#Medium format vs frame camera full#

First, since the lenses use an internal leaf shutter, shutter vibration is significantly reduced. These lenses are leaf shutter lenses which have two advantages over regular lenses that use the camera’s focal plane shutter.

#Medium format vs frame camera full#

The lenses I used were mostly high quality Schneider – Kreuznach optics designed to cover the full image circle of the large 645 sized sensor. The sensors are approximately three times the surface area of a full frame 35mm sensor. The Phase One IQ digital backs are full frame 645 sensors available in 60 and 80 megapixel resolutions. I also had a D800E with me and used it occasionally to take comparison shots for later evaluation.

It was a full immersion into the Phase One Medium format system for about 18 hours a day. I then shot with the Phase One system for 7 days for an average of 6 hours per day and spent another 2 hours per day talking with Phase One pros and others very experienced with the system. Since I have the opportunity to handle and test many camera systems from most manufacturers, I am able to learn a new system very quickly. By the time I took my first real photograph, I felt very comfortable with the camera, digital back and lenses. I then spent about 6 hours hands on with the camera and back prior to taking the first photograph. I thoroughly familiarized myself with the camera before arriving via online resources. I joined Phase One for a shoot in the Dolomites in Northern Italy to fully evaluate the system including the 645 sized sensor digital backs, it’s lenses and the Phase One 645DF+ digital camera. In September I had the opportunity to photograph with what is widely seen as the highest quality digital photography format available to photographers and test the validity of this statement. Much has been written in the last 18 months stating that new high resolution cameras like the Nikon D800 and D800E equal medium format image quality.