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SEXY X2
MAGAZINE - JULY 2012
Over the last few months, there is a
trend among several well-known pho-
tographers. No longer satisfied with
crop factor cameras or even 35mm
equivalent full frame digital cameras,
more and more photographers are
jumping to digital medium format.
What are the advantages offered by
digital medium formats, and will you
be using one anytime soon? Read on
to find out.
Technically Speaking
First of all, let us take a look at what
exactly digital medium format cam-
eras are. The truth is that it is all about
the sensor. All things being equal,
a larger sensor can allow for higher
quality imagery. What separates your
cell phone’s camera from your SLR?
Besides the optics and other support-
ing hardware, the major player is that
your cell phone manufacturer cannot
shoehorn in an SLR sized imaging
chip to a pocket-sized device.
To help visualize the differences in
sensor size, there is chart with the help
of camera manufacturer Phase One’s
website. The three cameras at left are
digital medium format sensors, and
the last sensor illustration gives you an
idea for scale’s sake. For top-notch
professionals, it is no secret that the
quality of their craft is not determined
entirely by the gear being used.
Their images are strong because of
their knowledge, dedication to their
artwork, and experience as a photog-
rapher. However, photographers with
the budget to do so are inclined to
gain any step up to elevate their work
A Primer to Digital
Medium Format Camera