Medium format

Some of the benefits of using medium-format digital cameras include higher resolution sensors, better low-light capabilities compared to a traditional 35mm DSLR, and a wider dynamic range.

The larger size of the film also allows for better control of the depth of field and therefore more photographic creativity.

This permits landscape photography with the appearance of an extremely large depth of field – from closest foreground to the far horizon – to be achieved, by aligning the plane of focus with the subject plane of interest, using the Scheimpflug principle.

While 35 mm cameras, film, and photo finishing services are generally widely available and cheap, medium format is usually limited to professional photography shops and can be prohibitively expensive.

While rolls of large format film were produced at one time, their use was specialized, typically for aerial cameras installed in military aircraft or printing industry equipment.

35 mm cartridges are generally easier to load and unload from a camera than medium-format rolls.

In other situations where the camera cannot accommodate a 120 spool, the 120 film can be rolled onto a 620 spool in a darkroom or changing bag.This film is shot in a variety of aspect ratios, which differ depending on the camera or frame insert used.

For example, 6×7 cm might give an image on film that is actually 56×70 mm; this enlarges exactly to fill an 8×10 sheet of paper.

Another feature of many medium-format models is the ability to use Polaroid instant film in an interchangeable back.

Studio, commercial and architectural photographers value this system for its ability to verify the focus and exposure.

As with film, due to the increased size of the imaging chip (up to twice that of a 35 mm film frame, and thus as much as 40 times the size of the chip in a typical pocket point-and-shoot camera) they deliver more pixels than consumer-grade cameras, and have lower noise.

This market began in 1992 when Leaf Systems Inc. released their first digital camera back (4 Megapixels), named the "DCB" (often described as 'a brick').

In the 2000s, the number of vendors of both high-end medium-format camera systems and digital backs began to decrease.

[2] The Leaf Aptus 75S digital back offers 33MP resolution, with a shooting speed of 50 frames a minute.

Phase One continues to dominate high end non-interpolated imaging with the largest market share.

This sensor type gives better image quality mainly in High ISO with a dynamic range of up to 14 f-stops.

Lower cost medium-format cameras like the Diana F+ and Belair X 6-12 are sold through various outlets, including the Austrian Lomography company.

While these elements can be considered as flaws to photographers seeking perfect images, many people enjoy the "artistic" results.

Twin-lens reflex cameras (TLRs) and folders without the distortion and light leaks can be purchased on the used market in the same price range.

The Chinese Seagull TLR and medium-format cameras from the former Soviet Union such as the Russian Lubitel and somewhat better made Ukrainian Kiev-Arsenal 60 and 88 are also available at moderate prices.