Hey all-
So I'm taking a photog course to re-learn the basics. It's normally a traditional 35mm B&W shooting/developing/enlarging course, but I'm looking to get more out of it than that. I've always wanted to purchase a medium format camera for landscape work, and figured now is a great time. I already know much (if not all) of what's being taught in the course, and want to use it as an opportunity to start fresh with a new system. But I have a few questions.
a.) Do you own a medium format camera/do you extensively use medium format cameras?
b.) What make/model do you have most experience with?
c.) What make/model would you suggest?
d.) What kind of things does one new to medium format need to know? Anything different about metering/shooting/film handling/etc?
e.) Is there any true medium format black and white film being produced that can be developed by hand in a traditional B&W facility (i.e. myself+chemicals)?
f.) Looking at film on BH, the prices seem all over the place. Are the low prices (6.99, 5.99, etc) for a single negative? Is it a group of negatives? Is it in roll format? (I know nothing about the film, so clue me in).
g.) Anything else you'd like to add for a beginner in the field?
To reiterate, I am not a beginner photographer. I've been shooting for years, beginning on older 35mm SLRs and now shooting mostly digital. I'm simply a complete noob to the field of medium format. I'd like to know if buying a medium format system would be a wise investment/usable system for the course and future use.
(The professor mentioned briefly that they have the equipment to handle 2 1/4" negatives, such as enlargers, etc. There's no worry there.)
So I'm taking a photog course to re-learn the basics. It's normally a traditional 35mm B&W shooting/developing/enlarging course, but I'm looking to get more out of it than that. I've always wanted to purchase a medium format camera for landscape work, and figured now is a great time. I already know much (if not all) of what's being taught in the course, and want to use it as an opportunity to start fresh with a new system. But I have a few questions.
a.) Do you own a medium format camera/do you extensively use medium format cameras?
b.) What make/model do you have most experience with?
c.) What make/model would you suggest?
d.) What kind of things does one new to medium format need to know? Anything different about metering/shooting/film handling/etc?
e.) Is there any true medium format black and white film being produced that can be developed by hand in a traditional B&W facility (i.e. myself+chemicals)?
f.) Looking at film on BH, the prices seem all over the place. Are the low prices (6.99, 5.99, etc) for a single negative? Is it a group of negatives? Is it in roll format? (I know nothing about the film, so clue me in).
g.) Anything else you'd like to add for a beginner in the field?
To reiterate, I am not a beginner photographer. I've been shooting for years, beginning on older 35mm SLRs and now shooting mostly digital. I'm simply a complete noob to the field of medium format. I'd like to know if buying a medium format system would be a wise investment/usable system for the course and future use.
(The professor mentioned briefly that they have the equipment to handle 2 1/4" negatives, such as enlargers, etc. There's no worry there.)