What is · 12 min
What Is a Medium-Format Camera?
A medium-format camera records images larger than 35mm but smaller than traditional large-format sheet film. Most analog medium-format cameras use 120 or 220 roll film.
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What is · 12 min
A medium-format camera records images larger than 35mm but smaller than traditional large-format sheet film. Most analog medium-format cameras use 120 or 220 roll film.
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A medium-format camera records an image larger than the standard 24 × 36 mm frame used by most 35mm cameras, but smaller than traditional large-format sheet film.
Most analog medium-format cameras use 120 or 220 roll film. The same film can produce several image sizes, including 6 × 4.5 cm, 6 × 6 cm, 6 × 7 cm and 6 × 9 cm.
The term medium format describes the size of the recorded image rather than one specific camera design. Medium-format cameras include SLRs, twin-lens reflex cameras, rangefinders, folding cameras, box cameras and compact autofocus models.
In film photography, medium format refers to image sizes larger than 35mm and smaller than large-format sheet film.
The most familiar 35mm frame measures approximately 24 × 36 mm.
A medium-format image may measure approximately:
The nominal names — 6 × 4.5, 6 × 6, 6 × 7 and 6 × 9 — are convenient format categories. They are not always the exact dimensions of the exposed area.
Actual image dimensions vary slightly between camera manufacturers and film gates.
Medium format is primarily a recorded-image-size category.
It does not define the focusing system, the viewfinder, the shutter type, the lens mount, the exposure mode or the camera body design.
For example:
These cameras share a broad film-size category but operate in different ways.
Most analog medium-format cameras use 120 film.
120 film is a roll film with backing paper. Unlike 35mm film, it is not normally contained in a metal cartridge and has no perforated edges.
The roll moves from a supply spool to a take-up spool. A typical film path is:
Supply spool → Rollers → Film gate → Pressure plate → Take-up spool
The backing paper protects the film from light while loading and unloading.
Some older cameras use a red window in the rear door. Frame numbers printed on the backing paper are viewed through this window to control film advance. Other cameras use automatic frame counters and mechanical film stops.
120 and 220 film use the same nominal width. The principal difference is the backing paper.
120 film uses backing paper along the complete roll. Traditional 220 film uses backing paper mainly at the beginning and end, allowing a longer film strip to fit on a similar spool. A 220 roll normally provides approximately twice as many exposures as 120 film.
Not every 120 camera can use 220 film. Compatibility depends on pressure-plate position, film counter, film transport, camera back and manufacturer design. Do not load 220 film into a camera unless compatibility is confirmed.
The same 120 film can be used to record several image sizes.
The 6 × 4.5 cm format is often called 645. It produces a rectangular image and commonly provides 15 or 16 exposures on one roll of 120 film. The format uses less film per frame than 6 × 6 or 6 × 7, allowing more photographs per roll.
Well-known 645 systems include the Mamiya 645 series, Pentax 645 series, Bronica ETR series and Fujifilm GA645 family.
The 6 × 6 cm format produces a square image. It commonly provides 12 exposures on 120 film. The square format is strongly associated with Rolleiflex TLRs and Hasselblad V-system cameras, although many other manufacturers produced 6 × 6 cameras. A square negative can be printed as a square or cropped to horizontal or vertical proportions.
The 6 × 7 cm format produces a larger rectangular image. It commonly provides 10 exposures on 120 film. The shape is closer to common photographic print proportions than 6 × 6. Well-known examples include the Mamiya RB67, Mamiya RZ67, Pentax 67 and Mamiya 7.
The 6 × 8 cm format is less common. It commonly provides approximately nine exposures on 120 film. Some modular systems support 6 × 8 through dedicated film backs or format configurations.
The 6 × 9 cm format produces a negative approximately six times the area of a standard 35mm frame. It commonly provides eight exposures on 120 film. It is found in folding cameras, box cameras and large fixed-lens rangefinders such as the Fujifilm GW690 series.
Some cameras expose an image wider than 6 × 9 cm. Common panoramic formats include 6 × 12 cm and 6 × 17 cm. These cameras use a substantial length of film for each exposure and therefore produce relatively few photographs per roll.
