Back in the days of film cameras, it was an accepted fact that medium format, which shot on larger size film, was superior to 35mm film for professional photography. Medium format's larger negative size resulted in crisper, more detailed enlargements. The digital revolution threatened to throw medium format on the dust heap of history, but medium format has entered the digital age. How do high-end DSLRs, like the Canon 1Ds Mark III, stand up to medium format?
Canon 1Ds Mark III
The Canon 1Ds Mark III is Canon's flagship digital SLR. It is a full-frame model SLR, meaning the digital sensor is the same size as 35mm film, so pixels are larger and there is less noise in the image. In addition, the 1Ds Mark III boasts a stunning 21 megapixel sensor and can shoot up to 5 frames per second. In their product literature, Canon often boasts that the 1Ds Mark III is as good as medium format.
Medium Format Digital Backs
Several companies make digital backs that can fasten onto medium format film cameras. One of the first companies to offer a digital back for a medium format camera was Kodak, who released a 16 megapixel digital back that could mount on a Contax 645. Hasselblad, one of the leaders in the medium format market, developed the CFV-39, a stunning 39 megapixel sensor for the Hasselblad V format cameras. The CF and CF-MS offered 22 and 39 megapixel sensors for Hasselblad cameras. All the Hasselblad digital backs have 48x36mm digital sensors, which are more than twice the size of a 35mm full frame sensor.
Medium Format Cameras
In 2009, Phase One, who has developed digital backs with up to 60 megapixel sensors for 645 style medium format cameras, announced a medium format camera, the 645DF, which was co-engineered with Mamiya, long a leader in 645 medium format film cameras. Retailing for $5999, the 645DF takes square aim at the leading 35mm DSLRs and is designed to seamlessly integrate with Phase One's P-series digital backs.
Leica S2
In 2008, Leica announced its S2 model camera, which attempts to bridge SLR and medium format cameras. The S2 is supposed to finally hit the market in fall 2009. Retailing for $22,995, the S2 sports a 37 megapixel sensor and 30x45mm sensor, which is 56 percent larger than a 35mm full frame sensor.
In Comparison
Though Canon's 1Ds Mark III, with its 21 megapixel full frame sensor, can take stunning photos and has a wide variety of Canon lenses available, for unmatched image quality, medium format digital is still the way to go, assuming you can afford it, which is the big issue. Canon's 1Ds Mark III is $6999. Medium format digital backs, while offering resolutions that can triple that of the 1Ds Mark III, cost as much as seven times what the 1Ds Mark III would cost. For some photographers, that ultimate resolution is worth every penny. Others may find the cost prohibitive.
Tags: medium format, Canon Mark, digital backs, medium format, film cameras
