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Film Format Why should I worry about what size the film is as long as I get my pictures? The reason why is that it affects what you can do with the picture after you get them and what you consider acceptable image quality. In photography usually bigger is better. So the larger the film size is the less it has to be enlarged and the better the final results. Also, in photography, generally bigger film format means more expense. And that is where the balancing act comes in, how larger of film format is needed to produce the quality image for the project at hand and the budget available. |
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Most of the pre-price services I offer produce a square 2 1/4" color transparency. Most people are familiar with a 35mm slide (the little square thing you put in a side projector to show on the wall), a 2 1/4" transparency is like the 35mm slide only with 4 times the image area (and no cardboard mount around it). Transparency film is the preferred media or film for digital scanning (the first step in producing printed advertising like post cards, brochures or magazine ads). Transparency film is also versatile in that it can be used for prints, and to make 70mm or 35mm slide duplicates. It is often referred as a medium format film. The this film size lies between miniature film like 35mm and large format film like 4" X 5". Being a roll film it offers some of the economy of 35mm yet offers more of the quality of large format. The square format allows for the image to be cropped horizontally or vertically. Over all it is a very versatile format. | |
| There are several other reasons for shooting this format. Many of the medium format cameras allow for interchangeable film backs. I shoot with both Hasselblad and Bronica and both have this feature. With interchangeable backs I can shoot a subject with color transparency, Black & White, and color negative at the same time (I don't have to switch camera or move the camera just quickly change to film back). Also by putting on a Polaroid back I can instantly check a photo for exposure, layout, and focus which greatly improves quality and saves on reshoots. This allows me to deliver better quality projects quicker. | ||
| For the jeweler who needs to jury for shows the medium format offers all you are looking for. The 2 1/4" format can be duped down to a 35mm slide for jurying for shows. And because we are going from a larger size to a smaller size you do not have the loss in image quality that occurs with duping from at 35mm to a 35mm. Your slide dups are a good as if they were original shoot on a 35mm camera. With medium format you know for sure which is the original and do not send it out by mistake with your 35mm dups. The 2 1/4" transparency is also great for producing postcards, making prints for portfolios, for use in brochures or for color ads. You can make color print enlargements up to 16"X20" for booth or wall display and I have clients that blow this format up to use for bill boards. This is a very versatile and affordable format. | ||
| So when do you use the other formats? 35mm is great to use on vacation, photographing the kids, covering a hot news story, or wanting to get a shot of Michel Jackson for the National Inquire. Generally it is not a professional still life studio camera format. Large format, like 4X5 film, is best for full page catalog shots or when you need certain perspective or plain of focus control. This format fits a special need and for many jewelry photos purposes is an expensive over kill (but in specials situations there is no-substitute). I have all three formats available but do most jewelry photography with the medium format cameras. All but a couple of photos of jewelry and gemstones on this site were shot with the medium format camera. | ||
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