The number of exposures depends on the image format. Typical counts are:
| Format | Common exposures on 120 film |
|---|---|
| 6 × 4.5 cm | 15 or 16 |
| 6 × 6 cm | 12 |
| 6 × 7 cm | 10 |
| 6 × 8 cm | 9 |
| 6 × 9 cm | 8 |
| 6 × 12 cm | 6 |
| 6 × 17 cm | 4 |
These figures are common rather than universal. Some cameras use slightly different film spacing or recorded dimensions. Automatic film transport may also produce a different count from a manually advanced camera.
A twin-lens reflex camera uses two lenses: one viewing lens and one taking lens. The photographer usually looks downward into a waist-level finder. Examples include Rolleiflex, Rolleicord, Yashica Mat and Minolta Autocord cameras. Most classic TLRs produce 6 × 6 cm images.
A medium-format SLR uses a reflex mirror to show the image through the taking lens. Modular examples include the Hasselblad 500C/M and Bronica SQ-A. The Mamiya RB67 and RZ67 use rotating film backs, allowing horizontal or vertical composition without turning the camera body. The Pentax 67 resembles an enlarged 35mm SLR.
A medium-format rangefinder uses a separate optical finder and rangefinder focusing mechanism. Examples include the Mamiya 6, Mamiya 7 and Fujifilm GW690 series. These cameras avoid a reflex mirror and can be smaller than comparable SLR systems.
A folding camera uses bellows to extend the lens into the taking position. When closed, the camera can be considerably thinner. Folding medium-format cameras were produced in formats including 6 × 4.5, 6 × 6 and 6 × 9. Examples include the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta and Voigtländer Bessa II.
A box camera uses a simple enclosed body with a fixed or limited-focus lens. Many early consumer box cameras used 120 or related roll-film sizes. The Kodak Brownie No. 2 helped establish 120 film as a widely used format.
Some later medium-format cameras use fixed lenses, autofocus and automatic exposure. The Fujifilm GA645 series is a well-known example. These cameras combine a relatively large film frame with handling closer to a compact camera.
The main difference is the recorded image area. A standard 35mm frame measures approximately 24 × 36 mm. Even the relatively compact 6 × 4.5 cm format records a substantially larger image.
| Feature | 35mm | Medium format |
|---|---|---|
| Common film | 135 | 120 or 220 |
| Standard frame | 24 × 36 mm | Several larger formats |
| Frames per roll | Commonly 24 or 36 | Commonly 4 to 16 |
| Camera size | Usually smaller | Usually larger |
| Film flatness | Cartridge-based transport | Roll-film transport |
| Image area | Smaller | Larger |
A larger negative can retain more detail when the film, lens, focus and scanning or printing process are of comparable quality. It does not automatically produce a better photograph.
Medium format provides a larger image area, but the practical result depends on the entire photographic process.
Potential advantages include more recorded detail, smoother tonal transitions, lower apparent grain at the same print size, greater enlargement potential and a different relationship between focal length and depth of field.
Potential disadvantages include larger equipment, fewer exposures per roll, slower operation, higher film and processing cost per photograph, shallower depth of field for equivalent framing and more demanding focusing.
A well-focused 35mm negative can produce a better result than a poorly focused medium-format negative. Format alone does not determine image quality.
Medium-format cameras normally use roll film. Large-format cameras normally use individual sheets of film. Common large-format sheet sizes include 4 × 5 inches, 5 × 7 inches and 8 × 10 inches.
Large-format cameras may provide movements such as tilt, shift, swing and rise. These movements can control perspective and the plane of focus. Medium-format cameras are generally faster to operate and easier to carry, while large-format cameras provide a larger film area and more extensive technical control.
Medium-format lenses must cover a larger image area than lenses designed for 35mm. This normally requires a larger image circle. Medium-format systems may use interchangeable focal-plane-shutter lenses, interchangeable leaf-shutter lenses, fixed lenses, interchangeable lens boards or collapsible lenses on folding cameras.
Some systems place the shutter in the camera body. Others place a leaf shutter inside each lens. For example, the Hasselblad 500C/M uses leaf-shutter lenses, while the Pentax 67 uses a focal-plane shutter in the body. Lens compatibility must be verified by exact mount and system.
