Does ANYONE even shoot medium format anymore?

<p>I think the real question is: "how can you not shoot medium-format?" Fuji MF rangefinder.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/4019199380_eefb8d8f05_o.jpg" alt="Chicago Skyline-East" width="1200" height="800" /></p>

<p>Rolleiflex, Hasselblad, and 4X5 Too. <br /><br />Ciao</p>

<p>During my earlier days in photography i shot a good bit of medium format and fell in love with the richness of the images. I would love to shoot medium format again, but alas there are no labs (that i can find), in Barbados that still process the film. In fact i cant even find an outlet which sells 120 film. How sad.</p>

<p>I did some 4x4 shooting, but lately I sold the big gear to concentrate on MF, a second-hand H2 with 22Mp and a film magazine: the best of both world.</p>

<p>Just beginning to shoot medium format (Pentax 67). I like it very much, the detail on the slides and the tones are awesome. I often shoot long exposures - film has the advantage of being noise-free. The downside is the slow editing of the huge 16-bit files (560 MB). But since it is a hobby, it is fun !</p><div></div>

<p>I like to shoot landscapes with my Rolleiflex 6008 Integral 2, mostly on Velvia 50 or Provia 100. Unfortunately the gear is very bulky and heavy with several lenses. Also it demands some patience from my friends and family, especially when using the tripod. But the results are marvelous!<br>

As a lightweight alternative I use my Leica M6 TTL, but that's a complete different story of photographing.<br>

I process E6 by myelf as laboratories are disappearing and processing costs are rising. Besides, it is a lot of fun. Processing E6 is not too difficult when using a good temperature controller, like the Jobo processor and drum system. To me, film is the only way of photographing. So I hope it will stay for a while.</p>

<p>Medium is my only serious format. My old standby is my Kowa Super 66 with a black 55 and a black 110 Macro. It has the TTL 45 degree meter prism, an LED ring light, and the side grip. Even on the tripod, where my Kowa lives, the grip with the cable release is still worth the money in my opinion. More lenses are in the planning stages. I used to own and use a Bronica S2A and it was cool, too. <br /><br />My 35mm is a pre-Epic Olympus Stylus. My digital is a Konica-Minolta Z2. The digital does the family picnic and eBay stuff and the Stylus is always in my truck just in case.<br /><br />We get mixed signals from the film manufacturers. Fuji drops Reala from 120 production, but Kodak brings out Ektar 100 in 120. I believe that as long as there is a market for photography that needs or prefers an archival original hard copy 120 and 35 will be around.</p>

<p>Yes. My 120-film reels get hungry and need feeding now and then.</p>

<p><img src="http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2119/testrd.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Check out the grain : Kodak 160 VC.. I love this film<br /> Mamiya RB67, 180mm. Stolen by now. substituted it recently by a Pentax 67. I hope I'll be happy</p>

<p><em>Will film really go the way of the 8 track or cassette tapes, or VHS after DVD appeared? </em><br>

<em><br /> </em><br>

Interesting question, however, all those formats were technically inferior to the formats that replaced them... but even as advanced as digital imaging is today, there's still nothing that can beat the resolution and tonal range of medium and large format film... at least nothing anyone can actually afford!</p>

<p>I shoot plenty of digital and I don't even bother with 35mm film anymore because it's just not worth the hassle for me... but I'm still madly in love with medium format film and my 120 cameras (Rolleiflex SL66, Rolleiflex 3.5F, Mamiya 6MF, and several others). My SL66 lenses are simply stunning... and I use the TLR for stitched panos that can yield a 3ft by 20ft print that is sharp right under your nose!!! None of this <em>"stand back 10 feet and it looks great!"</em><br>

<em><br /> </em><br>

I actually just took my SL66 hiking this weekend and all the fancy pro-digital landscape guys were ogling my baby's built-in bellows extension, focus tilt, and lens retro-mounting macro ability. :-)</p>

<p>Have you ever heard of Celeb photographer Jerry Avenaim ? He has a book coming out of all 6x7 Tri-x photos coming out soon.<br>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Avenaim<br>

