Medium format system with the best lenses?

DREW WILEY · Oct 28, 2015

"Medium format" is a plastic expression anyway. For example, a 6x9 negative is twice the size of 645, so will outpace any relatively minor
difference in lens performance between otherwise similar equipment. Then you've got situations where a rollfilm back on a relatively precise view camera will give better results because you do have plane of focus control, unlike an ordinary fixed-position MF camera. This is the world I live in. If I want to include a roll film image in the same portfolio containing prints made from large format film, it takes some thoughtfulness, otherwise the chihuahua will get eaten by the rottweiler. And it's the total workflow that counts. I totally ignore all the math the some of you seems to be the heart of the discussion. You could probably use a Coke bottle for a lens if all you care about is web quality.

TooManyShots · Oct 28, 2015

nwilkins said:
haha I think TooManyShots's post was worded a bit awkwardly and caused some misunderstandings. What he or she is saying is that if the medium through which you are viewing the picture is horrible (ie if it is a BAD print, or a BAD scan) then it won't matter which lens was used (or even how good the negative is).

Correct..... Inversely, photos captured with a so-so lens would look great you know how to print them or scan them. Is only logical. The image quality or the quality of the negatives is only as good as your viewing medium. I don't want to get into too deep into the digital side of things here..you know....

Richard S. (rich815) · Oct 28, 2015

Alan Gales said:
It would be interesting to see tests between a Mamiya 7, Hasselblad, etc. and a 4x5 using top lenses, the same film and under laboratory conditions.

With all due respect why? So we can choose the most appropriate lens for shooting Air Force line test charts? Sharpest, at least in my book, does not automatically equal "best".

TooManyShots · Oct 28, 2015

RobC said:
If you are referring to viewing online then I'm afraid that is no longer true. 4K and 5K and some tablets have resolution(ppi) suffcient to see the difference if image has been properly processed.

I am not too familiar with prints since I don't do prints. But...don't go around shooting with a $2k to $3k Hasselblad system and using a sub $150 flatbed scanner to scan the negatives. Most sub $300 computer monitors are good enough to view photos with the correct color balance and color profile. Crappy scans you get so-so photos, that's all.

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

TooManyShots said:
Not Hasselblad since they don't make formats larger than 6x6. What if you want a larger format like 6x7 or 6x9???

Once you have used a Hasselblad at 6x6 there is no need for those other MF formats.

DREW WILEY · Oct 28, 2015

Hassle- what?

cuthbert · Oct 28, 2015

DREW WILEY said:
Hassle- what?

Best comment of the thread!

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

It is Hassel not hassle ...

DREW WILEY · Oct 28, 2015

Square is for squares.

mweintraub · Oct 28, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
It is Hassel not hassle ...

Not Finikyblad?

Alan Gales · Oct 28, 2015

Richard S. (rich815) said:
With all due respect why? So we can choose the most appropriate lens for shooting Air Force line test charts? Sharpest, at least in my book, does not automatically equal "best".

Simply because of all the arguments about which is sharper, medium format versus 4x5.

To me the best reason to move up to 4x5 is camera movements. You can also add better tonality, developing each negative separately, larger focussing screen, huge choice of lenses etc. Of course someone will probably bring up the disadvantages of 4x5.

I completely agree with you about sharpest is not necessarily better. My favorite lens that I own is my 14" Commercial Ektar for the way it renders. It is not my sharpest lens.

Ai Print · Oct 28, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Once you have used a Hasselblad at 6x6 there is no need for those other MF formats.

With my new CFV50c back, I now get two formats....:

DREW WILEY · Oct 28, 2015

The same Nikkor M and Fuji A lenses that I use for 4x5 are at least as sharp as any dedicated MF I've personally ever used when I use them
on a roll film back as well. Of course, as lenses get longer in general you can expect a slight reduction in MTF. But even then, a true long lens of modern design focal will render a sharper image than the best of dedicated telephotos, meaning that the view camera lens is likely to win
even on pure optical grounds. Getting a precise film plane with sheet film versus roll film is another but related topic. I don't want to start
format wars, cause I'm multi-format myself. The rendering or "look" of the lens is yet another topic, and sometimes the older ones, though
less critically sharp, give us something we find preferable for certain subjects.

film_man · Oct 28, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Once you have used a Hasselblad at 6x6 there is no need for those other MF formats.