Roll-film cameras existed before the term medium format became standard. Kodak introduced 120 film in 1901 for the Brownie No. 2. The film later became one of the principal roll-film formats used by folding cameras, box cameras, TLRs, SLRs and rangefinders.
During the twentieth century, medium format became important in studio photography, portraiture, fashion, weddings, commercial photography, landscape photography and documentary work. TLRs offered quiet operation and waist-level viewing. Modular SLR systems provided interchangeable backs, finders and lenses. Rangefinders offered relatively compact bodies. Folding cameras combined large negatives with portable construction.
The Rolleiflex 2.8F is a 6 × 6 cm twin-lens reflex camera. It uses one lens for viewing and a second lens for making the exposure.
The Hasselblad 500C/M is a modular 6 × 6 cm SLR. Its system includes interchangeable film magazines, focusing screens, finders and leaf-shutter lenses.
The Mamiya RB67 is a modular 6 × 7 cm SLR with a rotating film back. The rotating back allows horizontal or vertical photographs without turning the complete camera.
The Pentax 67 is a 6 × 7 cm SLR with a body layout similar to an enlarged 35mm camera. It uses interchangeable lenses and a focal-plane shutter.
The Mamiya 645 1000S records 6 × 4.5 cm images. Its smaller frame allows more exposures per roll than 6 × 6 or 6 × 7 systems.
The Mamiya 7 II is an interchangeable-lens 6 × 7 cm rangefinder. It uses leaf-shutter lenses and a separate optical viewfinder.
The Fujifilm GW690 III is a fixed-lens 6 × 9 cm rangefinder. Its large frame provides eight common exposures on a roll of 120 film.
The Fujifilm GA645Zi is an autofocus 6 × 4.5 cm camera with a zoom lens. It represents a more automated approach to medium-format photography.
A medium-format camera can be used by a beginner, but it may not be the easiest first film camera. A simple TLR or folding camera may have relatively few controls, but focusing and film loading can require practice.
Before choosing a system, consider camera type, film format, frames per roll, camera weight, focusing method, exposure meter, shutter type, lens availability, film-back compatibility, minimum focusing distance, service availability and cost of film and processing.
A 6 × 4.5 camera provides more photographs per roll and may be more economical. A 6 × 6 camera avoids choosing horizontal or vertical orientation at the moment of exposure. A 6 × 7 camera provides a larger rectangular image but often requires a larger body.
Q: What is a medium-format camera? A: A medium-format camera records an image larger than standard 35mm but smaller than traditional large-format sheet film.
Q: What film does a medium-format camera use? A: Most analog medium-format cameras use 120 or 220 roll film.
Q: Is 120 film the same as medium format? A: 120 is a film stock size commonly used by medium-format cameras. The same film can produce several recorded image sizes.
Q: What does 645 mean? A: 645 refers to the nominal 6 × 4.5 cm image format.
Q: How many photographs are on 120 film? A: The number depends on the recorded format. Common counts range from approximately four panoramic frames to 16 frames in 6 × 4.5.
Q: Is medium format larger than 35mm? A: Yes. Every common medium-format image size is larger than a standard 24 × 36 mm frame.
Q: Is medium format the same as large format? A: No. Medium format normally uses roll film. Large format normally uses individual sheets of film.
Q: Is medium format better than 35mm? A: It provides a larger negative, but the final result also depends on focus, exposure, lens quality, film, development and scanning or printing.
Q: Does medium format have less grain? A: At the same final print size, the larger negative can make grain appear less prominent.
Q: Does medium format have shallower depth of field? A: For equivalent framing and similar conditions, medium format generally uses longer focal lengths and may produce shallower depth of field.
Q: Can medium-format cameras use interchangeable lenses? A: Some can. Others have fixed lenses.
Q: Can medium-format cameras use interchangeable film backs? A: Some modular systems can. TLRs, folders and fixed-body cameras normally cannot.
Q: Is a Rolleiflex a medium-format camera? A: Most classic Rolleiflex TLRs use 120 film and produce 6 × 6 cm images.
Q: Is a Hasselblad 500C/M medium format? A: Yes. It is a modular 6 × 6 cm medium-format SLR.
Q: Is a Pentax 67 medium format? A: Yes. It is a 6 × 7 cm medium-format SLR.
Q: Can you still buy 120 film? A: Yes. 120 film remains in production from several film manufacturers.
