The shift to medium format photography can mark a significant milestone for a landscape photographer, but it's also very expensive to do so. Do you really need to do so
Coming to you from Mark Denney, this informative video explores the nuanced journey of transitioning to medium format photography for landscape work. Denney shares his firsthand experiences, focusing on the tangible benefits and challenges encountered over three years of using a medium format system. He discusses how this change has not necessarily made him a better photographer but has enhanced his confidence in handling various lighting conditions without the need for bracketing exposures. This shift has simplified his workflow, proving that the right tools can indeed make a significant difference in the field. The insights provided are valuable for photographers contemplating a similar leap, offering a realistic perspective on what to expect.
Moreover, Denney addresses the physical aspects of medium format systems, such as the size and weight of lenses, and the implications for travel and mobility. He also touches on the limitations, like the lack of long lens solutions, which can affect the versatility of medium format systems in certain shooting scenarios. These considerations are critical for photographers who value flexibility in their equipment. The practical advice and solutions Denney offers, such as using alternative systems for longer focal lengths, demonstrate adaptive strategies that can mitigate these drawbacks. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Denney.
Crop sensors for life!
Fuji GFX is a cropped sensor. Real medium format is 645, 6x6 or 6x7. GFX is a 1/2 frame crop of 645. 1/3 crop of 6x7.
I had the Fuji GFX system for a bit. Enjoyed it, but mostly because of size I went back to full frame Sony I really only miss the in camera aspect ratios. But, I too missed the long reach on the fuji, I adapted a canon 100-400 using a Fringer adapter. Covered the sensor and worked perfectly, auto focus and all metadata etc. I'm surprised more folks haven't tried it.
I use my GFX 100S with two GF zoom lenses and 4 manual Nikon primes with an adaptor which results in 61 mpx images. The quality of the images is excellent, and the Nikon lenses are lighter and some of them are f 1.4. The cost of some of these lenses are in the $200 range with excellent opticals. I don’t miss the autofocus. The shooting experience is much more deliberate with these manual lenses, and for me more fun. However, the latest update to the camera and the 100-200 gf lense, which I use sometimes with the 1.4 teleconverter, has proven revolutionary, as I have been able to take birds in flight, something I never thought would be possible with a medium format set-up.