Is Medium Format for me?

[Fabian]

Hello.

Here is my situation: I shoot b/w almost exclusively and I develop the film myself and print in my own darkroom.
This all costs a lot of time and money and the results are, well allright but far away from beautiful. I am just talking about tones here.
I thought that if I go through all the hassle at least I want to have results that knock me of my feet.
Today I saw a few pics at flickr from a guy who used velvia 50 on a mf camera and converted it to b/w in PS and the tones were gorgeous.
So with my birthday coming up someday here is my two alternatives.

1. Stick with my Leica, buy a modern lens and some slowspeed film and try to make the best out of it or

2. Buy either a Mamiya 7 or a Rolleiflex and hope to get what I am looking for that way.

By the way I need better image quality to compensate my poor composition skills.😀

Now its up to you. Show me pics with great tonality and convince me, please.

Thanks for your help

Fabian

 

[J J Kapsberger]

Perhaps you should post some of your images so that the more knowledgeable RFF MF users can determine whether your perceived problems can be rectified by going to MF.

 

[Toby]

This is hard question to answer without being able to gauge your skill level. If you think you are pretty competent at 35mm and are unhappy then try MF. You don't even spend a lot of money a Yashica TLR will be good enough to evaluate the medium and see if it's for you.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

" Show me pics with great tonality and convince me, please. "


Mamiya 7II

Mamiya 7II

Mamiya 7II

Rolleiflex 2.8

Rolleiflex 2.8

I like the tones med. format gives me, but don't discount 35mm, the way you choose to treat light and composition is more important than format-brand-type of camera. (IMHO)

Leica "modern" 35/2 asph.

1957 "vintage" 50/2 summitar

Todd

 

[Meleica]

I'd start with a 6x4.5 Fuji camera....$ 300-500 and you get superb performance

see this Fuji Camera page:

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fujirf.htm


Good luck
Dan

 

[Meleica]

From my Fuji 645Zi

 

[Doug]

Because MF is enlarged less, it's more forgiving on issues such as film grain, small scratches, lint etc, focus accuracy, camera movement. With proper exposure and processing, MF can knock your socks off with the richness of tonal gradations and color. But then very careful handling of 35mm can also lead to results that knock your socks off! Film has improved a lot in recent decades.

FWIW, I don't have Mamiya 7 or Rolleiflexes, just Fuji 645 and 6x7, and Bronica RF645... and I won't mention any MF SLR stuff. 🙂

 

[iml]

Rolleiflex 3.5 Tessar/Fuji Acros

MF is beautiful! (But I like 35mm too.)

Ian

 

[markinlondon]

If I want pictures with great tonality I think the best place to start is by being Todd 🙂 .

A working rollfilm folder would give you an idea for very little money although I'd also go along with Toby's Yashica suggestion. I bought an Isolette for about £20 and it convinced me to stick with 35mm.

 

[colinh]

If I want pictures with great tonality I think the best place to start is by being Todd 🙂 .

Yes, really nice shots, Todd.

colin

 

[Bobfrance]

Just had my first roll developed from my Fuji645 and the tones knocked me off my feet. My scanner doesn't do them justice.

I'd definately give MF a go. I'm hooked.

Bob.

 

[oftheherd]

In general, MF will give you better tonality. However, if you can't get good toanality in 35mm, you probably won't get it in MF either. What film are you using and how do you deveop it?