Browse Camera_DATA to compare medium-format cameras by manufacturer, image size, film stock, camera type, production year, focusing system, shutter, lens, weight and dimensions.
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A medium-format camera records an image larger than the standard 24 × 36 mm frame used by most 35mm cameras, but smaller than traditional large-format sheet film.
Most analog medium-format cameras use 120 or 220 roll film. The same film can produce several image sizes, including 6 × 4.5 cm, 6 × 6 cm, 6 × 7 cm and 6 × 9 cm.
The term medium format describes the size of the recorded image rather than one specific camera design. Medium-format cameras include SLRs, twin-lens reflex cameras, rangefinders, folding cameras, box cameras and compact autofocus models.
In film photography, medium format refers to image sizes larger than 35mm and smaller than large-format sheet film.
The most familiar 35mm frame measures approximately 24 × 36 mm.
A medium-format image may measure approximately:
The nominal names — 6 × 4.5, 6 × 6, 6 × 7 and 6 × 9 — are convenient format categories. They are not always the exact dimensions of the exposed area.
Actual image dimensions vary slightly between camera manufacturers and film gates.
Medium format is primarily a recorded-image-size category.
It does not define the focusing system, the viewfinder, the shutter type, the lens mount, the exposure mode or the camera body design.
For example:
These cameras share a broad film-size category but operate in different ways.
Most analog medium-format cameras use 120 film.
120 film is a roll film with backing paper. Unlike 35mm film, it is not normally contained in a metal cartridge and has no perforated edges.
The roll moves from a supply spool to a take-up spool. A typical film path is:
Supply spool → Rollers → Film gate → Pressure plate → Take-up spool
The backing paper protects the film from light while loading and unloading.
Some older cameras use a red window in the rear door. Frame numbers printed on the backing paper are viewed through this window to control film advance. Other cameras use automatic frame counters and mechanical film stops.
120 and 220 film use the same nominal width. The principal difference is the backing paper.
120 film uses backing paper along the complete roll. Traditional 220 film uses backing paper mainly at the beginning and end, allowing a longer film strip to fit on a similar spool. A 220 roll normally provides approximately twice as many exposures as 120 film.
Not every 120 camera can use 220 film. Compatibility depends on pressure-plate position, film counter, film transport, camera back and manufacturer design. Do not load 220 film into a camera unless compatibility is confirmed.
The same 120 film can be used to record several image sizes.
The 6 × 4.5 cm format is often called 645. It produces a rectangular image and commonly provides 15 or 16 exposures on one roll of 120 film. The format uses less film per frame than 6 × 6 or 6 × 7, allowing more photographs per roll.
Well-known 645 systems include the Mamiya 645 series, Pentax 645 series, Bronica ETR series and Fujifilm GA645 family.
The 6 × 6 cm format produces a square image. It commonly provides 12 exposures on 120 film. The square format is strongly associated with Rolleiflex TLRs and Hasselblad V-system cameras, although many other manufacturers produced 6 × 6 cameras. A square negative can be printed as a square or cropped to horizontal or vertical proportions.
The 6 × 7 cm format produces a larger rectangular image. It commonly provides 10 exposures on 120 film. The shape is closer to common photographic print proportions than 6 × 6. Well-known examples include the Mamiya RB67, Mamiya RZ67, Pentax 67 and Mamiya 7.
The 6 × 8 cm format is less common. It commonly provides approximately nine exposures on 120 film. Some modular systems support 6 × 8 through dedicated film backs or format configurations.
The 6 × 9 cm format produces a negative approximately six times the area of a standard 35mm frame. It commonly provides eight exposures on 120 film. It is found in folding cameras, box cameras and large fixed-lens rangefinders such as the Fujifilm GW690 series.
Some cameras expose an image wider than 6 × 9 cm. Common panoramic formats include 6 × 12 cm and 6 × 17 cm. These cameras use a substantial length of film for each exposure and therefore produce relatively few photographs per roll.
