mediumformat

The Medium Format Experience

To shoot medium format had been a longtime dream of mine, but I have to admit I didn’t know it would be such a mindblowing experience. The 51.4-megapixel Pentax 645Z arrived on the market in 2014 and was the first camera to ever exceed 100 points in the DxOMark sensor test. For some unknown reason, the score and review weren't published until 2017.

Can Hasselblad Compete Against Fujifilm in Medium Format?

Hasselblad. The company that went to the moon. A company known for producing some of the most iconic cameras in history. Since 1948, when Hasselblad produced its first consumer camera, it has built a strong reputation within the industry. As with many companies, it has had a few bumps in the road, but for the most part, it remains a highly respected organization.

How the Fujifilm GFX 50R Compares in Size to Popular Cameras

Fujifilm made a splash in the photo industry this week by announcing the GFX 50R, a camera that squeezes a 51.4-megapixel medium-format sensor into a rangefinder-style body with a price tag of just $4,499. Here's a look at how the "compact" body compares in size to other popular cameras on the market.

Fujifilm Officially Wins Medium Format

I recently discussed how Fujifilm's decision to go into the medium format industry might have been a mistake. But considering some of the recent announcements, have my points been completely negated?

Was the Fujifilm GFX a Mistake? Should Fuji Have Gone Full-Frame Instead?

Of all the current camera manufacturers, if you were to call me a fanboy of any of them, Fujifilm would be the most accurate. There’s good reason too: it produces some of the best cameras on the market and its commitment to offering meaningful updates, after the fact, is uniquely wonderful.

Phase One Unveils the 151-Megapixel XF IQ4 Camera System

The Danish camera company Phase One has announced the new Phase One XF IQ4 camera system, which the company calls "a giant leap forward in photography." It's three full-frame medium-format camera systems based upon a new and expandable Infinity Platform.

A Film Panorama of Kodak Park with a Medium Format Camera Drone

As Eastman Kodak Company transforms its legendary manufacturing complex, once devoted exclusively to the production of photographic equipment and materials, the management of the Eastman Business Park reached out to me (Professor Frank Cost at RIT) to involve students in learning opportunities centered in a new customer-education and workforce development center planned for the Park.

A Comparison of all the 120 Film Stocks on the Market

If you're looking to get into shooting medium format film but aren't sure which film stock to start with, check out this helpful 16-minute video by The Slanted Lens. Photographer Jay P. Morgan purchased all the B&W and color 120 film rolls he could get his hands on and did a shootout to compare the different looks and qualities.

Why This One Camera Costs $40,000

The Hasselblad H6D-100c is a 100-megapixel medium format DSLR that costs $33,000 without a lens. Throw in a Hasselblad H lens and the resulting camera kit can easily cost over $40,000, or more than the average car. Here's a 5-minute video by photographer Tyler Stalman that explores why a single camera can be worth this much.

How To Get Medium Format Colors With Full Frame

Over the last few months, I have been in contact with Phase One to test their latest medium format camera, the IQ3 100MP Trichromatic. The standard 100MP backs from both Hasselblad and Phase One, already have incredible colors, due to being able to produce 16-bit raw files. Phase One, however, decided this wasn’t enough and their latest sensor is a genuinely brilliant update.

This is What Photos From a $63,000 Camera Look Like

What kind of images does a $63,000 stills camera produce? Here's a 19-minute video by Ted Forbes of The Art of Photography in which he uses a Phase One XF medium format DSLR to show the bang for your buck that you get when you spend 63 grand on a camera kit.

Photographing a $2,500,000 Car with a $50,000 Camera

How would you go about photographing a $2.5 million car? That's the challenge photographer Richard Thompson faced last year when he was tasked with shooting the Pagani Huayra BC on the streets of New York. For this car, of which only 100 were produced, Thompson decided to use a Phase One XF 100MP medium format camera kit that costs over $50,000.

This Laowa Adapter Magnifies Full Frame Lenses for Fuji Medium Format

If you're intrigued by the medium format Fuji GFX 50s, but don't like the idea of throwing away all of your full-frame glass once you buy it, Laowa has a solution for you. It's called the "Magic Format Converter," and it will magnify your Nikon and Canon full-frame lenses to fit a Fuji GFX.