Dedicated Medium Format Photography Forum?

[Jay Decker]

There are dedicated forums such as the Large Format Photography Forum and Rangefinderforum and a plethora of digital photography forums. Is there a dedicated medium format photography forum?

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Well, we like MF quite a lot here, if you look at the forums.

We also like 35mm, Large format, and other sundry types of camera.

 

[Jay Decker]

Well, we like MF quite a lot here, if you look at the forums.

We also like 35mm, Large format, and other sundry types of camera.

That is true!

It strikes me that "Medium Format" is relegated to the status of just another forum within film community forums when so many other formats have their own dedicated forum communities. I enjoy medium format and something within me asks "doesn't medium format merit having its own community?"

 

[2F/2F]

You are here!

If you want to talk about digital medium format, you can try DPUG.

 

[Jay Decker]

If you want to talk about digital medium format, you can try DPUG.

Nope... I am afflicted with film.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

There are forums specific to a given camera (Rollei forum, Hasselblad forum, and the defunct Mamiya boards), but no strictly gear-oriented equivalent of the RFF for medium format.

At any rate, all forums cross purposes: APUG has all sizes, all techniques analog; RFF has all RF (incl. MF ones) in addition to TLR and SLR sub-forums; photo.net has its own latitudinarian selection, the Zeiss Ikon users cross both RF, SLR, all sizes, and so on.

In the end, you can discuss MF-related issues everywhere. Some of us actually are denizens of multiple forums. In the end it's about choosing your gang: you may prefer discussing MF on a given forum rather than on another.

Choose your gang.

 

[hpulley]

Why another discussion board? Just talk about it here!

 

[ic-racer]

This is it.

 

[Curt]

Because not all formats come in small, large, extra large. The medium of medium is an exclusive club similar in nature to 35mm and should deserve it's own place.

Roll 'em up and head 'em out!

 

[Jay Decker]

Because not all formats come in small, large, extra large. The medium of medium is an exclusive club similar in nature to 35mm and should deserve it's own place.

Roll 'em up and head 'em out!

Yes, I do think that medium format does deserve its own place. A place where there is Rollie TLR forum, Rollie SLR forum, a Yashica TLR forum, Hasselblad SLR forum, and Bronica SLR forums, etc. Would it make a difference if we were more united in a medium format forum and less fractured? Maybe some organized soul would take on the crusade to get Kodak to make runs of 220 film again. Or, maybe if there was a Bronica SLR forum there would be someone who could show me how to make a tool to release an extension tube that won't come off my SQ-Ai body. Maybe the work of someone else would motivate you to get a Pentacon Six with a Sonar lens that breathes new life into your photography.

 

[hoffy]

Yes, I do think that medium format does deserve its own place. A place where there is Rollie TLR forum, Rollie SLR forum, a Yashica TLR forum, Hasselblad SLR forum, and Bronica SLR forums, etc. Would it make a difference if we were more united in a medium format forum and less fractured? Maybe some organized soul would take on the crusade to get Kodak to make runs of 220 film again. Or, maybe if there was a Bronica SLR forum there would be someone who could show me how to make a tool to release an extension tube that won't come off my SQ-Ai body. Maybe the work of someone else would motivate you to get a Pentacon Six with a Sonar lens that breathes new life into your photography.

So, let us know when you have your new forum up and running!

Seriously, if you feel a need that has not been met by someone else and you are passionate enough about it, there are tools available to get things going. It really doesn't cost the earth to setup a forum (Buy some hosting from Dreamhost or similar to start with, use PHPBB3 software, which is open source and free), it just takes time....lots of freaken time!

 

[piu58]

I see that we have ~20 posts every day in that APUG branch. Not enough for a special forum. We'd not enough traffic there.

 

[lxdude]

maybe if there was a Bronica SLR forum there would be someone who could show me how to make a tool to release an extension tube that won't come off my SQ-Ai body.

BUG.
Bronica User's Group.
Dead Link Removed


Though you could still ask the question here and it's very possible someone here knows.

 

[hpulley]

I could get a 220 back for my RB67 for cheap but generally don't need 20 exposures. I like the shorter 120 rolls. I hate waiting to finish 24 or 36 exposure 135, love the short, 8/10/12 120 exposures in my 6x9/6x7/6x6 cameras!

