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Dual System
Left Image: Pentax 67, 200mm f-4 lens, Fuji Velvia 50, Bogen
tripod and ball head.
Average metering then opening up 1 stop, 1/30 sec at f-22.
There is no such a thing as a "perfect" format. Each
format has its own advantages and disadvantages. 35mm is the easiest format
to use with sophisticated features and all the lenses you need. 35mm
cameras, lenses, films and processing costs less than medium format system.
Medium format has the advantage of bigger negative and transparencies. You
can make very large prints with minimum loss of sharpness. Photo editors
love medium format which means you have an edge over 35mm users if you plan
on selling your pictures. Medium format cameras with interchangeable backs
give you several different formats including 35mm with some models. You can
select one format or go for both to take advantage of what each format has
to offer. How you build a dual system requires serious thinking since you'll
be spending a lot of money and carrying a heavier load. I try to give some
suggestions but you make the final decision based on your budget, type of
photography, and equipment you already own.
If you do mostly portrait or studio work, then weight is not a major
concern. In this case a mid range 35mm camera with 85mm f-1.4 and 135mm f-2
or an 80-200mm zoom either f-4 or f-2.8 should cover all your 35mm portraits
and studio work. A 6X6 or 6X7 format should be your medium format choice
with 150mm and/or 250mm lenses, the fastest you can afford. Your medium
format will be your workhorse. 35mm will be used for faster shooting,
especially if you photograph children and animals.
For architectural work, a simple light weight 35mm camera with 20-35mm and
80-200mm zoom with moderate speeds will be enough. I recommend this package
to have room for carrying your medium format gear. 20-35mm will cover your
wide-angle shots and the 80-200mm will be used for bringing out details or
when you need to isolate buildings from a distance. As with portrait, a 6X6
or 6X7 should be your choice with two or three lenses. A wide-angle,
standard, and short telephoto lenses will cover almost all of your subjects.
You can substitute fixed focal lenses with the newer medium format zooms to
lighten your load. You may want to skip the wide-angle and standard lens and
go for a 75mm tilt/shift lens and a short telephoto.
For wildlife and sports photography, 35mm and 645 systems make a perfect
combination. Both formats include models with predictive autofocus and
sophisticated metering systems. High speed automatic film advance is also
available with 645 autofocus cameras. Although not as fast as 35mm due to
the larger film size, you can still shoot in continuous mode and autofocus.
You can definitely choose manual focus 645 or even 6X6 or 6X7 formats and
still get good results. 35mm format is easier and faster to use with moving
subjects and offers more telephoto lenses. 35mm will be your first choice
for wildlife and sports, but medium format cameras can definitely be used
for this type of photography. A 35mm camera with autofocus, continuous film
advance, and multisegment metering let you concentrate on your subject. An
80-200mm zoom either f-4 or f-2.8, 300mm f-4 or f-2.8 with teleconverters
will cover most wildlife and indoor and outdoor sports. You can substitute
the 80-200mm and 300mm lenses with either a 100-300mm f-4 or 100-400mm f-5.6
zooms. Sigma and Tokina make excellent 100-300mm f-4 zooms and all
manufacturers make 100-400mm f-5.6 versions (as of January 2001). By
selecting a zoom, you loose some lens speed but make room for telephoto
lenses to use with your medium format. A 300mm f-5.6 or 400mm f-5.6 should
be your first telephoto lens for your medium format camera. If you plan on
using your medium format for most of your wildlife and sports photography,
then a 500mm lens is a better choice. Keep in mind that you may want to
carry more lenses and accessories which can add to the cost and weight.
For general purpose photography or if you travel a lot and want to carry two
formats, you should consider zooms for both systems. I prefer 35mm and 6X7
format. I believe this is the best combination. If you haven't built a
complete system yet, consider a pair of zooms for each format. 20-35mm and
80-200mm or 75-300mm zooms for your 35mm camera, and 45-80mm with 80-160mm
zooms for your medium format will cover most subjects. Not all medium format
systems offer the two type of zooms I mentioned. Buy the closest available.
If cost and weight are not a major concern, then select the fastest zooms or
single focal length lenses you can carry.
You may not need all the lenses I mentioned or may even need more. I own
35mm and 6X7 and am very happy with my system. You may feel 35mm and 645 is
a better system for you, or perhaps 35mm, 645, and 6X7 as many photographers
carry. I know some photographers who don't even bother with 35mm and carry
6X6 or 6X7 formats with 645 being the smallest format they consider. I think
serious photographers should try different formats and choose the right
format for the job. If you build a dual system that you can easily carry,
you can be ready to take advantage of what each format has to offer. What I
really want is a multi-format camera which takes 35mm and 2 1/4 films
without changing the back. It would be nice to switch back and forth between
the two formats while carrying a pair of fast zooms. I'm sure manufacturers
can make such camera, but for some reason the don't. I'd be the first to
trade everything I own for a multi-format camera. If any of you
manufacturers reading this, make it affordable.
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