Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/02/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]As far as I'm concerned 120 format is either 6x6, 6x7, 6x8, 6x9, 6x12, 6x17. 645 is just a gimmick size, with cheesy equipment to match it. While I have nothing to substantiate my perception of who I think it was developed to service in the commercial world. It sure seemed to me that it was studios, on thin budgets, with a stable of work for hire shooters that predominantly used the format. It also was cost effective for the low budget wedding shooters. One could always use a 645 as a wheel chock, if one's parking brakes failed. s.d. http://sdimitrovphoto.com/ On Feb 22, 2007, at 11:06 AM, Mark Rabiner wrote: > On 2/22/07 10:44 AM, "Christopher Williams" > <leicachris@worldnet.att.net> > typed: > >> They may be a little more than a niche player now as there are >> allot of >> commercial/fashion photog's using the H system now. Some >> backlash on the H3 though as it will only accept the digital Hassy >> backs 22mp >> and 39mp. >> >> Chris >> >> > > A different use of the term "Niche" though less existential than > Leicas. > In the sense of Hasselblads its for high end commercial photography > done for > catalogs and large display pieces. Often tethered using software > which makes > for all your sheets and pillowcases and curtains all matching up in > the end > with little to no post processing. Instead of hundreds to thousands of > dollars worth of post processing. > Its large format digital photography. And of course can be used for > fine art > photographers whole vision includes that level of quality. Or sized > output. > >> From the Epson at Photokina IN Cologne booth Harold Cummer had >> grabbed and > showed me a 13x19 black and white print on fine art matt paper > taken with an > H3 which made me think I was wearing 3d platinum glasses. Knocked > my socks > off certainly blowing output from both APS-2 and 24x36 digital > output right > out the window. Much more that a film 35mm to medium format > comparison. > > > medium format film had been used by a lot of not so great wedding > photographers and shlock commercial photographers who really > didn't need > it. What they needed was square format. And they needed to be > holding a > Swedish built Hasselblad in their hands. An image thing. > They are now shooting with DSLRs which gives people the idea that the > quality on DSLRs "replaces" the quality you'd get with the film > Hasselblad. > And that's just nowhere near the case. > These people were not having 20x24 inch prints made of their > weddings with > any persistence at all. They could have been shooting it with a Robot > (square format camera) and a few shots of the bride and groom with > slow film > if a very large print was part of the package. Otherwise they could be > shooting the whole thing with 400 speed 35mm film. > > There's a blurring between medium format digital and large format > digital as > the same backs are often used. And the sizes of the chips are so > funny. The > medium format backs are only recently coming vaguely close to full > format > which is not square medium format but 645. And large format backs > for sheet > film cameras have sensors about the size of medium format film from > all I > can tell. > > Right now the used market is flooded with Hasselblad gear going for a > decimal point of its worth 5 years ago. And true worth now. > Go to your camera stores used glass case and pick up a Hasselblad > body with > back and lens for the same price than just a body cost a couple a > years ago. > Or half that. Backs are a hundred bucks instead of a thousand. (ok > used vs. > new) and the best deal of all is the Zeiss glass a reason for using > Hasselblad in the first place even if you didn't need a modular > camera. > Those lenses are being given away free to every 4th person who > walks up to > the counter for the purchase of a Zeiss filter or lens cap. > > The best deal you've ever had in photography would probably be when > you got > into Hasselblad NOW. Before the impossible happens. Which of course > its > going to and soon. A consumer priced medium format digital back. > Don't wait. Go now. > You are loosing money every second you wait on that new used Hassy > setup. > I'd get a loan and get several backs and lenses. A spare body. > Different > prisms. I almost forgot about the cool Man from U.N.C.L.E. prisms. > I think you can get a 20,000 dollar Hassy full typical set up for > 5000. > With some room for slight exaggeration. And the occasional impossible. > > As much as I love Leica with such a setup you will be photographically > enabled to the very highest extent. Not a whole lot you're not > going to be > able to shoot. Film or digital. > > > Scott Evil: It's no hassle... > Dr. Evil: Shot it! > Scott Evil: But... > Dr. Evil: Been there. Shot it! > Scott Evil: Would... > Dr. Evil: Shot it! !... Knock-knock. > Scott Evil: Who's there? > Dr. Evil: Shot it! ! > Scott Evil: But... > Dr. Evil: Let me tell you a little story about a man named Shot > it! ! Shot > it! ! even before you start. That was a pre-emptive " Shot it! " > Now, I have > a whole bag of " Shot it! " with your name on it. > > Polly want a > SHOT IT! > > > Mark Rabiner > New York, NY > > markrabiner.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information