35mm vs Medium Format

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I own a Canon 7e and recently purchased a 28-70L and 70-200 4L along with the 420EX...a nice little package...I enjoy all the equipment...I also own a Leica fixed focal minilux and a canon AE1 Program with lens...someone said I should've looked into medium format and not purchased all the Canon equipment....My question is this...Is there any advantage to medium format over 35MM?? I know this is not a Canon subject but I've bought all my lenses based on feedback here so I figure...what the hell!!

-- Chuck Lipton (chuxter31@adelphia.net), May 12, 2002

Answers

Chuck,

That would depend on your photographic interests!

Medium format is good as the negative size is much larger, therefore any prints have much finer detail. I have an old Voigtlander that takes 120 size film to give 6cmx6cm size negatives/slides whenever I want to try medium format photography.

However, 35mm photography is more widespread, the equipment is (on average) cheaper, developing easier to do etc.

Did this someone give a reason why? Personally I think you've got a great camera package - I've got an Elan 7e/EOS30 as well

Nik

-- NikB (ndb_letters@yahoo.com), May 12, 2002.


Hi Chuck,

just compared my slides from last USA trip, where I used a Leica M6 plus a Hasselblad 203 FE, each with their best optics. Of course there is far more detail, sharpness and colour-saturation in 6x6, even aginst the best Leica M Asph. lenses, though Canon L-lenses are near... You have to decide yourself,as 6x6 is far more expensive and really work - tripod, time etc. Normally I use a very similar Canon equipment - EOS 3, EF 4.0/70-200 L, which is extremely good ! Just sold my EF 2.8/70-200 L... Plus an old, but very fine EF 3.5-4.5/28-70 Mk.II - this is practically as good as the EF 2.8/28-70 L, which I used before. In my opinion - keep your gear and be satisfied !

Kind Regards from Germany Rainer

-- R. Krönke (Rainer.Kroenke@T-Online.de), May 13, 2002.


Hi Chuck,

Do you have any dissatisfaction at 35mm format quality? If no, forget medium format and just enjoy with your wonderful EOS system.

If you want much more quality on your "very large" prints, then you'd better consider large format camera rather than medium format. Naturally large format has best print detail and, you may not believe however, generally cheaper and lighter than medium format system, as the system is so simple. No electronic control, no motor drive, no built-in exposure meter, no TTL flash control and so on. Camera itself has bellows thus even telephoto lens do not have long barrel...very compact and light weight.

I am also EOS user and recently added a large format system, 4x5 field type camera, two lens, polaroid holder, sheet film holders and other equipments required for field work .... all were used and only for $700 in total. But keep in mind, large format has best quality and least maneuverability. I need more than 20 minutes for one shot.

So in any case you should keep your EOS. Large or medium format can hardly be replacement of 35mm system.

Ken

-- Ken Itoh (KEN@clara.oc-to.net), May 13, 2002.


It's not either/or. I have 2 EOSs and Mamiya 7II and use all of them It depends on situation, it's matter of personal choice, not somebody's suggestion. Yea, 20x24 from 6x7 negatives look great. In almost all the cases I have to carry both medium format and 35 mm. It's hard to beat 400mm telephoto or macro on Canon. Plus, having zoom Canon lenses helps to compose. And yes, medium format is slower to work with. Last year I went climbing and trekking to Nepal, I did not even think about taking with me medium format camera. Canon makes good photos, no doubt. Chuck, you have to ask yourself whether and why you need medium format.

-- Boris Krivoruk (boris.krivoruk@kp.org), May 15, 2002.

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