Which camera format to use?

LAST time we were discussing the different kinds of lenses and when to use them. I hope you will agree with me that it matters to know which appropriate lens to use depending on the situation. Will it matter then to know which camera format to use?

I still vividly remember a couple of decades ago when my uncle gave me a brand new medium-format Mamiya C220 with interchangeable twin lenses and a Yashica Electro35, a 35mm rangefinder. These two types of cameras are now seldom used. When I first had them, I was still a beginner in photography and had no one to turn to for advice. Experienced photographers tend to be secretive about their craft. I turned to photography magazines and devoured their contents. But that was not enough. Theory had to be tested and I had a willing victim in our neighbor. I took his portraits using the Mamiya twin-lens reflex and 120 film format.

The photos turned out surprisingly well, I learned later. You see, I was walking one day and suddenly came face to face with something familiar - a blow-up photo of my neighbor (which I had taken days earlier) was prominently displayed at a photo studio's show window. That experience made me realize that I could earn my own keep for something that I enjoy doing -- taking portraits. I hope that sets the tone for our topic this month. I earlier mentioned the terms medium-format and rangefinders and for the uninitiated, what exactly are these? Let us then go to the main topic of our discussion this month -- the different types of cameras that are still in common use out there.

The principle used to be very simple: a larger format camera would produce a sharper image. This principle no longer holds true because of the high quality of today's black & white and color films. There are four major camera formats: (1) large format cameras (4 x 5 in. up to 20 x 24 in.); (2) the various medium formats (6 x 8, 6 x 7, 6 x 6, and 6 x 4.5 cms.), (3) the regular 35 mm (I bet this is what most of you have); and (4) the new Advanced Photo System, the so-called APS cameras.

The large format is basically a professional format. Ordinary photographers seldom use this type of camera because the size of the film starts from 4 x 5 in. up to 16 x 20 or more. This camera is a bit bulky and a little slow to use compared to the smaller formats. The main advantage of working with large formats is in the cameras' shift and tilt capability (best for architectural and advertising photography).

The medium format, on the other hand, is about as old as photography. It became established for serious photography with the introduction of the twin lens reflex cameras producing 6 x 6 cm square images (have you heard of the Rolleiflex?) The larger image size is a major reason for selecting the medium format. A second reason is the camera design with interchangeable film magazines/holders. With the film in a separate film magazine, which is removable at any time, you can switch from one type of film to another - even in the middle of a roll - without wasting or fogging the film. You can switch from black & white to color, from low speed to high speed film, from different sizes of long roll films, and even attach a magazine for Polaroid film.

The most popular for both professional and amateur photographers these days is the 35 mm camera. Some even feel that there is now no need to move up to a larger format since 35 mm images today are much sharper than a few years ago. The choice of camera is unlimited -- from fully automatic, compact and lightweight models to the very sophisticated type with a wide choice of lenses and accessories. The 35 mm offers the fastest lenses available, and also gives you the widest choice of films, which are available worldwide.

Last but not the least, cameras made for the APS system produce images on film loaded in a special cassette designed for completely automatic loading. The compact camera design is one of the benefits of the APS format. Its main advantages are not in the photographic possibilities, but in the storing and printing convenience. You may consider such a camera for your own personal use.

Our tip for the month: The key to buying the right type is research. Narrow your choices to three or four that include the features you want at a price you can afford. Then, "test" by asking for a demo of your selected models. This may well be the single most valuable step to ensure a wise investment and long-term satisfaction with your purchase.*

Glenn is a professional photographer with 20 years experience. You may email the author at glenn@philippinestoday.net .

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