Recent Medium Format Articles

Using Full Frame Lenses on a Medium Format Camera

Medium format cameras offer an elevated experience for those who want more detail and depth in their images, yet they’ve traditionally been seen as impractical or overly expensive. Fujifilm's GFX100S II challenges this idea by bringing impressive quality in a compact, user-friendly format, but lenses are still pricey. What if you could adapt more affordable full frame options?

In Defense of the Square Photograph

Are squares better? Come with me as we throw a fork in the photographic microwave and investigate why you shouldn't underestimate the 1:1 image format.

Is Medium Format Worth It? Breaking Down the Hype

Photographers often get caught up in the technical details of their gear, especially when it comes to sensor size. The debate around whether bigger is always better can lead to hefty investments in medium format cameras, but are they really worth the cost? Understanding what these larger sensors offer—and whether the benefits justify the price—can help you make a smarter decision without breaking the bank.

Medium Format vs. Full Frame: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

Medium format cameras offer something that’s hard to match with other systems: incredible detail. If you’ve ever wondered how different medium format is compared to full frame, you’re not alone. Many people are curious whether the larger sensor is worth the extra cost or if they really need it for their style of photography.

The Hasselblad X2D: A Medium Format Dream for Landscape Photography

If you're into landscape and portrait photography, finding the right camera for your needs can make all the difference. While fast-action shooting and convenience matter in many situations, there’s also something to be said for slowing down, being intentional, and capturing the perfect shot. The Hasselblad X2D might just be the camera to help you do that.

Does Format Still Matter That Much in the World of Digital Photography?

With the current advancement of imaging technology in digital photography, the significance of format has evolved dramatically to a point where it no longer matters as much compared to the early film days. However, due to physical hardware limitations, it is still essential for us as photographers to recognize that the decision on selecting the imaging format should always align with our creative intent to help achieve the desired result.

Exploring Affordable Vintage Medium Format Cameras

Vintage digital medium format cameras are finally starting to drop below $1,000, opening up a new world of opportunities for enthusiasts who’ve always been intrigued by these massive sensors but put off by the price. But are these older systems actually worth the investment, or are they just expensive paperweights?

Hasselblad Announces the XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E Lens

Hasselblad has introduced its first ultra-wide angle zoom lens for the XCD series, the XCD 20-35mm f/3.2-4.5 E. This new lens expands the XCD system, offering photographers the flexibility to capture a variety of subjects, including landscapes, cityscapes, and architecture, with a broad field of view. It features a focal length range of 20-35mm, equivalent to 16-27mm in full frame, making it one of the widest zoom options available in the medium format market. The lens promises high optical performance, quick focusing, and versatility in a wide range of lighting conditions.

Shooting With the Hasselblad X2D: Is It Worth the Price?

Medium format photography is often out of reach for many, but the Hasselblad X2D is a tempting option for those ready to make the leap. Its sleek design and advanced features bring a new level of performance to high-end photography setups.

Is the Hasselblad X2D Worth It? A Year-Long Review

The Hasselblad X2D 100C isn’t your average camera. It’s designed for those who prioritize image quality above all else, and if that sounds like you, this camera might just be what you’re looking for.

Fujifilm GFX100S II: A Portrait Photographer's Dream Camera

I spent two weeks shooting with the new Fujifilm GFX 100S II, along with the GF 55mm f/1.7R WR and GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR lenses. I used this configuration for a number of portrait shoots at my studio and on location, including a portrait shoot with jazz legend Ron Carter. The results were impressive.

A Review of the new Fujifilm GFX 100 II

Medium format cameras were once gated behind enormous price tags, unjustifiable by most, but also unnecessary to most. Then, in the past decade or so, they have been made more accessible, in large part by Fujifilm. This is their latest addition to the GFX range.
The Benefits of 645 Film Photography

The 645 film format is sometimes overlooked, but it offers a practical middle ground between 35mm and 6x7 medium format. You get more shots per roll of 120 film and maintain high resolution, making it ideal for various photography adventures.

Shooting Medium Format Portraits With the Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4

When you think portraits, you likely don't think of using a wide-angle zoom lens, nor a lens as slow as f/4, but you should. In this video, go behind-the-scenes of a portrait shoot with exactly that lens and see just how strong the results can be.
I Shot the Solar Eclipse on Film With a Hasselblad 500 C/M

Across the vast millennia of human existence, the total solar eclipse remains the most spectacular and celebrated of astronomical phenomena. As the blue sky dimmed, I suddenly decided to shoot the 2024 solar eclipse on black and white film using my trusty Hasselblad 500 C/M.

