I discovered very quickly that the Pentax 645 was much easier to use than the Hasselblad 500c. I got more photos per roll, too, even though they were smaller than the 6-by-6cm of the 500c. The were/are 6-by-4.5cm, which is where the Ò645Ó comes from in the name. One thing I did notice was the clarity and sharpness of that prime lens. To my eyes, it was just as good if not a tiny bit better than the renowned Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8 prime lens. I started shooting with the Pentax 645 a lot because unlike the 500c and the two Mamiyas, it isnÕt a pain to use. It acts a lot like a 35mm SLR or even a DSLR, much more so than my three other medium-format cameras.

Simply put, medium-format photography is quite a bit more complex than shooting with 35mm film SLRs or 35mm-style DSLRs. It takes a bit more skill - and experience - to handle medium-format cameras. Not only do you need to learn to think differently about how you shoot, but you also have a whole new type of equipment to learn. Medium-format cameras produce bigger images, which allows for more detail and greater enlargement. And because they, in general, were designed for professional photographers, the lenses tend to be of better quality that most 35mm lenses, which also adds to the detail in the images. In this book, we'll take a look at medium-format SLRs and TLRs, and we'll even touch upon some other types. We'll also consider a few lenses, although these largely are a matter of choice. And there are far fewer choices for medium-format cameras than for other types. Time to do some weight training and heft those medium-format cameras and lenses into position. Let's go.

There's something odd about twin-lens reflex (TLR) film cameras, but very appealing. I can't really explain it. TLR cameras are bulky, awkward to use and, well, kind-of weird. Still, I love picking one up and taking it out to shoot. Mamiya TLRs comprise a rare line of TLR cameras in that they were the only pro TLR cameras that had interchangeable lenses other than Contaflex. That fact alone made me long for one a long time. When I bought my Yashica Mat EM, there were Mamiya TLR cameras available, but usually at two to three times the cost. Like the other medium-format (MF) cameras - Hasselblad, Bronica, Pentax, etc. - the Mamiyas were far out of reach. That is until around 2003 when photographers were ditching their film cameras, and selling them cheap. They may not be as cheap now, but they're still worth the prices. As I said, shooting with a TLR is an odd experience, but one definitely worth experiencing.

It always was The Dream: The Hasselblad 500c Never mind that it was impractical for a photographer without a studio, or that it cost a bundle, or that the odds against ever owning one were big. There it was, a monolith above all other cameras. It was in the pages of the photo magazines, as advertisements occasionally, as part of an article occasionally. The two beacons of perfection, allegedly, were the Hasselblad 500c and the Leica whatever. For some reason, the Leica never caused a spark in me back then. Now, sure, but not then. Canon, Minolta, Nikon and Olympus cameras also were dreams, at the top of many of my wish lists. The Hasselblad 500c, though... that was on a level all its own. Then, suddenly, digital photography dawned and everyone was ditching their film gear. A fellow photographer said, "Hey, do you still want a Hasselblad because a friend of mine's selling one." It still was more than two weeks' salary, but it was cheaper than it had been. I had to have it. And it is an amazing camera.

It has been a long, strange road, and probably has no end clearly in sight. Many more books are in the works as I write this in early December 2018. For example, I have published nine novels to date, and am writing nine more, with plans for some beyond that. The Shawn M. Tomlinson's Guide to Photography series has 29 titles in print, with another five or six nearly complete, and plans for 30 to 40 more. I'm also trying to rework and rearrange those books into omnibus editions by chronology and by theme.I never will get every book done I want to do, but it keeps me busy.I always planned on putting out a catalog of all the Zirlinson Books, but kept getting waylaid for one reason or another until now. This catalog is available as a print book in color. The color print book will be cost prohibitive for many people, so there likely will be a black and white version available, too.

It always was The Dream: The Hasselblad 500cNever mind that it was impractical for a photographer without a studio, or that it cost a bundle, or that the odds against ever owning one were big.There it was, a monolith above all other cameras.It was in the pages of the photo magazines, as advertisements occasionally, as part of an article occasionally.The two beacons of perfection, allegedly, were the Hasselblad 500c and the Leica whatever.For some reason, the Leica never caused a spark in me back then. Now, sure, but not then.Canon, Minolta, Nikon and Olympus cameras also were dreams, at the top of many of my wish lists.The Hasselblad 500c, though... that was on a level all its own.Then, suddenly, digital photography dawned and everyone was ditching their film gear. A fellow photographer said, "Hey, do you still want a Hasselblad because a friend of mine's selling one."It still was more than two weeks' salary, but it was cheaper than it had been. I had to have it.And it is an amazing camera