 

[Yamaotoko]

Sounds great! Which medium format will it be centred on? If it ends up being all the big tough 6x7 guys, then the little fellas like me that like their 645's will feel too threatened to post... hmmm, maybe a 645 specific forum too? Just a thought...

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Yes, I do think that medium format does deserve its own place. A place where there is Rollie TLR forum, Rollie SLR forum, a Yashica TLR forum, Hasselblad SLR forum, and Bronica SLR forums, etc. Would it make a difference if we were more united in a medium format forum and less fractured? Maybe some organized soul would take on the crusade to get Kodak to make runs of 220 film again. Or, maybe if there was a Bronica SLR forum there would be someone who could show me how to make a tool to release an extension tube that won't come off my SQ-Ai body. Maybe the work of someone else would motivate you to get a Pentacon Six with a Sonar lens that breathes new life into your photography.

Oh please!

Dig in the APUG archives for the 220 campaign there was here a while ago.

Dig deeper and you will see all sorts of people talking about Hasselblads, ROLLEIS (watch your spelling), and Bronicas. And there's plenty of posts and photos here on the 180 Sonnar for the Pentacon Six.

If you really feel the need to have a separate MF community, then start your own forum. Software is free, you just have to pay for the bandwidth, maintenance, and updates.

 

[Alastair_I]

The problem with APUG/DPUG for me (and I suspect many others) is that I shoot Medium Format film but scan for printing and sharing. Having to read APUG for the topics on operating my camera and DPUG for how I handle the image taken creates a truly bizarre seperation that results in my reading APUG infrequently and posting even less frequently. But I accept that it's a decision that's been made and is not up for discussion. A MF dedicated forum that crossed the film/hybrid/digital frontier would get my support..

 

[Jay Decker]

The problem with APUG/DPUG for me (and I suspect many others) is that I shoot Medium Format film but scan for printing and sharing. Having to read APUG for the topics on operating my camera and DPUG for how I handle the image taken creates a truly bizarre seperation that results in my reading APUG infrequently and posting even less frequently. But I accept that it's a decision that's been made and is not up for discussion. A MF dedicated forum that crossed the film/hybrid/digital frontier would get my support..

Your post describes my personal situation as well. Thank you for articulating it clearly.

 

[andrewluke]

If there's really interest in it, I'll host it... I've got a huge server just sitting idle since all my clients keep going out of business...

 

[Jay Decker]

If there's really interest in it, I'll host it... I've got a huge server just sitting idle since all my clients keep going out of business...

Here is my gut assessment based upon my observations and thinking:

- Worldwide, there are more than enough medium format photographers to create a thriving internet community dedicated to medium format photography.

- The medium format community is fragmented between many photo sites.

- A successful medium format community would have to be inclusive, i.e., welcome digital capture, hybrid, and traditional photographers, similar to the large format photography forums and rangefinder forums.​

If you are seriously interested in creating a medium format community, I am glad to help with the planning, organization, and operation that is necessary for a successful community. I think that the guys who run the other communities will help by sharing their experience.

 

[cowanw]

been done
Dead Link Removed

 

[Jay Decker]

been done
Dead Link Removed

Is the link correct? That is a static html site with many broken links... hardly a thriving community interacting medium format photographers.

 

[Sean]

Hi Jay, you could check here: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

There are several medium format groups, but nothing in a coherent order. Social groups are run by those who create them. For example you could create a medium format social group that focused on MF gear and hybrid techniques. We leave it up to the owners of the groups to make their own rules. The groups do lack a bit of functionality though but hopefully will improve with the next forum update.

 

[Jay Decker]

Hi Jay, you could check here: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

There are several medium format groups, but nothing in a coherent order. Social groups are run by those who create them. For example you could create a medium format social group that focused on MF gear and hybrid techniques. We leave it up to the owners of the groups to make their own rules. The groups do lack a bit of functionality though but hopefully will improve with the next forum update.

Sean - thank you for providing the groups. I'm a member of a couple groups associated with workshops and they have been great fun!

Look forward to update that improve the functionality of the groups.

 

[cowanw]

Is the link correct? That is a static html site with many broken links... hardly a thriving community interacting medium format photographers.

Yes it has died, but it has a huge amount of information.