Is a Medium Format Camera Right for You?

Medium format cameras offer unique advantages, but are they worth the investment? The photographer took the Fujifilm GFX 100 II to Iceland to see how it performs in real-world conditions.

The World of Medium Format Photography

Mastering the intricacies of medium format photography can significantly elevate the quality and impact of one’s work. This great video takes a look at the Fujifilm GFX 100 II, a 100-megapixel medium format digital camera, equipped with an ultra-sharp tilt-shift lens, showcasing not just the technical prowess of this setup but also its artistic potential.

Portraits of a Place: An Exclusive Interview With Simon Murphy, Photographer Behind the Must-See 'Govanhill' Exhibition

We catch up with photographer Simon Murphy who currently has a major exhibition of his work, having cast his lens on the Govanhill area of Glasgow over the last 20 years. Learn key insights into his methods, how he connected with members of this diverse community, and what advice he would pass on to photographers seeking to embark on long-form documentary projects.

A Review of the Fujifilm GF 55mm f/1.7R WR Lens

Fujifilm continues bolstering its medium format arsenal with ever more versatile GF mount options. One of the latest to come through is the GF 55mm f/1.7R WR, offering an unusually bright maximum aperture for the format. This fantastic video review takes a look at if the spec sheet lives up to its tantalizing promises in real-world practice.

Don't Miss This Beast of a Camera

Released between 1987 and 2007, the GX680 is most well known for its sheer size and weight. It lives up to its "beast" reputation, with many photographers feeling it was far too large to use outside of a controlled studio environment. However, as demonstrated in this video, the GX680 can in fact be used in the field for select applications like landscape photography.

A Review of the Fujifilm GFX100 II Mirrorless Medium Format Camera

The latest camera in Fujifilm's lauded line of medium format mirrorless cameras, the GFX100 II, builds on previous cameras in the GF series by adding a wide range of new features and improvements, Yet, it still maintains that impressively competitive price that tempts many users to consider switching away from full frame to medium format. How does it hold up in practice? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect.

Street Photography With the New FUJIFILM GFX100 II

FUJIFILM medium format bodies have attracted quite the cult following and for good reason. Their latest flagship model in the GFX range is available for purchase, but how does it hold up in street photography?
A Year With Medium Format: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

In the last few years, medium format has seen itself reinvented from a niche, prohibitively expensive option to an alternative to full frame for those who want access to some of the best image quality that money can buy. It is not without drawbacks, though. So, is it right for you? This great video features a photographer discussing their experience after using medium format for a year.

My Fujifilm GFX 100 Mistake

The Fujifilm GFX 100 was released four years ago, and a replacement model is most likely coming out soon. Even so, I have been wanting to try out this 102 megapixel behemoth for a long time, and I was recently able to get one on loan from Fujifilm for review. After testing the camera, I realize that it was a mistake, and in this video, I tell you why.

We Review the Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 Lens: Wide, Sharp, and Beautiful

Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 lens along with two other lenses and a GFX 100S, and I have to admit it has left a lasting impression on me. As landscape photographers, we value wide angle lenses for capturing wider vistas with stunning detail, and this lens didn't disappoint.

Can You Use Medium Format Cameras for Astrophotography?

Medium format cameras offer incredible image quality, and in recent years, they have become far more affordable. That being said, astrophotography has some pretty specific and extreme gear requirements. So, can medium format work for shooting the night sky? This insightful video takes a look at how it holds up.

A Masterclass in Photo Composition

Joe Cornish is one of the UK's most renowned landscape photographers and a master of his craft. The way he approaches composition makes his photos stand out. In this YouTube video, Alex Nail looks over Joe's shoulder as he shares his technical and creative process.

A Review of the Fujifilm GFX 100S Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

Fujifilm's GFX line of medium format mirrorless cameras revolutionized the industry by including an array of modern features traditionally reserved for smaller-sensor bodies and putting them all together at extremely competitive prices. Perhaps the most intriguing option of the line is the GFX 100S, which brings the company's best sensor in a body that competes on price with top-level full frame options. This great video review takes a look at the image quality and performance you can expect from the camera.

