Just souped my first 120. WOA!

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anitasanger

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Just souped my first 120, ilford delta 100. It was my first roll through a Holga. When I unspooled that roll, i about fell down in awe. These frames are HUGE! So much detail! I can't wait to scan them. It makes me want to get into Hassys, even though I know nothing about medium format systems, lenses, etc. Anyway, I'm real excited. This 120 makes 35mm look like a shrimp!
 
Feels good doesn't it? It doesn't go away either.
Don't rush to upgrade, those Holgas can produce some fine pictures.
 
The amazing acreage of Medium Format.....

The amazing acreage of Medium Format.....

Using 35mm as a factor of 1:

6X4.5 equals 2.7 times the area of the frame
6X6 equals 3.6 times the area of the frame
6X7 equals 4.3 times the area of the frame
6X9 equals 5.4 times the area of the frame

Of those frame sizes, where we have learned much of our composition technique on the 35mm frame at an aspect ratio of 2:3, on medium format, only two of the frames that are close to that 2:3 aspect ratio are 6X4.5 and 6X9... in fact 6X9 is 2:3.

35mm is 864 sq mm
645 is 2372 sq mm
6x6 is 3136 sq mm
6X7 is 3752 sq mm
6X9 is 4704 sq mm

I occasionally find myself shooting 645 to stay with 2:3 and get more frames, but that never lasts very long when I look at the 6X9 frames.

I rarely ever shoot square or 67, since I don't see square or near-square.

My medium format camera choice at present is either a Fujica G690-100 or G690-65, or a Mamiya Universal Press.

MF is WOW, next to Large Format, but imminently more transportable.
 
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Wow, very informative, thank you. I shot these with the square adapter, 12 images. I simply can't even begin to fathom the greatness of large format. I'm looking forward to having fun with this Holga for a while. I eventually want to get a speed graphic or something similar.
 
Yep. Bigger film area gets more detail. Now- LF really doesn't really have to be all that big and bulky.
 
Beware you are starting on a slippery slope. 'Blads are fun but expensive, look for an good japanese TLR. As good as MF is, LF is even better. 4X5 is a lot of fun but a lot more work to soup. Look for a good TLR they are a blast.

B2 (;->
 
anitasanger said:
Wow, very informative, thank you. I shot these with the square adapter, 12 images. I simply can't even begin to fathom the greatness of large format. I'm looking forward to having fun with this Holga for a while. I eventually want to get a speed graphic or something similar.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, and I should have mentioned that the nominal image size of a sheet of 4X5 film is 11,400 sq mm.
 
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Yeah, there's no rush. Take your time and enjoy the Holga..you can get some really nice images with it.

Welcome to the MF world! Delta is a great film to start with, too, but just wait till you see some E-6 slides ;)
 
Thanks for all the tips guys. I researched the crown graphic. Wow. I gotta have one. It'll be a while though. I almost have enough for a decent used leica. But after that, I'm totally going to get int 4x5 sheet film. I got Ansel's trio of photography how-to books last week along with a few books covering his works. Oh man, large format is captivating. I am SOOOOOO thankful that large format film is still available. Celluloid is so freaking fun.
 
Just keep in mind that using LF gear is quite a bit of a hassle compared to just being able to load a roll and get 12 shots out of that.
 
The step up from 35mm to medium format is relatively easy to make in terms of equipment and processing, and yields a great increase in quality and tonality. The step from medium format to large format is much more difficult, and the corresponding increase in quality over medium format is less striking, and probably most worthwhile if you are planning to print very large.
 
anitasanger said:
Just souped my first 120, ilford delta 100. It was my first roll through a Holga. When I unspooled that roll, i about fell down in awe. These frames are HUGE! So much detail! I can't wait to scan them. It makes me want to get into Hassys, even though I know nothing about medium format systems, lenses, etc. Anyway, I'm real excited. This 120 makes 35mm look like a shrimp!
Click to expand...

If you do any wet printing, 120 contact sheets really are a thing of beauty, and more akin to 12 small prints than a mere tool for evaluating the frames you wish to enlarge.

Have fun
 
I haven't look at photographs the same since. While I use 35mm, going back to it after a few weeks on larger formats, it looks like minox film (how can you get any good images out of that itty bitty negative?).

Try color transparency to repeat your awe. A good roll is like a box of fireworks.

.
 
I too had a revelation when stepping up to MF last year. I do mostly 6x6, but also 6x12. Savour the feeling for a while before upgrading to a better MF or even LF. I want to do the latter, but then only once I've a darkroom in place with a 4x5 enlarger. Before then MF and scanning and digital post-processing works a treat (for me).
 
part of the analog experience I can't give up is that I just love looking at B&W negatives....shooting alot with the Rollei right now but also shoot 4x5 and 5x7 and let me tell you what a treat 5x7 is to my tired old eyes
 
I've shot 6x6 for years with my TLR's and still like it when I see the negs. I recently had a chance to shoot some 6x9. Those negs are the size of ace of *****s. Awesome to scan and edit compared to squares (6x6).
 
bigeye said:
Try color transparency to repeat your awe. A good roll is like a box of fireworks.
Click to expand...

+1

And do it sooner rather than later, while slide developing is still reasonably easy to find. No need for a Hassy, either. A folder or box camera can be lots of fun, and won't even put a dent in your Leica savings.
 
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