35mm or120

[Lostlabours]

I rarely shoot 35mm these days, I predominantly shoot LF 5x4 and some 10x8, and found that 35mm prints just didn't stand up in comparison.

I've always shot MF from the mid 1970's but taking a Mmiya 645 SLR out alongside my LF kit isn't practical, however after acquiring a Yashicamat 124 I'd found my solution and I also like the square format. Since then I've also been using a pair of Prolleiflex TLRs and find that prints from 120 stand up well in comparison to my LF work.

In the right hands 35mm can produce excellent high quaility images, I've had a couple of discussions with David Lingham about this where we discussed a comparison of 12o images to his own superb 35mm work. Side by side you'd think they were shot the other way around.

In recent months I've noticed that good 120 cameras have begun to significantly rise in price, some of this is there's fewer avaialble second hand but another is in terms of image quality Digital even on a smart phone can outstrip 35mm so people move to larger formats to compete.

It's not just 120 that's becoming more popular again there's also a significant movement to LF. I started shooting LF in the mid 1970's for work and a decade later for my landscape work. Back in the mid to late 1980's it was very rare that any UK amateur photographer shot LF and that didn't really change significantly until the late 1990's and early 2000's.

With the advent of high end digital backs for 120 and LF cameras, and then more specialist high end MF and LF digital cameras the market was flooded with cheap good 120 and LF cameras as well as LF enlargers.

Back around 2003/4 there would be maybe 30-40 De Vere 504 enlargers listed on Ebay and 2 or 3 De Vere 5108 enlargers, most inexpensive. Now prices have rocketed up my own De Vere 5108 is now cost more than 3 times what I paid for it.

There have been similar price increases for some MF and LF cameras, I was shocked to see how much Mamiya C33/C330 cameras fetch now.

Ian

[Svend]

Originally Posted by Lostlabours

In the right hands 35mm can produce excellent high quaility images, I've had a couple of discussions with David Lingham about this where we discussed a comparison of 12o images to his own superb 35mm work. Side by side you'd think they were shot the other way around.

Over the past year I have come to the same realization, that 35mm with good technique, good lenses, fine grained film with the right developer, and of course well-printed, can rival medium format. I have done some large prints from 35mm negs of Tmax 100 and FP4 and they look as good as ones from some of my MF cameras. I have been exploring the capabilities of this format more lately, trying out PanF and experimenting with Tmax 100 in different developers to see what I can do with it. Lots of potential here.

[PanFrank]

Both ways here as well. For b/w negatives exclusively medium format, 6x6, which I want to print. My Minolta XD7 for special projects. Only slide film, mostly Adox Scala.
120 should be better with everything else equal. But I think the quality depends very much on the attitude while making the picture. For instance, I guess that with 120 tripods are often used, but with 35 rather seldomly.
Frank

[skellum]

This is all about horses for courses I think.
I started off using 35mm only, then added 6x6. Eventually 6x6 was my principal format. About 10 or 11 years ago I added 5x4, partly because I though it would be a further step up in image , but also because the tidal wave of digital made me think 'now or never'.
What I discovered was 5x4 didn't bowl me over as I'd hoped. In part it was down to film choice, as my very favourite PanF isn't available bigger than 120. Yes, 5x4 allows movements, and each exposure can be metered and developed to suit the scene. However, I'm still not sure the extra weight, cost and general hassle of packing 5x4 is worth it.
I've also dabbled with squeezing the best quality out of 35mm using PanF, tripod, and picking the best apertures (stopped down but not too far). It then occurred to me I was using my 35mm camera as if it were MF, so why not just use MF?

I now use 35mm very little. Really just in my Horizon, or if I was attempting street or maybe sport. LF is for dedicated photographic 'days out', or still life. Medium format seems to me to be an almost ideal compromise. Quicker and more portable than 5x4, but a step up in image quality than 35mm.
Couldn't photography rugby with my Shen Hao, but 35mm doesn't give the smooth, rich tonality of 120 PanF. I have a little Olympus which fits in a pocket, so it can be there to take photographs I'd miss completely if I was a strict LF user. Each format its strengths, and as I dabble in a few different kinds of photography I'm fortunate to have the flexibility that comes from having a choice of kit.
Looking ahead, I'm hoping to have more time for photography very soon. I'm out of practice, and will probably spend a while using a single camera to get my eye back in. Almost certainly it will be 6x6.

[Svend]

Originally Posted by Uwe Pilz

I love my Rolleiflexes most. I have both a Tele-Rollei and 3,5f for which I own both Mutars.

Damn Uwe -- good on ya for having a couple of Mutars. I've been looking for a set for my 3.5F for a couple of years now, but haven't found any at less than the extortionate prices being asked on ebay for these. Perhaps they are more common in Germany and reasonably priced. I will have to snoop in some camera stores there next time I visit.

[Uwe Pilz]

Originally Posted by Svend

Damn Uwe -- good on ya for having a couple of Mutars. I've been looking for a set for my 3.5F for a couple of years now, but haven't found any at less than the extortionate prices being asked on ebay for these. Perhaps they are more common in Germany and reasonably priced. I will have to snoop in some camera stores there next time I visit.

If you buy them - they may are problems beyond fungus etc.

Mutars ar made for baj II and III. But even for Baj II (what you need) there are differences: There are versions with 42 and 45 mm distance between the lenses. I hope the numbers are correct. My wide angle Mutar fits, but the Tele does not. Eventual, I removed the fitting for the viewing lens and use only the Baj for mounting it. There is no optical problem with it, but more an aesthetic.

My Mutars were not cheap. I think I paid 800€ for both. But this was not ebay but a dealer, which gives more security and return policy.

[John King]

Originally Posted by Quendil

I use both with Olympus being my main 35mm with some early Miranda. Then Bronica ETRSi and S2 for medium format. Have been looking to get an RB67 but there are not many around at the moment.

David

To be honest David, I don't think there will be many around at all. Med format was never as plentiful as 35mm and a good number will still be languishing in peoples houses, possibly forgotten and really unwanted.

About 2020 I bought a BronicaSQ complete (WFL) plus 40mm, 50mm 150mm metered prism plus 2 spare backs for quite a bit less than £1000. All of it came from Ffordes. You would pay nearly £600-£700 for the camera alone now. Med format has all but dried up. Because of the weight issue, I sold it all some 6 years ago and made close on 80% profit

When Second Hand Darkroom shut down a couple of months ago, they had a few gems from the med format world, so when they open on the 1st April (Hopefully) they may still have them.

Their skeleton website has been updated and gives their new address from where they will be working from, so hopefully it will open on time.

[John King]

Yes there are but not in UK. Have a look at this website. What they have would be like a small child with his face stuck against a sweet shop and licking his lips.

https://fotohandeldelfshaven.nl/en/

Unfortunately to import them into UK will now cost you although the exchange rate between the Euro and £ is quite good at the moment. The site is in English and Dutch

[David Lingham]

Originally Posted by Lostlabours

In the right hands 35mm can produce excellent high quaility images, I've had a couple of discussions with David Lingham about this where we discussed a comparison of 12o images to his own superb 35mm work. Side by side you'd think they were shot the other way around

Thank you Ian, best wishes.

[Graeme]

Yep, both here too. Mamiya 7ii is high quality and handy for travelling - remember travelling........