Matching medium format recordsdata towards right now’s finest full body choices isn’t only a technical train. It may reveal precisely the place the variations present up and after they don’t matter in any respect. In sure lighting conditions, the hole between these codecs shrinks, and in others, it’s clear why some individuals pay extra for that bigger sensor.
Coming to you from Manny Ortiz, this detailed video revisits a earlier medium format versus full body shoot. Ortiz takes the Hasselblad X2D, Sony a1, and Canon R5 Mark II right into a fairer comparability by adjusting coloration profiles and matching tones extra intently. As soon as corrected, he highlights the place medium format nonetheless edges forward, primarily in smoother tonal transitions and extra lifelike midtones. Even then, he factors out that fashionable full body recordsdata can maintain their very own until you’re trying very intently, which makes the variations extra of a distinct segment benefit than a common one.
The dialogue additionally strikes to the Fuji GFX100 II towards the Sony a7R V. With high-quality lenses on each methods, Ortiz demonstrates what he sees as “3D pop,” particularly seen in pores and skin texture and delicate gradations from mild to shadow. In these examples, medium format’s depth and richness stand out extra clearly, although he’s fast to credit score the lens as a significant factor. The takeaway is that tumbler choice performs an enormous function, a lot in order that a fantastic lens on a full body sensor can typically push outcomes into medium format territory for much much less price.
Ortiz additionally takes on the practicality of seeing these variations exterior of pixel-level scrutiny. He checks prints and acknowledges that at widespread sizes, even close-up crops gained’t reveal a lot distinction to most individuals. Whereas he initially tried to keep away from overly technical comparisons, he acknowledges that tonal transitions and coloration rendering inevitably carry him again to them. Try the video above for the total rundown from Ortiz.