Are there any medium or large format users here?

_MB_ · 05-02-2008, 18:39

I'm not calling it off. Nobody calls them 35mm DSLRs.

Les Meehan · 05-02-2008, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by _MB_

I'm not calling it off. Nobody calls them 35mm DSLRs.

Ok, OK, you win.

I give up!

Charlotte and MB have beaten the Meehanator fairly and squarely.

I admit to being an old foegy(?) that is desperately hanging on to old ideas and terminology in the hope of clarifying the new technology.

However, it seems my efforts are falling on deaf ears...

JMitchell · 05-02-2008, 22:25

that's what they all say

Charlotte · 05-02-2008, 23:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Meehan

Ok, OK, you win.

I give up!

Charlotte and MB have beaten the Meehanator fairly and squarely.

I admit to being an old foegy(?) that is desperately hanging on to old ideas and terminology in the hope of clarifying the new technology.

However, it seems my efforts are falling on deaf ears...

Oh and you're an old "fogey" not an old "foegy"

Well of course you're not an old fogey, but you said it, not me

Did someone mention a foot-in-the-mouth smiley

Les Meehan · 06-02-2008, 10:02

IanHoughton · 06-02-2008, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Meehan

let's call the whole thing off".

Please don't, this thread's starting to get amusing .....

Padcore · 07-02-2008, 18:39

So once you have your relic negatives do you carry out alternative processes on them to make final prints?

If you do, THEN you're auld.

AQ · 10-02-2008, 09:59

I am just about to change from medium format to large format.

At least my wife says I will if I do not stop eating so much

j sotelo · 10-02-2008, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthraquinone

I am just about to change from medium format to large format.

At least my wife says I will if I do not stop eating so much

LMAO

Good one

Charlotte · 12-02-2008, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Meehan

Only joking

You'd better come back + reclaim your thread before the nutty ppl take it over

Les Meehan · 13-02-2008, 08:43

This thread died sometime back. There doesn't seem to be any scope, or reason to continue hoping, for relevant discussion on the MF or LF side of things.

Thread closed! (At least for me).

Charlotte · 13-02-2008, 13:42

That's a pity, sorry we ruined your thread Les, I was looking forward to learning something about these formats. Could you just tell us a little (in sort of point form please, as my attention span isn't very long LOL) e.g. what are the main advantages over DSLR? And what advantages does LF have over MF and vice versa?

Les Meehan · 13-02-2008, 14:53

Charlotte, you are such a sweetie!

Main advantages of a bigger format over a smaller one are simply smoother tones and more detail in those tones. Basically, for any given part of a subject, if that part of the subject has to be squeezed into a small area on the recording medium then obviously there isn't much room for the information.

E.G. Full-frame DSLR (there you go, I do learn!) and 35mm film formats are basically 1" x 1.5" in size i.e. 1.5 sq surface inches. Thus, if a part of the scene fills 50% of the format you are recording that part with 0.75 sq inches of film/sensor. On a medium format FILM camera (digi MF ones have small sensors too but bigger than 35mm format), the negative has anything from roughly 4 sq ins (6x4.5 cm format), 5 sq ins (6x6 cm), 6 sq ins (6x7 cm). So, if the same part of the scene fills 50% (same framing of scene with MF camera/lens), you have anything from 2 up to 3 sq ins of surface recording the same details.

With larger formats the gain is even more; 50% of a 5x4 in neg is 10 sq ins for the same details and 40 sq ins with a 10x8 camera.

So, as you see it is simply that the bigger the format the greater the detail and the smoother the tones will be. This also produces less print/film grain since the negs don't require the same enlargement e.g. a 10x8 print from FF DSLR requires 8x enlargement of original capture. From a 5x4 neg it is only 2x.

The math is simple enough.

The disadvantages of MF and LF are weight/size/convenience and the need to know more about exposure control since it is usual to use a separate light meter (although TTL prisms are available for most MF cameras).

