Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Thank you - I hadn't even considered the workflow aspect. I your circumstances it makes perfect sense. In 35mm/full frame terms if I had a digital back for my OMs or Autorefkex it would be huge for me.
Medium format in the 21st Century
- Thread starter hepcat
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Thank you - I hadn't even considered the workflow aspect. I your circumstances it makes perfect sense. In 35mm/full frame terms if I had a digital back for my OMs or Autorefkex it would be huge for me.
Chromacomaphoto
Well-known
Yes, I too fear that this thread might not be the best thing for my bank balance, I'm trying to look away but.....
Texsport
Well-known
My take is, if you are like me and:
Like to -
1 - shoot portraits
2 - shoot landscapes, particularly wide or panoramic formats
3 - hang or give enlargements as gifts
4 - use a monopod or tripod for maximum clarity
5 - expand your possibilities using new film offerings - CineStill, Ferrania, etc
6 - the challenge of film
But don't like to -
1 - mess with Lightroom or spend hours on computer manipulation
2 - buy new digital camera models every six months
3 - accumulate numerous cameras which are never used and aren't worth much any more
4 - don't want to get into large format cameras
Go medium format
My choices currently include 6X6,6X7,6X9,6X12,6X17 - Norita,Fujica,Mamiya,Linhof, and Noblex cameras.
Texsport
Like to -
1 - shoot portraits
2 - shoot landscapes, particularly wide or panoramic formats
3 - hang or give enlargements as gifts
4 - use a monopod or tripod for maximum clarity
5 - expand your possibilities using new film offerings - CineStill, Ferrania, etc
6 - the challenge of film
But don't like to -
1 - mess with Lightroom or spend hours on computer manipulation
2 - buy new digital camera models every six months
3 - accumulate numerous cameras which are never used and aren't worth much any more
4 - don't want to get into large format cameras
Go medium format
My choices currently include 6X6,6X7,6X9,6X12,6X17 - Norita,Fujica,Mamiya,Linhof, and Noblex cameras.
Texsport
mfogiel
Veteran
I don't really see a point of MF digital - if you like digital, there are already myriads of options for smaller sensor cameras that will let you print quite large.
For me the whole point of MF is to make it as remote from the digital type of output aesthetics as possible, so I stick to MF B&W and cherish the robust mechanical cameras like Rolleiflex TLR or Hasselblad V. Mamiya AFD has a couple of advantages: it is still relatively "current", so repairs should not be a problem for a few years, and the negative to flange distance is very short, so you can adapt almost any MF lens and some 35mm lenses to it, - have a look here:https://www.facebook.com/PalecwnosieCameraWorks You can even adapt the 90/2 Summicron M to get a great portrait lens.
For me the whole point of MF is to make it as remote from the digital type of output aesthetics as possible, so I stick to MF B&W and cherish the robust mechanical cameras like Rolleiflex TLR or Hasselblad V. Mamiya AFD has a couple of advantages: it is still relatively "current", so repairs should not be a problem for a few years, and the negative to flange distance is very short, so you can adapt almost any MF lens and some 35mm lenses to it, - have a look here:https://www.facebook.com/PalecwnosieCameraWorks You can even adapt the 90/2 Summicron M to get a great portrait lens.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
I'm not looking at digital for printing large necessarily... my M9P's 18mp files are plenty large enough for anything I'd ever do. I'm looking for the three dimensionality that MF gives that you just don't get in smaller formats. I realize that 645 digital sensors still aren't as large as film, but they still allow for that medium format "look;" better subject isolation with shallow DOF and generally a three-dimensional look. I never used to care much, but I realize now how much more depth medium format offers, and I want my images to have that.
I've got a couple of personal projects in mind and I want to shoot them on MF film, and I decided that I wanted a camera with more modern options over my Hassy 501cm like those offered by the AFDii.
It will likely be some time yet before I'm ready to buy a MF digital back, but I figured it made sense to buy a body that would allow me to have that option should I want it.
pvdhaar
Peter
Don't forget the smoothness of changes in tonality.. That was what pulled me to analog MF over 15 years ago. Even if you make exactly the same size prints, you can pick out the ones from MF without problem. The difference between digital FF and MF will be similar; but the price premium has increased to the point where I can't justify the move a second time.. Otherwise I'd be shooting digital MF in an eye blink.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Well, three weeks into having the 645AFDii setup, I have put it back up for sale. I'm just not bonding with it. It doesn't have a waist-level finder, which I really miss. I didn't think I would but I do. You can't hand-crank it. You're stuck with the auto-wind. The film even auto-winds. I could live with all of that, I suppose, but the electronic controls really don't do it for me. The camera doesn't engage me, I'm sorry to say. I have a self-winding watch. I shoot Leica M bodies and M-mount lenses, and I drive a six-speed, manual transmission Jeep. I like my mechanical 'stuff' to engage me.
