Does ANYONE even shoot medium format anymore?

<p>Medium format is great, but you learn good craft much faster in digital.<br>

You see your mistakes right away and correct. Not sure about an efficient production process with film. With the D3X out there and the next generation Canon body, digital 35mm is getting awfully good. Digital MF seems a strange beast to me though. Huge costs. Makes it worth shooting film.</p>

When you hold a MF in your hand,It really feels you hold SOMETHING !

<p>I took my Bronica ETRS with three lenses and a sack of 120 Arista 200 film to Yosemite a week ago along with my speed graphic, a box of Arista 100 and four lenses. Although I'm very proud of my results with the Symmar 180 lens on 4x5 film, the snap and contrast I got with all of the Bronica lenses looks better on my 8x10 darkroom prints.<br>

Now I wish I'd taken my 500 C/M Hasselblad along for comparison. Frankly, the square format would be better for Yosemite anyway. I'll shoot b&w 120 film as long as they keep making it. I'm leaving the 4x5 at home on my next trip. Medium format is much easier and faster.<br>

Richard Rue</p>

<p>Yes, film for sure!<br>

<strong>6x6</strong> : Hasselblad, Rollei TLR; <strong>6x7</strong> : Corfield WA67, Linhof Rapid Rollex on 4x5 camera; <strong>6x9</strong> : Horseman SW612; <strong>6x12</strong> : Horseman SW612, Horseman 6x12 roll film back on 4x5 camera.<br>

I wish to add, when opportunity arrives, a 6x17 roll film back to 4x5 camera.<br>

(I also shoot 35mm, 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10. Would love to be able to go even larger...).<br>

Although I also use it (not much...), digital is not atractting to me. Doesn't make my heart throb!<br>

Cheers,<br>

Rui<br>

<a href="http://ruimoraisdesousa.blogspot.com/">AL-MOST-LY PHOTOGRAPHY</a></p>

<p>I love the Mamiya Press / Universal system because:<br>

1. They have stunning lens quality.<br>

2. They are inexpensive, with a modular system allowing individual components to be acquired gradually as finances permit.<br>

3. They are extremely robust.<br>

4. These cameras are as ugly as sin. This allows you to take your camera where others might be at risk of theft.<br>

5. If you are being mugged, Mamiya Press / Universal cameras can serve as a defensive weapon.<br>

6. As they are rangefinders, they are almost silent, compared to SLRs. Like a Leica on steroids.<br>

7. A wide range of formats exists in the one system: 645, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9.<br>

8. Some of the film backs are famous for the film flatness.<br>

Ok they are heavy, but not too heavy. I took two Mamiya Press cameras, backs etc to the Serengeti, and did a hot air balloon trip with them. The balloon did manage to get airborne. I got my favourite shots on that trip.<br>

Light leaks can be a problem, but with careful application of black tape, foam etc. they can be solved at little or no cost.<br>

I love my Speed Graphics, but feel like a real man when I'm using my Mamiya Press! Like having a pit bull terrier, or something.</p>

<p>Pearse, Those were good points. You just gave me another idea. I'm thinking of loading my RZ67 in the trunk of my car to give it extra weight (traction) during the snowy season here. I can't wait to use my newly purchased (replacement) RZ67 for tomorrows studio shoot.</p>

<p>Still shooting MF film here, don't plan on stopping anytime soon. You simly can't match the Image Quality per dollar with anything else (even 4x5, which can be cheaper for gear is notably more expensive on the film side).</p>

<p>I'm rather much of a gear whore and rarely have a camera long, but my M645 Super is the one constant in my kit.</p>

<p>Dave Carroll -- that's one of the most beautiful hi-key portraits I have ever seen -- just fabulous lighting.<br>

My medium format most-used is for portraiture:<br>

Rolleiflex 2.8C Planar (still an amazing camera and lens)<br>

Graflex 3x4 Super D with rollfilm backs (if you haven't looked down through the chimney of a Super D you don't know what you're missing. Also has auto stop down!)<br>

Norita 66 with 80/2 (super fun giant SLR with great lens)<br>

There are others but these cameras/lenses consistently produce awesome results, really different from digital.</p><div></div>

<p>Thirty years of MF and I'll never go back to 35mm. Take advantage of all the Super Ikonta cameras on E-bay. I shoot panoramic (6cm x 11cm) on my 4 Super Ikonta D cameras. Tele Rolleiflex and Super Ikonta C for my 6x6 work. I only shoot digital to remind myself to go back and reshoot on film. I still do all my own E-6 and B+W and scan on my Microtek scanner. Long live film. tom</p>

<p>Thirty years of MF and I'll never go back to 35mm. Take advantage of all the Super Ikonta cameras on E-bay. I shoot panoramic (6cm x 11cm) on my 4 Super Ikonta D cameras. Tele Rolleiflex and Super Ikonta C for my 6x6 work. I only shoot digital to remind myself to go back and reshoot on film. I still do all my own E-6 and B+W and scan on my Microtek scanner. Long live film. tom</p>

<p>I have been shooting 35mm for 50 years, dabbled in 120 now and again (MPP Microcord, Minolta Autocord) but never got to grips with square pictures which come up sideways in the enlarger; cricked my neck trying to get the framing right. Then 3 years ago I bought a big old Durst DA 900 enlarger because I wanted an Ilford 500 setup and it was going for a song. Then I thought I had better make proper use of it, but didn't want to crick my neck in the darkroom or have square pictures; looked at Pentax 67s, bought a Mamiya 7 (s/h but not cheap). It has taken time; had to remember to focus and check speed and aperture before pressing the button, all over again. Still use 35mm when speed is essential, but love the detail in the 120 negative. Count me in for the forseeable future.<br>

PS I usually follow the darkroom forum, but they don't post terrific pictures like you MF people.<br>

Richard</p>

<p>I use Mamiya 7II for outdoor, also Fuji 690 GWS & 690GWII (65 & 90 mm lens), Horseman 612 with 55 mm lens (yesterday I bout another Horseman 612 with 35 mm lens),<br>

for portrait works I use Rolleiflex 6008, Sinar HY6, Rollei SL66SE & Rolleiflex 2.8GX<br>

or Contax 645 (with film & digitalback)</p>