NSFW<br>

http://www.avenaim.com/gallery/truth/</p>

<p>Hopefully Medium Format will live on forever, & Film of course. I photograph 24mm X 54mm Transparencies (35mm Film) with a Bronica ETRS & ETRS 645 Medium Format Camera via 135mm W Panoramic Film Backs & various Bronica PE Lenses- 30mm, 40mm & 50mm. I just keep feeding these Cameras Film. My Nikon P80 Digital Camera is for family & whatever photos ( nothing serious). A well scanned transparency is the way to go for serious results. A Sample of a Full Transparency:</p><div></div>

<p>Love my Hasselblad H1. It came w/ a film back but I'm shooting the Phase One P21 18MP digital back. Mostly for food but also handles well for every thing but fast moving sports. Looking at some of the posted B&W samples I think it's time to run some Ilford thru it. <br /> Some magazine tears using the H1 & P21.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Sorry, went to edit and blew out the attachment...</p>

I just received my new (used) Mamiya RZ67 in the mail a few hours ago. I need to get a battery before I go insane!

I just received my new (used) Mamiya RZ67 in the mail a few hours ago. I need to get a battery before I go insane!

Oh! That's so wrong! A new toy and no battery. Hope you don't come too unglued.

<p>Eric lol I was lucky I had a Pentax 6x7 to rob battery from when my RZ arrived.</p>

I went out to get a battery which kept me from going insane. Now what do I shoot? I'm going nuts! I want to shoot some nature but the camera came two days after all the red leaves fell. I do have a studio shoot lined up for Thursday where some friends agreed to pose.

<p>Lol - Eric too funny - i thought only the digi shooters that asked for batteries.. ;0P Shoot whatevery fits the frame - every thing looks better in MF... ;0)</p>

<p>btw - as far as the topic of the thread - Ton Mestron above said it best i do believe and i'll add;</p>

<p>Yes, there are No MF or LF film shooters left. And i'm sticking to that story.<br>

After all we wouldn't want the Digi Pro's that sold us their MF gear wanting to buy them back now would we..?<br>

As for myself - In MF - Mamiya RB67pro is my current fav. and no batteries needed. ( i love saying that)</p>

<p>In the last week I shot a roll of 120 Reala. I used a Bronica SQ-A with a 50/3.5 Zenzanon PS and a waist level finder. Metering was done with my trusty Gossen Pilot. I had the prints made 6X6". If we get any good weather this weekend I will shoot some 120 or 220 film in a Bronica ETR.</p>

Hi all...I shoot both digital and a Horseman 6x7. The digital I use for meter shots for the Horseman and for other image related purposes but when it's quality I need it's the Horseman and a version of 6x7 film that fits the purpose. Soooo why Horseman? Because unlike most of the other MF cameras out there I have good control of perspective via front and back swings and tilts -- that is a KEY advantage over other MF cameras that lack this capability. In addition I can haul six to seven lenses in a small padded package with ease. Those same focal lengths in a Hassy, Mamiya or Pentax camera would require a wheelbarrow! And finally, will film be discontinued? Nope, not any time soon.

<p>Yes.</p>

<p>Next question.</p>

<p>Steve</p>

<p>Wow to all the pics here. My hands are itching to get my MF out and shoot, only thing stopping me is, it's midnight.<br>

I have a Mamiya RB67 proS and Mamiya 645 AF. Also a calumet 4x5 LF. (with a 120 roll film adapter)<br>

Love to shoot B&W film and I develop film myself. I scan in to computer for archival, but the real nice negs are going to the lab to be scanned.</p>

<p>There is just such a difference in working with these MF cameras as compaired to digital. Don't get me wrong I love my Canon 1Ds and 50D as well, but thats for quick and moneymaking, film is more my hobby.</p>

<p>Hate to be a party poop here, but after shooting for over 25 years with a "blad 100 & 103CX, and all the lenses and gear, I just sold 'em all and purchased Canon lenses and bodies (5D Mark II and a 50D). Before I shipped it all off to B&H, I made some tests for comparison, and I don't regret my decision. Scanning an Ektachrome with a Microtek M1, I compared identical 5D and 'Blad scans, both made in identical studio conditions, and the digital captures fared very, very well. The small differences are more than compensated for by the advantages of live view (on a tripod) focusing and histogram evaluation, IMHO. It's a digital world for me these days...but to be completely honest, I kept both my Noblex panorama cameras and my Sinar 4x5...you never know! :-)</p>