Frankly, I miss the Hassy already. But I don't shoot the gear enough to warrant having that much cash tied up. So, I found a 645 Pro TL outfit with both the metered prism and WLF, two 120 backs, a 135 back, a polaroid back and three "N" lenses with the 80mm f/1.9 for a really good price.
So, we'll see how I get on with that. I'm kind of excited about it, frankly, and the 135 back is a kick!
So... I guess I wasn't up for moving into the 21st Century after all... *sigh*
Frankly, I miss the Hassy already. But I don't shoot the gear enough to warrant having that much cash tied up. So, I found a 645 Pro TL outfit with both the metered prism and WLF, two 120 backs, a 135 back, a polaroid back and three "N" lenses with the 80mm f/1.9 for a really good price.
So, we'll see how I get on with that. I'm kind of excited about it, frankly, and the 135 back is a kick!
So... I guess I wasn't up for moving into the 21st Century after all... *sigh*
Range-rover
Veteran
I just received a Rolleiflex 6002 with a 80mm f2.8 lens and it such a joy to use
if you find a good one, put 2 rolls thru it already and the square format is great.
if you find a good one, put 2 rolls thru it already and the square format is great.
ruby.monkey
Veteran
The 135 back seems like a waste of time, ditto the Polaroid back; the rest is a great combination. You still need a 500C/M in the mix, though. 😉
hepcat
Former PH, USN
The Rollei SLRs always seemed a little exotic to me... and accessories seem to be hard to come by used as there were so few of them sold.
Apparently you've never shot Polaroids? They're great fun and have a look all to themselves. Obviously the back was made for proofing... and in the digital age, that is an idea that's lost like buggy-whips... but Polaroids, once shot, can also be scanned and are unique in their color palate.
And what could be more fun than having the largest 35mm camera in the crowd? <grin>
I still love the Hassys, but I'm tired of maintaining leaf shutters. I had a pretty nice Kiev 88cm two-body kit with some amazing glass that I sold some years ago, and I find myself yearning for that, believe it or not. I won't buy one as they're about as expensive as the Mamiya now... but I had a lot of fun with those. I'll get along with the 645 Pro TL. 😉
pvdhaar
Peter
Some MF systems have 35mm panoramic backs with a 24 x 56 mm frame. Not sure whether that's the case here, but if so, then a 35mm back really rocks..
hepcat
Former PH, USN
This one is the standard 35mm back... but it's an interesting option.
giganova
Well-known
If all you need is 20 Mpix, why did you buy a MF camera? Isn't MF all about resolution?
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Nope. It's about depth and luminosity. It's about the transitions of tone. No, resolution is just a small part of what medium format brings. If you really want to see those qualities, look to large format... but medium format has them as well.
giganova
Well-known
Agreed, but tonality is a byproduct of resolution.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
That's a new interpretation for me. Tonality transitions would depend on resolution perhaps? In any event, I like the look of medium format images made on film.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Yeah I don't think tonality is determined solely by resolution. Affected by? Yes, but there are other factors. One analogy from film is making identical shots on the same film and processing with different developers. That's analogous to both raw file generation and post-processing.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
I have reversed course again!
I got the 645 Pro TL outfit and some additional accessories like the WLF. I figured out very quickly that it seemed like sort of a hobbled and primitive version of the 645 AFDii. The plastic body didn't feel as substantial, and when used with the AE finder, did exactly the same thing as the 645 AFDii without the elegance of the newer body.
So... I've moved the 645 Pro TL outfit on to a new home and I'm holding on to the AFDii body and AF lenses. FWIW though, I am holding onto the f/1.9 80mm manual lens in addition to the AF lenses. The AFDii kit came with a 150 f/3.5 MF lens, and I think I'll upgrade that to the f/2.8 version because I really prefer availalble light and shallow DOF in portraiture.
That's the latest report... maybe one day when I grow up I'll know what I really want to do...