The number of exposures depends on the image format. Typical counts are:
| Format | Common exposures on 120 film |
|---|---|
| 6 × 4.5 cm | 15 or 16 |
| 6 × 6 cm | 12 |
| 6 × 7 cm | 10 |
| 6 × 8 cm | 9 |
| 6 × 9 cm | 8 |
| 6 × 12 cm | 6 |
| 6 × 17 cm | 4 |
These figures are common rather than universal. Some cameras use slightly different film spacing or recorded dimensions. Automatic film transport may also produce a different count from a manually advanced camera.
A twin-lens reflex camera uses two lenses: one viewing lens and one taking lens. The photographer usually looks downward into a waist-level finder. Examples include Rolleiflex, Rolleicord, Yashica Mat and Minolta Autocord cameras. Most classic TLRs produce 6 × 6 cm images.
A medium-format SLR uses a reflex mirror to show the image through the taking lens. Modular examples include the Hasselblad 500C/M and Bronica SQ-A. The Mamiya RB67 and RZ67 use rotating film backs, allowing horizontal or vertical composition without turning the camera body. The Pentax 67 resembles an enlarged 35mm SLR.
A medium-format rangefinder uses a separate optical finder and rangefinder focusing mechanism. Examples include the Mamiya 6, Mamiya 7 and Fujifilm GW690 series. These cameras avoid a reflex mirror and can be smaller than comparable SLR systems.
A folding camera uses bellows to extend the lens into the taking position. When closed, the camera can be considerably thinner. Folding medium-format cameras were produced in formats including 6 × 4.5, 6 × 6 and 6 × 9. Examples include the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta and Voigtländer Bessa II.
A box camera uses a simple enclosed body with a fixed or limited-focus lens. Many early consumer box cameras used 120 or related roll-film sizes. The Kodak Brownie No. 2 helped establish 120 film as a widely used format.
Some later medium-format cameras use fixed lenses, autofocus and automatic exposure. The Fujifilm GA645 series is a well-known example. These cameras combine a relatively large film frame with handling closer to a compact camera.
The main difference is the recorded image area. A standard 35mm frame measures approximately 24 × 36 mm. Even the relatively compact 6 × 4.5 cm format records a substantially larger image.
| Feature | 35mm | Medium format |
|---|---|---|
| Common film | 135 | 120 or 220 |
| Standard frame | 24 × 36 mm | Several larger formats |
| Frames per roll | Commonly 24 or 36 | Commonly 4 to 16 |
| Camera size | Usually smaller | Usually larger |
| Film flatness | Cartridge-based transport | Roll-film transport |
| Image area | Smaller | Larger |
A larger negative can retain more detail when the film, lens, focus and scanning or printing process are of comparable quality. It does not automatically produce a better photograph.
Medium format provides a larger image area, but the practical result depends on the entire photographic process.
Potential advantages include more recorded detail, smoother tonal transitions, lower apparent grain at the same print size, greater enlargement potential and a different relationship between focal length and depth of field.
Potential disadvantages include larger equipment, fewer exposures per roll, slower operation, higher film and processing cost per photograph, shallower depth of field for equivalent framing and more demanding focusing.
A well-focused 35mm negative can produce a better result than a poorly focused medium-format negative. Format alone does not determine image quality.
Medium-format cameras normally use roll film. Large-format cameras normally use individual sheets of film. Common large-format sheet sizes include 4 × 5 inches, 5 × 7 inches and 8 × 10 inches.
Large-format cameras may provide movements such as tilt, shift, swing and rise. These movements can control perspective and the plane of focus. Medium-format cameras are generally faster to operate and easier to carry, while large-format cameras provide a larger film area and more extensive technical control.
Medium-format lenses must cover a larger image area than lenses designed for 35mm. This normally requires a larger image circle. Medium-format systems may use interchangeable focal-plane-shutter lenses, interchangeable leaf-shutter lenses, fixed lenses, interchangeable lens boards or collapsible lenses on folding cameras.
Some systems place the shutter in the camera body. Others place a leaf shutter inside each lens. For example, the Hasselblad 500C/M uses leaf-shutter lenses, while the Pentax 67 uses a focal-plane shutter in the body. Lens compatibility must be verified by exact mount and system.
Roll-film cameras existed before the term medium format became standard. Kodak introduced 120 film in 1901 for the Brownie No. 2. The film later became one of the principal roll-film formats used by folding cameras, box cameras, TLRs, SLRs and rangefinders.