Large format cameras have another advantage over both the MF and DSLR/35mm cameras and that is the ability to alter the geometry of the camera to control the image. The terms used are 'camera movements' and 'image management'. An explanation would require further typing! Suffice to say, once you have experienced the use of camera movements it makes you realise how good a LF camera is for many types of photography and the limitations of smaller formats (I recognise that it is horses for courses but the golden rule I was taught is to always use the largest format possible for a shot to obtain the highest quality result).

There would be more to discuss on this but I don't expect there is sufficient interest or need since the folks here are really DSLR users.

05-02-2008, 18:39	#31 (permalink)
_MB_ Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northumberland, UK Posts: 829	Re: Are there any medium or large format users here? I'm not calling it off. Nobody calls them 35mm DSLRs.

05-02-2008, 22:25	#33 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,716	Re: Are there any medium or large format users here? that's what they all say

06-02-2008, 10:02	#35 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 782	Re: Are there any medium or large format users here?

07-02-2008, 18:39	#37 (permalink)
Padcore New here Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: From the Scottish Borders (Innerleithen) but live in Edinburgh. Posts: 45	Re: Are there any medium or large format users here? So once you have your relic negatives do you carry out alternative processes on them to make final prints? If you do, THEN you're auld.

10-02-2008, 09:59	#38 (permalink)
AQ Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 1,190	Re: Are there any medium or large format users here? I am just about to change from medium format to large format. At least my wife says I will if I do not stop eating so much

13-02-2008, 08:43	#41 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 782	Re: Are there any medium or large format users here? This thread died sometime back. There doesn't seem to be any scope, or reason to continue hoping, for relevant discussion on the MF or LF side of things. Thread closed! (At least for me).

13-02-2008, 13:42	#42 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 6,319	Re: Are there any medium or large format users here? That's a pity, sorry we ruined your thread Les, I was looking forward to learning something about these formats. Could you just tell us a little (in sort of point form please, as my attention span isn't very long LOL) e.g. what are the main advantages over DSLR? And what advantages does LF have over MF and vice versa?

13-02-2008, 14:53	#43 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 782	Re: Are there any medium or large format users here? Charlotte, you are such a sweetie! Main advantages of a bigger format over a smaller one are simply smoother tones and more detail in those tones. Basically, for any given part of a subject, if that part of the subject has to be squeezed into a small area on the recording medium then obviously there isn't much room for the information. E.G. Full-frame DSLR (there you go, I do learn!) and 35mm film formats are basically 1" x 1.5" in size i.e. 1.5 sq surface inches. Thus, if a part of the scene fills 50% of the format you are recording that part with 0.75 sq inches of film/sensor. On a medium format FILM camera (digi MF ones have small sensors too but bigger than 35mm format), the negative has anything from roughly 4 sq ins (6x4.5 cm format), 5 sq ins (6x6 cm), 6 sq ins (6x7 cm). So, if the same part of the scene fills 50% (same framing of scene with MF camera/lens), you have anything from 2 up to 3 sq ins of surface recording the same details. With larger formats the gain is even more; 50% of a 5x4 in neg is 10 sq ins for the same details and 40 sq ins with a 10x8 camera. So, as you see it is simply that the bigger the format the greater the detail and the smoother the tones will be. This also produces less print/film grain since the negs don't require the same enlargement e.g. a 10x8 print from FF DSLR requires 8x enlargement of original capture. From a 5x4 neg it is only 2x. The math is simple enough. The disadvantages of MF and LF are weight/size/convenience and the need to know more about exposure control since it is usual to use a separate light meter (although TTL prisms are available for most MF cameras). Large format cameras have another advantage over both the MF and DSLR/35mm cameras and that is the ability to alter the geometry of the camera to control the image. The terms used are 'camera movements' and 'image management'. An explanation would require further typing! Suffice to say, once you have experienced the use of camera movements it makes you realise how good a LF camera is for many types of photography and the limitations of smaller formats (I recognise that it is horses for courses but the golden rule I was taught is to always use the largest format possible for a shot to obtain the highest quality result). There would be more to discuss on this but I don't expect there is sufficient interest or need since the folks here are really DSLR users. __________________ Les Meehan www.zone2tone.co.uk www.creativeinsightworkshops.com