Choosing Camera Formats

Full frame or DX; Micro Four Thirds or one inch sensor compacts.  What about Large format or Medium format; or a camera phone or small sensor compact.

Every week on the forums you see camera A is better then camera B, format size W is better then X, yet in many ways its difficult to compare different formats.

If I had to pick just one then it would be an impossible job.

I much prefer to have a selection of tools available, I was jealously reading the other day about a professional photographer who had grab bags all packed and ready to go for Medium Format, DX mirrorless (Fuji), and a large sensor compact.  Depending on how he felt, where he was going and what the shoot was for, he would just gab the appropriate bag and go.  He also had grab bags for different lighting solutions!

So money no option what would I go for.

Well for landscape I would have and I do have Large Format and Medium Format.  Large Format is not common today and is difficult and challenging to use.  Many would say you can get the same results with full frame 35mm and a high quality PC lens.  If your having to walk a long distance though a full frame mirrorless solution is a great compromise.

Studio I use a mix of equipment, either full frame 35mm or Medium format.

Street shooting is my little Leica, small and not screaming photographer is the ideal, Fuji mirrorless and Microfourthirds is also idea.

So for my formats it would be:

• Large format 5 x 4 inch
• Medium format 6 x 6 cm
• 35mm Full frame SLR for Wildlife
• 35mm Full frame Mirrorless for everyday
• Microfourthirds for travelling light.

Oh course I am now going to ignore the above and mention some cameras.  What would I like to own looking at the cameras available today.

• Large format – Ebony
• Medium format – my Hasselblad and I would also add a Leica S
• Full frame 35mm – Nikon D4 & D810, Leica M 240
• DX ( ok so not on my list but I love the …) – Fuji X100T
• Microfourthirds – Olympus OM-D E-M10

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