What is Medium format
Photography?
The term "medium format photography"
generally refers to two film formats, one produces a square negative
that is 6 centimeters by 6 centimeters in size which must be
cropped to produce a rectangular print, another produces a negative
that is 6 centimeters by 4.5 centimeters in size, also known
as the 645 format, and yet another produces a 6cm X 7cm negative.
The 6x7 systems allow full use of the entire huge negative, whereas
the the square systems do not when making a rectangular print.
We have a 6x7 system that is great for making the largest possible
prints from a medium format system.
Prints made
from these larger negatives are superior to prints made from
35mm negatives, because the larger the negative, the finer the
print detail. (See diagram.) Call us toll-free at 866.591.2224
for all the details and a complimentary assessment of your Wedding
photography needs and desires.
When printing larger than 5x7, most 35mm prints get noticeably
less sharp, and can render patchy skin detail. If you compare
an 8x10 print made from a 35mm negative, with a medium format
8X10 print, you will see that the detail with the medium format
print is vastly superior. Even the small 4x6 "proof"
prints & 5x7's are noticeably finer in detail. This is important
to understand, because most people don't realize that smaller
medium format prints also look better than 35mm, assuming good
lighting conditions for both. Taking it a step further, different
lenses produce different results in terms of detail, skin tone
and overall print quality. German
made Zeiss lenses are the best in these
criteria. This is partially due to Zeiss's patented processes
used in the production of their glass, and their superb design
& engineering. Zeiss lenses produce the best ultra-large
enlargements. One has
to wonder why NASA has used Hasselblad cameras equipped with
Zeiss lenses exclusively, up to this day, for many many years. So, a medium format camera system utilizing Zeiss
lenses will generally produce the best images in the world of
medium format photography. The
cons of the Hasselblad system are that
your initial proof prints are 5x5 square, which does not match
your rectangular 4x6 prints from 35mm shots, and that square
composition does not always look great with every shot. Sometimes
yes, often times no. Beyond proof prints, you can create any
size rectangular print from the square negatives, even 4x6 is
desired, but at a higher cost due to hand cropping. Hasselblad
has a higher incidence of lens flaring from the sun, so it is
not always perfect for shooting at the beach, or towards the
sun. We have to be conservative shooting anywhere near the sun.
Our Mamiya 645 Medium Format system renders a large, rectangular
negative and 4x6 proof prints, matching your 35mm 4x6 proof prints
exactly, and is much more resilient to lens flare from the sun.
Image quality from our Mamiya 645 system is outstanding, but
the look from our Hasselblad system is the best in ideal lighting.
We recommend speaking with us to determine what would work best
for your Wedding or location shooting. We also have a 35mm system
made by Leica that utilizes the absolute
best Zeiss lenses, and renders the finest 35mm print quality
without argument. Sometimes you can print a 16x20, but generally
we advise 11x14 from print film with the Leica as it is still
only 35mm. Shooting with slide film can render a great 16x20
print. Our Leica system is an option for shooting on location,
and is very quick & easy for everyone. It is important to
note that within any lens line-up, certain lenses are superior
to others when considering specific applications. Many Japanese lenses can do a great
job, but compared to Zeiss lenses, they generally don't have
the same pleasing look and skin tones, especially in natural,
subtle light conditions. They tend to be quite sharp, but generally
don't posess that pleasing, distinctive Zeiss detail. Japanese lenses look as good as Zeiss lenses in
lighting situations that are less than ideal, so if the lighting
at your locations are not ideal, we would recommend our Mamiya
or Leica systems for the best results. 35mm is really great for
Ceremonies, live events and Receptions because the light weight
and zoom lenses allow us to catch those fleeting moments much
better than with our non-zooming, heavy medium format systems.
Please read our article "Pros and
cons of digital Wedding Photography" for information
on digital photography performance in Hawaii's challenging lighting
conditions.
If we can answer any
of your questions, or help you in any way, please don't hesitate
to call or email us. Toll-free at 866.591.2224.
or locally at 591.2220
E-mail: vidsolve@gmail.com
