the appeal of an image, and you should choose the film format and stock that suits your style and vision.

My Experience with Medium Format Photography

My personal journey with medium format began toward the end of 2020. A somewhat boring year for photography overall, given the confinement - literally to the home initially, and then to the local area as we went from lockdown to lockdown. I had been shooting my wife’s old Lubitel and was entranced by the beauty of the larger format negative, but I wasn’t impressed by the quality of the image it produced. Having previously admired medium format photography in museums, but never having had the money (in a past life) nor the will to hunt out a bargain, it was kind of natural that I would go all in when I got the chance.

Starting with a decent example of a Kiev 60, paired with a Zeiss Biometar 80mm lens, I soon expanded my collection to include both 50mm f/4 Flektogon and 180mm f/2.8 Sonnar lenses, as well as macro tubes and a teleconverter (for when I want a 360mm f/5.6 lens… reach, baby, reach!). Shooting a 6x6 negative, you can read more about this camera on my review here.

Then I found out about the world of 6x9 and bought into the Fujica GL690 system. Quite simply, if you haven’t seen a 6x9 negative - or better still, transparency - you’re missing out. Despite the fact that you can’t find any mounts, carriers or projectors for 6x9, they’re so big that they can easily stand on their own as miniature portals into different worlds.

After that, the ball kept rolling and I purchased a Rolleiflex 2.8E3 - rather decently priced, if I may say so myself - and the world of Vivian Maier opened up before me. With the camera hanging on my stomach, looking down at the world in front of me, through that gorgeous viewfinder, with the world translated by that sparkling Heidosmat lens, an epiphany hit. Regardless of the fact that the world was mirrored left to right, it just seemed right. The action of the crank is smooth, the focus like butter, the linked aperture and shutter speed settings perfectly laid out, and the deliciously sharp images from the Zeiss Planar 80mm lens to die for.

I still shoot a lot more volume of 35mm, but I consider that “sketching” to the “art” I create with my medium format cameras.

A colour photograph of the Southmere Towers in Thamesmead, London. — Shot on 35mm, this is still a very sharp and usable image, and retains detail throughout from shadows to highlights, but it lacks a certain punch that the medium format image has. Photo credit: Michael Elliott

A colour photograph of the Millenium Mills at Royal Victoria Dock, East London. — Even shooting on well expired Kodak Ektachrome 100S, the detail and range retained by this (cropped) 6x6 slide is astounding. It simply blows the 35mm frame above away.

The Appeal of Medium Format

Medium format photography is a fascinating and rewarding format that can take your photography to the next level. It offers several benefits, such as image quality, depth of field, and dynamic range, that can enhance your images and give them a distinctive look. It also challenges you to improve your skills, creativity, and vision as a photographer.

We hope this article has given you a deeper look into the art and craft of medium format photography, and inspired you to explore it further. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And if you have any medium format images that you’d like to share, we’d love to see them. Happy shooting!

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