{"id":67300,"date":"2017-10-13T10:43:19","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T17:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=67300"},"modified":"2017-10-15T21:53:43","modified_gmt":"2017-10-16T04:53:43","slug":"7-reasons-why-i-love-digital-medium-format-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/13\/7-reasons-why-i-love-digital-medium-format-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Reasons Why I Love Digital Medium-Format Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Digital medium format is the shit. I love it. Why?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Simple:<\/h2>\n

\"NYC,<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m shooting the Pentax 645Z, and surprisingly\u00e2\u20ac\u201d it has actually simplified<\/a><\/em> my life. Why? The JPEG images out of camera look awesome (I use the color film JPEG preset in-camera). This means, I literally don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t touch or process the pictures. I shoot, and they already look awesome. I just directly upload them, without having to adjust exposure, contrast, or anything. I love this because it allows me to shoot more, spend less time editing my pictures, and more time to live life.<\/p>\n

2. The color pictures look awesome:<\/h2>\n
\"Red
Red and yellow storefront. NYC, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Digital Medium format makes better pictures because there is more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153dynamic range\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in the pictures. That means, if you photograph a bright sky, it won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t \u00e2\u20ac\u0153blow out\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and become totally white. There is more gradation between the darks and lights of an image. That makes a smoother, more aesthetically pleasing image. The biggest reason I liked to shoot color film (Kodak Portra 400<\/a>) is because of this dynamic range. Now that I can get the same dynamic range (or at least similar dynamic range with digital medium format)\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I honestly see no reason to go back shooting color film (for myself).<\/p>\n

3. The joy of shooting with an optical viewfinder:<\/h2>\n

\"Korean<\/p>\n

The Pentax 645Z has the most beautiful optical viewfinder I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve ever seen. Why? It is massive. I can see the ENTIRE WORLD like how I see it with my human eye. I feel less obstruction between me, the camera, and the world. Strangely more Zen. I like NOT having the lag of using an LCD sceeen, or an EVF (electronic viewfinder) or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153live view\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. In terms of physics, you will never be able to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153beat\u00e2\u20ac\u009d an optical viewfinder, because no matter how good the refresh speed of an electronic viewfinder, there will always be a small lag.<\/p>\n

4. Detail:<\/h2>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

When I photograph Cindy, textures, or things with a lot of texture and depth\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the pictures look more textured, and detailed. To me, I love this. Why? I feel like I can touch the textures in my pictures. The pictures bring me more aesthetic joy\u00e2\u20ac\u201d especially when photographing nature (trees, rocks, and skies).<\/p>\n

5. Shooting small JPEG:<\/h2>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

I am anti-megapixels. More megapixels, more problems<\/a>. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve shot all the pictures on the Pentax 645Z in small JPEG. Why? I hate the stress of having to backup massive digital files. And the small JPEG images on the Pentax are big enough \u00e2\u20ac\u201d 20 megapixels, and around 5000px wide. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to wait forever for the images to upload\u00e2\u20ac\u201d because unfortunately, internet speeds in the world are still pretty slow. Smaller files means more digital flexibility.<\/p>\n

6. My digital medium format workflow<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In terms of workflow, I just shoot small JPEG, transfer them to my iPad via the default Apple lightning SD card reader, and then upload them directly. I flag the pictures I like with the default Apple photos app. Super fast and efficient. This is what helped me quickly edit and process the pictures I shot of my friends wedding on digital medium format<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

7. Slowing down:<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

The Pentax is big and heavy, so it forces me to slow down… to be in the Zen zone, and just focus. Funny enough, the big size and weight has actually been an advantage\u00e2\u20ac\u201d because<\/em> it is so big, heavy, and cumbersome, it ENCOURAGES me to shoot more pictures.<\/p>\n

\"Blue<\/p>\n

Why? Because it is such a pain to carry around, I might as well make pictures with it because I am going through the pain of carrying it around.<\/p>\n

Should I buy a digital medium format camera?<\/h2>\n

\"Eric<\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pretty awesome\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you can buy a used digital medium format Pentax 645D (older version) for around $2,500 USD. To me, that is a fucking bargain.<\/p>\n

All new digital cameras are technically superior than most digital medium format cameras, because with digital medium format high ISO isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t great. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like to shoot above ISO 3200 on the Pentax 645Z. And with digital medium format, the autofocus is very slow. And it is bigger, heavier, and more bulky than almost all modern-day compact, mirror less cameras.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

Shooting digital medium format photography won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make you a better photographer. Only way to improve your photography is to learn composition<\/a>, conquer your fears, attend workshops<\/a>, travel, learn, study philosophy<\/a>, study aesthetics, and know WHY<\/em> you make pictures.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But shooting digital medium format will give you a different aesthetic look to your pictures. I personally like it, but it isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t for everyone.<\/p>\n

On the Pentax 645, the aspect ratio is NOT the traditional 3:2 aspect ratio we know and love. It is more boxy and square like. Some people hate it, personally I like it. I shoot more horizontal landscape oriented pictures, and shoot fewer vertical pictures (because there is more space vertically in the pictures).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I also personally like how I think and shoot differently with digital medium format. How? I look for more colors, textures, details, and I stop, look back, and look at the whole picture. I slow down, and take my time.<\/p>\n

\"Wallpaper.\"<\/p>\n

Ultimately, my two favorite cameras (as of writing this) include the RICOH GR II<\/a> and the Pentax 645Z. My life philosophy is to embrace the EXTREMES<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d either super small and minimalist, or big and powerful.<\/p>\n

\"Skyscrapers.<\/p>\n

And of course, make your own decision. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t listen to me. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m only sharing my VERY SUBJECTIVE experience and thoughts. Your lifestyle, budget, and subject matter is different from what ERIC KIM shoots and thinks. So please please please, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go into debt trying to shoot digital medium format or whatever. If you cannot afford to buy two digital medium format cameras (in cash) I recommend not to buy it. I call this the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153two camera rule<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

Be creative every day!<\/h2>\n
\"CREATIVE
CREATIVE EVERY DAY<\/a> by HAPTIC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the end of the day, once again\u00e2\u20ac\u201d just shoot. Make pictures that bring you joy.<\/p>\n

Buying a new camera won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t inspire you to make new pictures. I recommend you to buy books<\/a>, not gear instead. Invest in HAPTIC TOOLS<\/a> to re-inspire your creativity (see our new book: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153CREATIVE EVERY DAY\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"
CREATIVE EVERYDAY<\/a> Spread<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Learn more photography with my PHOTOGRAPHY 101<\/a> series, and STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101<\/a> series.<\/p>\n

To elevate your photography to the next level, invest in an ERIC KIM EXPERINCE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also join the supportive and vibrant ERIC KIM FORUM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BE STRONG,
\nERIC<\/p>\n

DIGITAL MEDIUM FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY<\/a><\/h1>\n

Articles on Digital Medium Format Photography<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n