Shooting with medium format cameras isn't simply about image quality; it's about altering your entire approach to photography. Making the jump from full frame or crop sensor cameras to medium format is a significant step, one that changes not just the look, but the feel of your work.
Coming to you from Samuel Elkins, this insightful video breaks down why Elkins chose medium format and how it shaped his creative workflow. Medium format cameras, specifically the Fuji GFX series, provide a distinctive look that's hard to replicate with smaller sensor cameras. Elkins mentions the rich depth and character that medium format brings to portraits and landscapes—qualities that are subtle yet impactful. However, these benefits come with considerable changes in your workflow, including file sizes that can quickly balloon to over 200 MB per image. Elkins candidly discusses the need to upgrade storage and editing capabilities to handle these large files, highlighting the practical considerations you must plan for.
Beyond the technical side, Elkins emphasizes how medium format photography has positively slowed down his shooting process. This intentional slowness parallels film photography, where limited shots encourage precision and careful composition. Elkins finds that this shift toward deliberate shooting results in fewer but better-crafted images, making post-production less overwhelming. The dynamic range of medium format is another standout, allowing impressive recovery of shadows and highlights, which is particularly beneficial in challenging lighting situations. Fuji's renowned color science complements this dynamic range, reducing the time spent editing by providing a strong starting point straight from the camera.
But shooting medium format isn't without challenges. Elkins notes that slower frame rates have historically limited medium format cameras primarily to studio or still-life photography. Fortunately, recent updates in Fuji’s GFX series have improved frame rates significantly, opening up the format to lifestyle and action photography. These improvements are gradually bridging the gap between medium format and faster, smaller sensor cameras, making medium format more versatile than ever.
The video goes beyond discussing specs; it reveals how a medium format system affects your approach to photography at a deeper level. Elkins shares insights into his six-year journey with Fuji’s system, explaining how his style and vision evolved alongside the technology. There's a clear emphasis on how adopting medium format is more than a mere gear change—it's about enhancing your connection to your craft. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Elkins.
As much as I would enjoy exploring the benefits of medium format, the drawback for me is the availability of lenses made for medium format and their cost. If one longs to have a telephoto lens in their bag using a medium format body get ready to pay the price if you can find one that meets your needs. Fuji seems to be better than Hasselblad in this regard, but medium format overall is a different economy for many. For a non-professional such as myself, sadly I can't go there.
I still shoot 120 film and love it, but unfortunately medium format digital is so far out of my price range I don't even entertain the thought of getting into it.