Welcome to my website. This is the story of my journey with medium format. I hope the information serves you well.
Self portrait taken with the Pentax SMC 105mm f2.8
What is Medium Format?
Medium format photography uses film or digital sensors larger than 35mm but smaller than 4×5 large format. Whether you shoot 120 roll film on a classic Hasselblad or Pentax 67, or use a modern Fujifilm GFX digital system, the larger capture area delivers more detail, smoother tonal gradations, and a distinctive depth that smaller formats can’t match.
This site covers the full range of medium format photography — from camera reviews and film stock comparisons to home developing, scanning, and darkroom printing. Whether you’re exploring medium format for the first time or looking to refine your technique, start with the guides below.
Medium Format Camera Guides
Detailed reviews and setup guides for the most popular medium format systems, covering both film and digital.
- The Hasselblad 500cm — The iconic 6×6 system: modularity, lens options, and what to know before buying
- Pentax 67 Review — The giant SLR that changed medium format: history, versions, and shooting experience
- The Hasselblad 500 Series — A broader look at the 500 system lineup and its evolution
- Setting Up the GFX 100s — Getting started with Fujifilm’s digital medium format system
- Medium Format Camera Types — From 1901 box cameras to modern mirrorless: a complete history
Film Photography & Developing
Practical guides to shooting, developing, and troubleshooting medium format film at home.
- Developing Color Film at Home — C-41 processing walkthrough for medium format
- Film Developing Issues — Common problems and how to diagnose them
- Streaks in Film — Causes and fixes for development streaking
- The Cost of Shooting Medium Format Film — A realistic breakdown of what it costs per frame
Film Stocks
- Kodak Portra — The professional color standard
- Kodak Ektar — The finest grain film in the world
- Kodak Gold 200 — Budget-friendly color with character
- Ilford HP5 — A versatile black and white workhorse
Scanning, Printing & the Darkroom
From digital scanning workflows to traditional optical printing techniques.
- Dynamic Range of Scanned Negatives — Getting as much dynamic range as possible from a flatbed scanner with medium format negatives
- Epson V850 Scanner — A full review of this film negative scanner. plus tips and tricks for getting the best results.
- Flatbed Scanning Vs. Cameras Scanning — Get help choosing which method is best for your needs.
- Omega C-700 Enlarger — Setting up a medium format darkroom enlarger
- 8×10 Contact Printing — The basics of contact printing large negatives and how they compare to medium format
- Inkjet vs. Darkroom Prints — Comparing longevity and quality between digital and analog output
- How Film Is Made — Understanding what’s inside the roll
Comparisons & Technical Deep Dives
Side-by-side tests and technical analysis across formats and systems.
- Medium Format Film vs. Fuji GFX — How film 120 negatives compare to digital medium format
- Why Does Medium Format Film Look Better Than Digital? — Exploring what gives film its distinctive look
- Adapting Pentax 67 Lenses to Fuji GFX — Quite possibly the ideal marriage of two systems
- GFX vs. Leica M — Digital medium format against a full-frame rangefinder
- GFX Resolution — Testing the limits of the Fujifilm GFX sensor
- The Brenizer Method — Simulating medium format depth of field with smaller sensors
Latest Posts:
- Pentax 55mm f4 Organic Quality
Today I took a hike with the 55mm f4 adapted to the GFX 100s. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by this lens. There’s a certain organic quality to the images. It resolves detail exceptionally well without feeling clinical. The above image was shot at 120/sec, iso 100, @f8. My review of this lens can… - Epson V850 Pro Scanner
The Complete Guide to Scanning Medium Format 120 Film The Epson Perfection V850 Pro is widely regarded as the gold standard among flatbed film scanners for serious photographers. While drum scanners and dedicated film scanners like the Hasselblad Flextight exist at higher price points, the V850 occupies a sweet spot where exceptional quality meets practical… - The Pentax 67 SMC 55mm f/4 – Review & Sample Images
A Wide-Angle Legend That Refuses to Retire Three optical redesigns, four decades of service, and a second life on digital medium format — the Pentax 67 55mm f/4 might be the most underappreciated wide-angle in the entire 6×7 system. Above image taken with the Pentax SMC 55mm f4 and Kodak Gold 200 A Lens Born… - Wet Mounting Issues
The Case Against Wet Scanning: Why Mounting Fluid Might Not Be Worth the Trouble After years of experimenting with wet-mount scanning, I’ve come to a conclusion that might be controversial in film photography circles: for most of us, anti-Newton ring glass is the better path. Here’s why. The Promise of Wet Scanning If you’ve spent… - Why I Went Back to Shooting Medium Format Film in the Age of Digital
I’ve been into photography for over thirty years. I’ve owned more cameras than I care to admit — from early Nikons to the latest mirrorless systems, from 35mm to 8×10 large format. I’ve watched this industry evolve through every major shift: autofocus, digital sensors, mirrorless bodies, computational photography. I’ve embraced most of it. I shoot… - Ilford HP5 Plus — History and Developing Tips
If there’s one black and white film stock that has earned its place in nearly every film photographer’s bag, it’s Ilford HP5 Plus. It’s not the sharpest. It’s not the finest grained. It’s not even the most visually striking at box speed. But HP5 is the film you reach for when you need to get… - Adapting Pentax 67 Lenses to GFX Cameras
The Best-Kept Secret in Medium Format Photography If you shoot Fuji GFX and you’re not exploring adapted Pentax 67 glass, you’re leaving some of the best optics in medium format history sitting on the shelf. The Pentax 6×7 system produced some of the finest medium format lenses ever made — lenses that were designed to… - Flatbed Scanner vs. Camera Scanning: Which Is Better for Medium Format Film?
If you shoot medium format film, you’ve probably wrestled with this question: should you scan your negatives with a flatbed scanner or use a digital camera? I’ve been going back and forth on this for a while now, so I decided to put my Epson V850 head-to-head against my Fuji GFX 100s in a real-world… - Film Developing on a Budget – How to Save Real Money Without Cutting Corners
One of the most common questions I get from people getting into medium format film photography is some version of “how do I keep the costs down?” It’s a fair question. Between the camera, the film, and getting everything developed and scanned, the per-frame cost of shooting 120 film can add up quickly — especially… - Kodak Ektar Film
Kodak Ektar 100 holds a unique position in the medium format world. Marketed by Kodak as the finest grain color negative film ever made, it delivers a look that no other C-41 emulsion can quite replicate — hyper-saturated colors, razor-sharp detail, and an almost transparency-like rendering that sets it apart from the Portra family and…
About This Site
I’ve been shooting for over 30 years, starting with 35mm Nikon film cameras in the 1990s, moving through digital, and eventually finding my way to medium format. Today I shoot across Hasselblad 500cm, Pentax 67, and Fujifilm GFX systems, and I develop and print all my own film at home.
This site documents what I’ve learned — including the mistakes. If my missteps can save you a ruined roll or a bad scan, it’s worth sharing.
Purchasing gear from the above link helps me keep the site going!