U-Medium

 
This article was originally written with reference to film-based cameras. The same factors apply in terms of image quality though with regard to digital. The only significant difference is price, with medium format digital currently (2003/2004) commanding a considerable premium.
The Goldilocks of Formats
The 1980's saw the victory of 35mm. Many factors converged, making 35mm and in particularly SLR cameras the primary choice of both amateurs and professional photographers. Better films was one of these factors. Finer grain and higher resolution allowed the use of the much smaller film format for more demanding applications, and when combined with smaller camera and lens size, longer film loads, ease of use and usually greater versatility the arguments were compelling. 
But medium format never lost its allure, just as large format didn't for many.
While most pros understand the need for medium format in many situations, amateurs and newcomers to photography can find the sub...