During the twentieth century, medium format became important in studio photography, portraiture, fashion, weddings, commercial photography, landscape photography and documentary work. TLRs offered quiet operation and waist-level viewing. Modular SLR systems provided interchangeable backs, finders and lenses. Rangefinders offered relatively compact bodies. Folding cameras combined large negatives with portable construction.
The Rolleiflex 2.8F is a 6 × 6 cm twin-lens reflex camera. It uses one lens for viewing and a second lens for making the exposure.
The Hasselblad 500C/M is a modular 6 × 6 cm SLR. Its system includes interchangeable film magazines, focusing screens, finders and leaf-shutter lenses.
The Mamiya RB67 is a modular 6 × 7 cm SLR with a rotating film back. The rotating back allows horizontal or vertical photographs without turning the complete camera.
The Pentax 67 is a 6 × 7 cm SLR with a body layout similar to an enlarged 35mm camera. It uses interchangeable lenses and a focal-plane shutter.
The Mamiya 645 1000S records 6 × 4.5 cm images. Its smaller frame allows more exposures per roll than 6 × 6 or 6 × 7 systems.
The Mamiya 7 II is an interchangeable-lens 6 × 7 cm rangefinder. It uses leaf-shutter lenses and a separate optical viewfinder.
The Fujifilm GW690 III is a fixed-lens 6 × 9 cm rangefinder. Its large frame provides eight common exposures on a roll of 120 film.
The Fujifilm GA645Zi is an autofocus 6 × 4.5 cm camera with a zoom lens. It represents a more automated approach to medium-format photography.
A medium-format camera can be used by a beginner, but it may not be the easiest first film camera. A simple TLR or folding camera may have relatively few controls, but focusing and film loading can require practice.
Before choosing a system, consider camera type, film format, frames per roll, camera weight, focusing method, exposure meter, shutter type, lens availability, film-back compatibility, minimum focusing distance, service availability and cost of film and processing.
A 6 × 4.5 camera provides more photographs per roll and may be more economical. A 6 × 6 camera avoids choosing horizontal or vertical orientation at the moment of exposure. A 6 × 7 camera provides a larger rectangular image but often requires a larger body.
Q: What is a medium-format camera? A: A medium-format camera records an image larger than standard 35mm but smaller than traditional large-format sheet film.
Q: What film does a medium-format camera use? A: Most analog medium-format cameras use 120 or 220 roll film.
Q: Is 120 film the same as medium format? A: 120 is a film stock size commonly used by medium-format cameras. The same film can produce several recorded image sizes.
Q: What does 645 mean? A: 645 refers to the nominal 6 × 4.5 cm image format.
Q: How many photographs are on 120 film? A: The number depends on the recorded format. Common counts range from approximately four panoramic frames to 16 frames in 6 × 4.5.
Q: Is medium format larger than 35mm? A: Yes. Every common medium-format image size is larger than a standard 24 × 36 mm frame.
Q: Is medium format the same as large format? A: No. Medium format normally uses roll film. Large format normally uses individual sheets of film.
Q: Is medium format better than 35mm? A: It provides a larger negative, but the final result also depends on focus, exposure, lens quality, film, development and scanning or printing.
Q: Does medium format have less grain? A: At the same final print size, the larger negative can make grain appear less prominent.
Q: Does medium format have shallower depth of field? A: For equivalent framing and similar conditions, medium format generally uses longer focal lengths and may produce shallower depth of field.
Q: Can medium-format cameras use interchangeable lenses? A: Some can. Others have fixed lenses.
Q: Can medium-format cameras use interchangeable film backs? A: Some modular systems can. TLRs, folders and fixed-body cameras normally cannot.
Q: Is a Rolleiflex a medium-format camera? A: Most classic Rolleiflex TLRs use 120 film and produce 6 × 6 cm images.
Q: Is a Hasselblad 500C/M medium format? A: Yes. It is a modular 6 × 6 cm medium-format SLR.
Q: Is a Pentax 67 medium format? A: Yes. It is a 6 × 7 cm medium-format SLR.
Q: Can you still buy 120 film? A: Yes. 120 film remains in production from several film manufacturers.
Browse Camera_DATA to compare medium-format cameras by manufacturer, image size, film stock, camera type, production year, focusing system, shutter, lens, weight and dimensions.