Goodbye 35mm…Hello Medium Format

Written on June 24, 2011 Posted in Photo Gear


Discovering the Light: An evening photograph from Discovery Park. Pentax 645D, Pentax DFA 645 55mm f/2.8

Please click the images to see larger versions. I’m moving away form 35mm digital photography and embracing medium format (MF).  For the past week, I’ve been using the Pentax 645D, a weather-sealed digital MF camera with a whopping 40MP sensor.  I’m not completely abandoning 35mm, but the majority of my landscapes from now on will be shot with the Pentax 645D.  I can’t begin to describe how fantastic the image quality is.  It’s not just the resolution.  The colors, the dynamic range, the micro-contrast, and the sharpness of the files produced are like nothing I’ve ever seen.  Here are just a few shots I’ve taken this week.  You can’t totally appreciate the fine detail in these small web photos, even if you click the images and see the larger versions.  I’ve made several large (24″ x 36″ and 30″ x 40″) prints, and that’s where the detail really comes through.

Bright Lights, Big City: A long exposure from the Rizal Bridge, in Seattle. Pentax 645D, Pentax DFA 645 55mm f/2.8

Nature's Reach: Wallace Falls State Park. Pentax 645D, Pentax DFA 645 55mm f/2.8

Flowing Away: Wallace Falls State Park. Pentax 645D, Pentax DFA 645 55mm f/2.8

  • 11 Comments

Conrad: Amazing!!!

linda lin: Dito!! Conrad's comment :)

Chris: Mahesh, there was absolutely nothing deficient in any of your 35mm work!

Barb Michieli: Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

sm: "starving photographer" no more! btw, awesome images...

Alan Grose: Mahesh, I'm glad you're still "starving" for more and better images. You go, man!

Gary C.: Always wanted to move up to medium format.....but then, you know, it's not the camera that takes great pieces of art like yours. Exceptional work!

Bev: Mahesh, awesome work, you are a true artist with light and motion.

John Behrends: Having gone from shooting with the Pentax 6x7 for many years to now using a Pentax 200d with mostly limited primes for the last 3 years , frankly the shots I get with the "old" 6x7 still blow away most of the digital shots. Your work here has me tempted to look into the 645d. Beautiful shots and comps!! JB

Amy: The Discovery Park photo is stunning!

Randy Lau: Hey Mahesh, I have questions about graduated density filters. If I want to play around with these, what will I need? I saw filters and filter holders on sale on b and h. Do the filter holders attach to the lens or do you have to manually hold the filter in place?

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