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- Newsgroups: rec.photo
- Path: sparky!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!torn!csd.unb.ca!UNBVM1.CSD.UNB.CA
- From: GOCH <GOCH@UNB.CA>
- Subject: RE: Big Switch: From 35mm to medium format
- Message-ID: <21JAN93.19244641.0034@UNBVM1.CSD.UNB.CA>
- Lines: 37
- Sender: usenet@UNB.CA
- Organization: The University of New Brunswick
- References: <1jm9hoINNq6j@cronkite.Central.Sun.COM>
- Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 21:49:08 GMT
-
- In article <1jm9hoINNq6j@cronkite.Central.Sun.COM> dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM (Dave Bernard) writes:
- >Has anyone, after years of using 35mm SLRs, been able to
- >succesfully shuck off their old investment, and turn entirely
- >to medium format, and lived happily ever after? The ease of
- >use, ease of carry, low price of hardware and software (film,
- >processing) make 35mm awfully attractive. But has anyone turned
- >their back on all that, and been happy with a shift to medium
- >format, which shrugs off some of those attractive features of
- >35mm in exchange for superior image quality? I'd be interested
- >in hearing your experiences.
- >
- The short answer (for me alone, of course): no.
- I went from 35mm to 4x5 and then added 6x7. For several years I
- stopped using the 35mm completely, since I was doing mostly
- landscape and similar 'straight' photography. But the weight of
- my medium format system (Pentax 6x7) meant that I often did not
- have it with me when I hadn't made special plans. About two years
- ago I happened on a good deal on a Leica M-4 system with 3 lenses
- and fell in love with it as an object. I starting carrying the
- camera with its 50mm f2 and a table-top tripod which I brace against
- my shoulder or a tree or whatever. Using T-Max 400 I discovered I
- was getting very satisfying photographs of all kinds: landscapes,
- portraits, whatever. If I print 5x7, it is as satisfying to me
- as the Pentax is when printed about 8x10. It's *not* 4x5, but it
- works for me.
- I can walk for hours with the Leica around my neck. I can't do that
- with the Pentax 6x7 unless I am *very* determined. My entire Leica
- system - 2 M-4 bodies, 2 50mm f2's, 35mm f2, 90mm f2.8, filters,
- spotmeter and film fits in the bag that used to carry the Pentax,
- one lens and spotmeter.
- Have I stopped using the medium format cameras? No! They do give better
- quality if you want fairly large prints. But better quality which
- might have been doesn't look like much on the wall. The Leica encourages
- me to get the image, even when photography cannot be my central
- project.
- Myron
-
-