If you’ve been shooting with 35 mm film for a while, you might find yourself starting to hear whispers about medium format photography. It sounds intimidating at first, but once you try out a medium format camera, I promise your life will be changed forever. Since the 120 negatives are physically larger than 35 mm, you get a lot more detail, tonal range and finer grain. It’s better for enlargements, so if you’re planning on making prints or showing in a gallery, you’ll really start to notice the difference. 120 film can be more expensive than 35 mm, but it also makes you a more decisive shooter and you’ll cherish your photos because of the amount of thought that went into them. Personally, there is nothing more exciting to me than getting my film back from the processing lab. If you’ve been considering diving into medium format photography, this list will hopefully help you figure out where and how to start your 120 journey! Help keep 120 film alive, we need you!
Of course I’m going to start off with my favorite camera on earth, the Holga GCFN. I still remember my very first roll of film and how enamored I was with the photos. I was in college at the time, developing my own film and creating my own prints in the darkroom. There was something special about the way the medium format photos printed and the beauty of the tones, grain, and detail. Even shooting with a camera like the Holga, a plastic toy camera, it was still noticeably different to my 35 mm film photos. I also loved the square format and the unpredictability of the photos. The photos always turned out differently than I imagined, but that was what I loved about it. There is something so special about the Holga and it really allows you to create photographs that are entirely unique to anything you’ve ever seen. You can read my full blog post about the Holga here or watch my YouTube video here. It’s great for beginners because it’s so affordable. It’s not a huge investment and it’s easy to travel with due to its light weight and plastic body. Plus, they’re just super cute and if you end up not even using it, it still looks cute up on a shelf and is always a conversation starter!
WHERE TO BUY
Amazon
B&H Photo
eBay (for more fun color options)
2. Diana F+
The Diana F+ is incredibly similar to the Holga GCFN because it’s also considered a toy camera. While I find them to be a little more finicky to use than the Holga GCFN, but there are a few reasons I still pick mine up to use it from time to time. Years ago, I was lucky enough to pick up a Diana f+ kit that came with a ton of different lenses like a fisheye. They don’t make the kits anymore, but sometimes they pop up on eBay from time to time. Also, the Diana F+ does have a slightly different look to the photos than the Holga, and some people prefer it. I recommend trying them both out to see which one you like better! There is also a 110 version, 35 mm version, and mini version of the camera. It can be hard to find these versions sometimes, but they do exist! The Diana is known for it’s teal and black body, which might even be a bit cuter than the Holga. I have a full review and YouTube video about this camera too if you’d like to see sample photos and find out more!
WHERE TO BUY
B&H Photo
Etsy
eBay
3. Kodak Brownie Haweye
I have so many box cameras at my house it’s not even funny. As the photographer in my family, whenever someone stumbles upon old cameras in their attics or basements, they end up with me. For some reason, I was always intimidated by box cameras. I assumed there was no way I could make them work because they are so old. But they are extremely simple to understand and use., including the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. The only difference is that they take 620 film instead of 120. They are actually the same size but the spool is just slightly different. I recommend buying pre-spooled 620 film on B&H Photo because it’s a pain to unspool 120 film and re-spool it onto a 620 spool. If you’d like to save some money though, buying 620 spools and re-spooling yourself is the best option, but this is really for advanced photographers because you need a darkroom bag or complete darkness to avoid exposing the film to light. It’s much easier to just buy 620 film and throw it in the camera! I love how vintage the photos look. It’s like they’re straight out of a museum. You have to hold the camera extremely still while taking the photo because the shutter speed is only about 1/30th of a second, and I recommend shooting in bright light for the best outcome. Read more about this camera on my blog here, or watch my YouTube video with sample photos in Hawaii here!
WHERE TO BUY
Etsy
eBay
Amazon
4. Kodak Duaflex 620
After trying out the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, I wasn’t as afraid of using 620 box cameras anymore, so I decided to give the Kodak Duaflex 620 a try while I was in Portugal and I became obsessed! The photos were a bit sharper than the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. I do think my lens on my Kodak Brownie Hawkeye is a bit fogged though so that may have been one of the issues. I found the Duaflex to be a little more consistent though. However, this made the images look not quite as vintage, and more high quality. If you’re going for the 1950s vintage photograph look, you might prefer the foggier, less sharp images produced by the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. They are both fun to try out though so if you stumble upon either of them in a thrift store, pick it up! Read my full blog post about this camera here, or watch my YouTube video here!
WHERE TO BUY
Etsy
eBay
KEH Camera
5. Lubitel 166+
I haven’t tried out a Lubitel 166+ yet but it’s on my list to pick one up as soon as I can! They aren’t super expensive, especially if you find one on eBay, and they have such a fun look to them. It takes stunning portraits and landscape photographs and you have much more control than the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye or Kodak Duaflex. It also has a much better aperture range from f/4.5 to f/22, meaning it works better in low light and you’re more likely to get a sharp photo. The Kodak Brownie Hawkeye and Kodak Duaflex only have a range of about f/11 to f/16, so it’s a huge difference. And you’ll definitely notice it when it comes to up close portraits. I can’t wait to try out this camera. I’ll definitely be posting a review at some point!
WHERE TO BUY
Etsy
eBay
KEH Camera
6. Mamiya 645
The Mamiya 645AF was my first “professional” medium format camera. I actually ended up selling it so I could upgrade to the Contax 645, but I still miss it to this day. There was something truly special about the way the photographs looked, especially the way it handled double exposures. It’s quite a bit more expensive than the previous cameras on this list, but if you’re ready for a bump-up, this is really the next level if you’re heading into more serious medium format photography. If I ever have the budget to purchase one just to have on my shelf and try out from time to time, you better believe I’ll be picking one up. There are various versions of this camera but I prefer the Mamiya 645AF which includes autofocus. However, the autofocus on mine never really worked so I’d end up shooting in manual most of the time. I still like to have that feature whenever I can though, because it allows you to shoot much more quickly, especially if you’re working a wedding or something similar. I have a full blog post and YouTube video about this camera too if you’d like to find out more! In terms of lenses, I recommend the 80 mm f/2.8 Sekor lens. It’s a bit of a cult classic!