Field Review of the Godox Junior Retro-Inspired Flash

Let me rewind the clock by a decade: it’s the tail end of 2012, and the NYPD was in the process of clearing out Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan. Over the last year, Occupy Wall Street had been picking up steam, with an encampment filling the better part of the park and protests regularly spilling out into the streets.

Hasselblad Explains Why There Are No Video Features in The X2D 100c Camera

Hasselblad recently released its highly anticipated 100-megapixel camera, the X2D 100c. The new camera boasts significant upgrades to the autofocus system, colors, and dynamic range. However, during the announcement, there was no mention of video features. In a recent interview, Hasselblad explains why there are no video features in the new X2D camera.

Fujifilm GFX 100S Versus Leica M11: Who Has the Best Color?

Fujifilm has been compared to Leica for quite some time. In most cases, it's been comparisons between Fujifilm X-mount cameras and Leica M series and Q series cameras. Many of these comparisons tend to focus on color; however, the sensor size advantage remained on the side of Leica. So, how does a full frame Leica fare against a medium format Fujifilm camera?

The Next Hasselblad Mirrorless Camera Looks to Be a Big Upgrade

Hasselblad's X1D and X1D II 50C medium format mirrorless cameras have achieved some popularity for being incredibly portable while still offering extremely high levels of image quality. An updated body is expected fairly soon, and it looks like Hasselblad is planning some major upgrades to the camera.

One of the Weirdest Medium Format Cameras Ever Made

Before gaining popularity with the highly respected X Series and GFX Series, Fujifilm was quite active in the film industry, making some fantastic cameras that are still popular with enthusiasts today. One of the most interesting cameras they made was the GA645Zi, and this great video takes a look at what it is like to shoot with a medium format point and shoot.

What Is the Best Medium Format Film Camera for Portraits?

Medium format sensors are usually housed in expensive cameras, but with film bodies, you have far more options without having to remortgage. In this video, one film photographer discusses what the best medium format film camera for portraits is.

Is the Fujifilm GFX 100S the Best Camera for Landscape Photography?

Fujifilm's GFX series of medium format mirrorless cameras caught the attention of the photography industry by bringing a lot of modern camera features to larger sensors and doing so at impressively modest prices. The GFX 100S epitomizes that by offering a ton of resolution, dynamic range, and image quality, all at a price that sits at the upper end of the full frame spectrum. Is it the ultimate camera for landscape photographers? This excellent video review takes a look.

A Review of the Hasselblad 907X 50C Medium Format Camera

Hasselblad's 907X 50C is one of the more unique cameras to come along in quite some time, putting a modern medium format sensor in a body completely devoid of a viewfinder, meant to be used like a TLR camera of yesteryear. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Is Medium Format Worth It?

It used to be that medium format was so prohibitively expensive that its usage was limited to just a few professionals and rental houses. But in the last few years, that paradigm has been completely rewritten, and now, medium format is a viable alternative to full frame for a lot of photographers. So, is it worth taking the dive? This great video discusses the topic.

A Fujifilm GFX User's First Impressions of the Hasselblad 907X

Fujifilm has lowered the bar of entry to digital medium format cameras significantly, allowing many to enjoy the larger sensor size without having to spend the price of a new car. However, Hasselblad has options that are now in line with higher-end full frame cameras, so how do they compare?

Why Are Hasselblad Cameras So Expensive?

It's the camera manufacturer that documented the moon landing. Its build quality and design are one thing, but the images it takes with its Sony sensor and lenses are truly one of a kind. In this video, Business Insider breaks down why it's so expensive, and gives a rough estimate of how many they sell each year.

Fujifilm Is Rumored to Have Discontinued the Brilliant GFX 50R

The camera with a rightful place in the hearts of Fujifilm fans and a cemented place in medium format history has been allegedly discontinued. While it's understandable given recent announcements, many of us are sad all the same.

Can a $500 Medium Format Zoom Lens Produce Worthwhile Images?

It is no secret that Fuji has been rewriting the paradigm of camera cost by bringing medium format cameras to the market at prices that compete with full frame options, but now, they are doing the same with medium format lenses, offering a zoom that costs just $500 when purchased as part of a kit with the new GFX 50S II. Is it any good? This great video review takes a first look.