A moderately biased comparison of medium format cameras.
In the next few lines, I’d like to make a brief summary of the sizes and weights of different medium format (and smaller/larger) cameras. A lot of people asked if and how heavy the medium format equipment is. Well, it has some bulk, that is true, but is it that much? How does a “full format” camera compare to a medium format camera?
Let’s get the table, shall we?
| Camera | Lens | Weight [g] | Format | Notes |
| Hasselblad 500C/M | 80/2.8 Planar T* | 1414 | 6×6 | |
| Mamiya 645 Pro TL | 80/2.8 Sekkor NL | 1574 | 6×4.5 | Leaf shutter lens, heavier |
| Pentacon P6 | 80/2.8 | 1381 | 6×6 | |
| Fuji GW690 | 90/3.5 | 1525 | 6×9 | Fixed lens |
| Olympus OM-2n | 50/1.4 | 760 | 135 | |
| Canon EOS 1n | 50/1.8 plastic | 1031 | 135 | |
| Canon 5D II | 50/1.8 plastic | 1040 | 135 | Digital |
What we’re comparing here?
Let’s start with the big boys, shall we? I chucked in the Fuji GW690 for comparison of size, but otherwise, it cannot match the versatility the SLR medium format interchangeable lens design brings.
All of these can chew down a portion of 120 or 220 film with different count of exposures, depending on the format.
- Hasselblad 12@6x6cm ratio 1:1
- Mamiya 15@6×4.5cm ratio 4:3
- Pentacon 10-20@6x6cm (joking aside, it is designed to have 12@6x6cm) ratio 1:1
- Fuji GW690 can do a whopping 8 exposures @ a monsterous 6x9cm and is the only one to have a 3:2 ratio
Hasselblad 500C/M
Who would not know the legendary camera with the name “Hasselblad” on it’s side? Well, I was quite reluctant to add it to my list of owned cameras for a long time. Why? I think I just like to piss against the wind. The 500C/M is a classic that has all the functions you need for top notch photography (aperture and shutter), comes in a very handy package and will set you back some 200-300 Eur used, in questionable condition. I got mine for 200E, but the condition is quite bad. Lens included.
That being said, I never grew accustomed to the way it operates. Maybe it is just me and the T* series lenses, but it seems to me a little out of place.
This one shoots a 6x6cm (actually 55x55mm), has interchangeable lenses and film backs.
Weight measured with the shaft, no prism: 1414g
And the WInner is?
Surprisingly, the allwinner from the perspective of weight just IS the Pentacon Six TL, although having a reputation of being a soviet tank. Well, if it could only take pictures, that’d be great.
No seriously, the P6 is a great camera, but it lacks in some aspects. Neverhtheless, I love it still. And I bet I’ll be taking it out far more often, when I see the weights shifting in it’s favor.