Hasselblads are number 3 on the line when it comes to 6x6 as far as I'm concerned. You know I'm right

jovo · Oct 28, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
It is Hassel not hassle ...

For the sake of humor, it's Hasslebad!

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

film_man said:
Hasselblads are number 3 on the line when it comes to 6x6 as far as I'm concerned. You know I'm right

What can I say you are entitled to be wrong. You just have bad tastes.

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

Still nothing beats a good piece of glass.

Dan Fromm · Oct 28, 2015

How can still nothing beat anything?

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

Hasselblad beats them all, but the others have to BASS [Buy And Sell Syndrome] until they learn the lesson. They will post here that they have found the best, but they really have not until the admit that Hasselblad is the best. I hope that they do not torment themselves too much before they learn that.

Alan Gales · Oct 28, 2015

Dan Fromm said:
How can still nothing beat anything?

All I know is that nothing from nothing leaves nothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_DV54ddNHE

Kyle M. · Oct 28, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Hasselblad beats them all, but the others have to BASS [Buy And Sell Syndrome] until they learn the lesson. They will post here that they have found the best, but they really have not until the admit that Hasselblad is the best. I hope that they do not torment themselves too much before they learn that.

I've used a Hasselblad and still prefer Mamiya RB/RZ glass, my 80mm Planar may have been as sharp but I always got this kind of flat look. The Mamiya lenses create images that just pop and have this indescribable depth, almost like you could reach into them. Then theres also the fact that I absolutely cannot get used to the whole square format thing. In the end it all comes down to personal preference.

Theo Sulphate · Oct 28, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Hasselblad beats them all, but the others have to BASS [Buy And Sell Syndrome] until they learn the lesson. They will post here that they have found the best, but they really have not until the admit that Hasselblad is the best. I hope that they do not torment themselves too much before they learn that.

There is no "best".

I own Hasselblads and have used them for over 20 years, so obviously I like them. But I also have RB67's, Fuji 6x9, and Rolleiflex which I believe are equally as good.

Are you saying that if you were presented with photos from each of these different types of cameras that you could tell which ones were produced by the Hasselblad (the lenses, actually)? After all, the photo is the only thing that matters.

You may be able to claim you like the handling or specific features of the Hasselblad, but that is subjective.

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Hasselblad beats them all, but the others have to BASS [Buy And Sell Syndrome] until they learn the lesson. They will post here that they have found the best, but they really have not until the admit that Hasselblad is the best. I hope that they do not torment themselves too much before they learn that.

Theo Sulphate said:
There is no "best".

I own Hasselblads and have used them for over 20 years, so obviously I like them. But I also have RB67's, Fuji 6x9, and Rolleiflex which I believe are equally as good.

Are you saying that if you were presented with photos from each of these different types of cameras that you could tell which ones were produced by the Hasselblad (the lenses, actually)? After all, the photo is the only thing that matters.

You may be able to claim you like the handling or specific features of the Hasselblad, but that is subjective.

Are you saying that if you were presented with photos from each of these different types of cameras that you could tell which ones were produced by the Hasselblad (the lenses, actually)? After all, the photo is the only thing that matters. No because each system can be pushed to its limits in particular situations to look either superb or pure crap.

We all have our preferences and predilections. I like the Hasselblad system, handing, features, ... And I like to occasionally jerk peoples' chains. Note though that Rollei TLRs require carrying three cameras which is quite a bit of bling and mass to carry, while the Rollei SLRs have some great unique features but it does not have the system and present day service or available supplies that Hasselblad has. Other MF cameras are bulkier or heavier than the equivalent Hasselblad.

RobC · Oct 28, 2015

jovo said:
For the sake of humor, it's Hasslebad!

there's nothing like getting completely bladdered

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

RobC said:
there's nothing like getting completely bladdered

And leaky bladders are the worst after burst bladders.

Medium format system with the best lenses?

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