Medium Format Cameras Archives - Medium Format Photography

Medium format Film Camera Longevity & Repairability

Ken — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:37:17 +0000

A Deep Dive into the Mechanics — and Longevity — of the Hasselblad 500 Series, Pentax 6×7/67, and Mamiya RB67 Anyone who has spent serious time with medium format cameras has a story about mechanical failure. For many Pentax 6×7 users, that story involves the film advance lever — a deceptively simple-looking mechanism that conceals...

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Pentax 6×7 Film Advance Lever Issue

Ken — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:59:11 +0000

So the inevitable happened with my old camera. The film advance lever has started slipping. If you’ve never experienced this failure, here’s how it feels: you stroke the advance lever and about halfway through the throw, it slips. There’s a brief grinding sensation, the resistance drops, and the lever completes its arc without actually advancing...

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The Pentax 67 105mm f/2.4 for Landscapes

Ken — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:01:35 +0000

Shot with the SMC Pentax 67 105mm f/2.4 on the Fujifilm GFX 100s — Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston, MA The Pentax 67 105mm f/2.4 has a reputation that precedes it. Mention it in any serious medium format photography circle and the conversation almost always gravitates toward its legendary rendering of faces — the buttery compression, the...

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Pentax 55mm f4 Organic Quality on GFX 100s

Ken — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:06:22 +0000

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...

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Pentax 67 SMC 55mm f/4 – Review & Sample Images

Ken — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:38:10 +0000

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...

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Pentax 105mm Takumar Review

Ken — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:32:52 +0000

There are lenses that photographers recommend, and then there are lenses that sell entire camera systems. The Pentax 67 105mm f/2.4 belongs firmly in the second category. For decades, this unassuming standard prime has been the single biggest reason photographers buy into the Pentax 67 system — a camera that is itself enormous, heavy, and...

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The Pentax 67 – Review, Versions, & Sample Images

Ken — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:53:26 +0000

The Giant SLR That Changed Medium Format The Pentax 67 system needs no introduction to film photographers, but it does deserve a proper deep dive. In this Pentax 67 review, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about the camera since adding one to my kit, combined with the history, quirks, and practical knowledge that every owner...

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Medium Format Camera Types

Ken — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:02:43 +0000

The Early Era: Box Cameras and Folding Designs (1901-1928) The first decades of medium format photography were dominated by simple, affordable cameras designed for amateur photographers. The Kodak Brownie No. 2 (1901-1935) was produced in several versions, all featuring the characteristic box design with a simple meniscus lens and rotary shutter. These cameras produced 6x9cm...

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The Hasselblad 500cm

Ken — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:58:38 +0000

I chose the Hasselblad 500cm to begin my medium format film journey for several compelling reasons: Complete modularity. The 500cm separates into distinct components—body, lens, viewfinder, and film back—each of which can be swapped independently. This design allows you to carry multiple loaded backs for fast film changes in the field, switch between waist-level and...

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The Hasselblad 500 Series Camera

Ken — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 19:15:18 +0000

The Hasselblad 500 series represents one of the most celebrated camera systems in photographic history. Introduced in 1957, this modular 6×6 medium format system became the gold standard for professional photography, famously accompanying NASA astronauts to the moon. Today, these cameras remain beloved by film photographers for their exceptional build quality, stunning image rendition, and...

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