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 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 FormatsThe 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...

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Michael Reichmann
Michael Reichmann
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Michael Reichmann is the founder of the Luminous Landscape. Michael passed away in May 2016. Since its inception in 1999 LuLa has become the world's largest site devoted to the art, craft, and technology of photography. Each month more than one million people from every country on the globe visit LuLa.
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