Scan results for 35mm Pano vs 24mm x 54mm MF

For scanning purposes, and I cannot test this myself right now:

Does a 35mm frame 24mm x 36mm produce the same image as a 24mm x 36mm area within a medium format film? Assume same film types.

Think in these terms...A 135 Panoramic back for a Bronica ETRs produces a 24mm x 54mm neg/trans, vs the same scene on a 24mm x 54mm section of a 6x6 neg/trans.

Does one get the same basic image to work with?

Thanks.

When you say “same image” do you mean same subject size and composition? Or are you asking about image quality — like sharpness and grain?

Sharpness and grain, are they identical?

For a given film type I've always assumed so - HP5, Tri-X, whatever. The emulsion/whatever gives you the same per-square-inch whatever size the film. Not sure it would make sense to be otherwise. That's a major plus for the larger formats.

And also why they can be disappointing in some circumstances because if you are cropping a larger format severely (because of focal length say), you may not get a better photo that using a 35mm camera (especially with a quality lens).

@brianlewis, In your first paragraph, it sounds like you are comparing a negative from a 135 camera to a crop from a 120 negative, so two different lenses. If I understand correctly, your second paragraph compares two different negatives from the same camera and lens.

If using the same film type for all shots, I would guess the grain would be the same, as would the potential sharpness as determined by the film. The actual sharpness however, could be different in the first scenario due to comparing two different lenses 135 vs. 120).

Generally speaking, I believe it is slightly harder to make the larger lenses which go with larger format film to the same degree of precision as lenses made for the 135 format. I am sure there are exceptions, but I think the resolving power may be slightly better for some 35mm camera lenses than for some medium format lenses? If true, then you might get a slightly sharper image from the 35mm camera than from a 24mm x 36mm crop of a medium format negative, at least in the center of the frame. Considering the crop from medium format film avoids the corners, corner sharpness might suffer less? Just guessing.

Edited to add: Whether your scanning process can capture the slight difference in resolving power is a different discussion. That is, if your scanning process is the limiting factor in final sharpness, it won't make any difference which way you do it.

brianlewis said:

For scanning purposes, and I cannot test this myself right now:

Does a 35mm frame 24mm x 36mm produce the same image as a 24mm x 36mm area within a medium format film? Assume same film types.

Think in these terms...A 135 Panoramic back for a Bronica ETRs produces a 24mm x 54mm neg/trans, vs the same scene on a 24mm x 54mm section of a 6x6 neg/trans.

Does one get the same basic image to work with?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Yes, the images would be the same given same film and same camera.

I think the film base is different between 120 and 135 format but I don't think that matters.

In term of sharpness I think the 35mm has the advantage because 35mm lenses are generally have higher resolution than MF lenses. However they may have light fall off at the corner.