Sunday, August 13, 2006

I think I'll shoot more medium format


Shazam -- I developed a roll I recently shot with my Yashica 124, after developing a roll from my Minolta XD5, and was completely blown away by the difference in detail. I know it's been a while since I shot & developed any MF, and granted the 124 has extremely nice lenses (not that the lenses I was shooting with the XD5 were slouches) but whoa! The leaves on the trees, the crinkles of the fabric, the tiny print on the books in the shelf that I shot handheld in available light at 1/15... Yes, I think I'll be shooting more medium format. Don't know what else to say about that. Except wow!

Sidebar -- we were just at a wedding in San Diego and I talked to the photographer at the reception, in an interlude between getting drinks and waiting for the toast. He was shooting with a combination of digital (Canon DSLR) and film (Hassy of course), and we were discussing the virtues of both. No point really except to say that I was happy to see a professional still appreciating the qualities of MF film (I believe it was Fuji he was shooting) and that there are pros that still know that digital isn't the end-all be-all. Convenient, no question. But not always the quality you want in your final product.

2 comments:

  1. Sounds great. I just found your site and love it. I'm just getting into medium format [from 35mm]. You have great content here. I like your photography a lot.

    I'm always glad to hear stories of pros still using film. It seems like their numbers are dwindling, even though most recognize the value of film over digital.

    Thanks for the site!

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  2. Anonymous4:34 PM

    I suspect that two of the reasons the pics were so great are the leaf shutter and no mirror flopping up & down . . . but I agree, Medium Format is great!! Now try some Ilford in one of your 6 x 9 folders, using a tripod . . .

    Bob Abel

    BTW the whole site makes me (smilingly) jealous! Keep up the great job!

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