Why does nobody talk about how overrated medium format is for street photography?

I was a total believer for like 2 years. Saved up $600 for a Mamiya 645, shot maybe 30 rolls through it. Yeah the detail is nice but man, carrying that brick around Philly last summer was a nightmare. Missed so many shots because I was fumbling with the waist level finder or swapping film backs. Switched back to my old Pentax K1000 with a 50mm lens and honestly my keeper rate went way up. Am I missing something or do people just like the look of medium format gear more than actually using it out in the city?

2 comments

2 Comments

claire_fisher4124d ago

Lmao you hit the nail on the head. The Mamiya 645 is heavy and slow for street work, I did the same thing with a Bronica. The thing is, medium format really shines in a controlled setting where you have time to compose and meter carefully, not dodging people on a sidewalk. Your keeper rate going up with the Pentax makes total sense because a 35mm SLR is way more natural for quick, candid shots. Sometimes the hype is just gear snobbery, not actual practical advice for how people shoot.

reese_perry624d ago

Three rolls of Portra 400 later and I'm still not sure the hype is even real.