Do You Need a Medium Format Camera?

Image sensing technology is forever improving. At the moment, it’s possible to use a 280MP camera like the Pas 280 to capture images with extremely high resolution. 

But that’s a large format camera. Medium format cameras like the phase one 100mp camera make more sense. They are more affordable and still offer high resolutions of up to 100MP. Still, they are expensive (to the tune of thousands of dollars) leading to the question: Why would you need one? 

You need a medium format camera when it is imperative to capture images with impeccable detail, like in advertising and fashion photography. Another perfect application is aerial photography for purposes like inspection, mapping, and surveying, especially when using drones. 

When capturing aerial imagery with larger aircraft, you’ll need to use large format cameras like the Pas 280 if you are to take crisp photos with resolutions that make use cases like mapping easy. 

In this article, I’ll discuss the factors that necessitate a medium format camera, in addition to the benefits you get from using one. 

What Makes a Medium Format Camera Special? 

Medium format cameras are expensive. That price tag has to come with unique features, and it does. 

To begin with, the level of detail you get from a medium format camera is unbelievable, especially in a studio setting. You can see the most minute details of whatever you capture. 

Medium format cameras capture such high detail because they have high-resolution sensors. The advanced sensor comes in handy in the field, for example in landscape photography. 

However, it also comes in handy in another fast-emerging area, drone photography. 

Drone Photography

While medium format cameras like the Phase One 100MP camera come in handy in the studio and in several field uses, one of their most common uses is in drone photography. In fact, the Phase One 100MP camera can be more aptly referred to as the Phase One drone camera. 

Industrial drone photography typically requires extremely high resolution images. If you are taking drone photos to inspect an oil rig, you’ll want the ability to assess millimeter-sized damage to inform preventive maintenance. Similarly, if you are trying to map a city, you’ll want high-resolution images, which will ease the process of stitching the images together to come up with a three-dimensional map. 

And since the distinguishing quality of the Phase One drone camera is its impressive detail, it’s perfectly suited for such drone photography use cases. 

If you’re using a drone to inspect, map, or survey; you’ll definitely need a medium format camera. Using other cameras with lower resolutions will make your work difficult. You might not even be able to accomplish your goals. 

The Disadvantages of Medium Format Cameras

The biggest disadvantage of a medium format camera is the cost. The low-end devices in this category cost a few thousand dollars, which is already expensive. And if you want to enjoy the full power of a medium format device, you’d be better going for the high-end ones, which can cost as much as fifty thousand dollars. 

Another con of this class of cameras is the size. A medium format camera with best-in-class features will be large and relatively bulky. Due to this, you may be unable to use it as a hand-held camera. 

If you are used to speed, then a medium format camera may feel slow. Many things will be slower, from the autofocus feature to the time taken to load the film. 

Also, most medium format cameras are best suited for stills. You can’t use them to shoot video. Even the ones that allow you to shoot video do a shoddy job. You should keep this in mind when acquiring one. 

Conclusion

The most important considerations to make when it comes to the medium format camera have to do with price and the level of detail you need in your photos. 

The hallmark of this format is detail. They typically have extremely high-resolution, allowing you to capture images with impressive levels of detail. 

But you’ll have to part with a lot of money for the best medium format digital cameras. 

If your use case involves the regular capture of high-resolution images, then it should be a worthwhile investment. Most industrial applications fall under this category, like the inspection of critical infrastructure.