WHERE TO BUY
KEH Camera
eBay
Etsy
Amazon
7. Pentax 645
The Pentax 645 is widely popular and similar to the Mamiya 645. It’s said that it’s easier to use than the Mamiya and feels more comfortable to handle. The Mamiya 645 is large and bulky and doesn’t have the most comfortable grip. I haven’t tried the Pentax 645 yet, but it’s another one that is on my list. It’s bettter for fast shooting, while the Mamiya might make more sense for slower, planned images and studio photography. It’s not the cheapest camera in the world, but it’s also a pro-level medium format camera and takes stunning photographs. I’m personally looking into the Pentax 645N camera because it has autofocus, a built-in multiple exposure, and aperture priority, but there are quite a few versions of this camera as well.
WHERE TO BUY
KEH Camera
eBay
Etsy
Amazon
8. Fujifilm GA645
I’ve wanted the Fujifilm GA645 camera for YEARS, and when my sister-in-law purchased one for herself, I was so jealous. For a professional medium format camera, it’s super compact and is great for travel. My sister-in-law works for Nike and has taken it on multiple trips through China, Italy, and Costa Rice and the images are always amazing. I’ve had the chance to snap a few shots with it and I’m always surprised by how simple it is to use. It’s essentially a medium format point-and-shoot. Honestly, a dream concept of mine. The only reason I haven’t purchased one yet is because it doesn’t have a multiple exposure feature, when is a necessity for me. It has auto film loading and advancing, so it’s must simpler to switch film rolls than any of the other cameras I’ve mentioned, but that often means you’re not able to trick it into multiple exposure. I may end up with one of these at some point, because it’s such a perfect concept for a medium format camera, but it is a bummer that it doesn’t fully cover my needs when it comes to multiple exposure. I don’t have a photo of the camera, so I decided to share one of the images I took while using my sister-in-law’s camera!
WHERE TO BUY
KEH Camera
eBay
Etsy
9. Bronica ETR Series
The Bronica ETR series cameras are also a little bulky, similar to the Mamiya 645 and Pentax 645. It’s known to be great for studio photography because of it’s flash sync capabilities. A pro for me is that it’s easy to create multiple exposures with some of the Bronica cameras. The only downside is that they are fully manual, meaning you have to set the shutter speed and aperture. This can be somewhat time consuming, but it does allow for more control over your images. It also doesn’t have autofocus, so you really need to know what you’re doing with these cameras. However, if you’re looking for a challenge and want to prove to yourself that you fully understand photography and want to have full control over your photos, this is a great choice. The Bronica series also has amazing lenses to choose from like the Zenzanon 75 mm f/2.8. It’s an incredible portrait lens and will blow your mind.
WHERE TO BUY
eBay
Etsy
KEH Camera
10. Hasselblad 500C/M
If you know anything about medium format photography, you’ve heard about this camera. It’s a pro-level camera with tack sharp photos and a uniquely built body. It’s perfect for fine art photography and if you’re hoping to create images that can be enlarged beautifully and hung in a gallery. The photographs are simply stunning. My sister-in-law also has one of these and I’ve scanned her film for her in the past and I’m always in awe of the photos. There is truly nothing like medium format photography and the Hasselblad 500C/M really shows that. It’s a beast of a camera and you’ll likely hear about it often the more you get into medium format photography. The reason I love it is because of the square format images, which are similar to the Holga or Diana F+. I prefer square images (6 x 6 cm) over the rectangular, standard 6 x 4.5 cm that many of the other professional medium format cameras shoot. It’s really all about preference, but to me, the square format is mesmerizing. Again though, this camera is fully manual so it’s really meant for professionals.
WHERE TO BUY
KEH Camera
eBay
Etsy
11. Contax 645
As a bonus, I have to include the Contax 645. This is the pro-level medium format camera that I use and I’m obsessed. It’s much easier to use than cameras like the Hasselblad 500C/M because it has aperture priority and autofocus, so it’s better for weddings and quick shooting. I’m not a slow, nuanced shooter, though I wish I could be! I shoot fast, on the go, and impatiently. In the photography world they call it “decisive moment” shooting, but I know deep down that mostly I’m just impatient. But it’s ok! We all shoot differently and it’s part of why my work is the way it is. I’m learning to embrace it! It’s not cheap and is easily the most expensive film camera I’ve ever bought. It’s huge and bulky and heavy, but the photos are absolutely to die for. You can read my full review about this camera here! And of course, I have a YouTube video about it too here. :)
WHERE TO BUY
KEH Camera
eBay
FINAL THOUGHTS
I hope this list has helped you narrow down your favorites when it comes to medium format cameras, and maybe even inspired you to take the leap and try it out! It’s not as scary as it seems, I promise! You’ll be in love with the photos and you’ll never go back. Plus, 120 film needs help! Unfortunately, it’s just not popular and if people don’t start buying more 120 film, there is a possibility it will cease to exist. This would be absolutely devastating and I hope I don’t live to see that day. But that’s why it needs your help! If you aren’t sure which film to buy, you can check out my posts, The Best 120 Film Stocks and Where to Buy Them, 120 Film on a Budget, or The 5 Best and Most Affordable Black and White 35 mm and 120 Film Stocks with Reviews & Sample Photos.
Help keep 120 film alive!
If you found this post helpful in any way, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.
If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!
<3 Myles Katherine
