Can you tell from the final image if a photo was shot on medium format?
Asked 3/21/2018
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Sometimes I see photos that look especially polished and wonder whether they were shot on medium format. Is there anything in the final image that reliably gives it away, or is it mostly impossible to tell without metadata or direct comparison? What visual differences, if any, should I look for compared with full-frame or crop-sensor cameras?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
1
There are obviously differences between Full-Frame and Medium Format, otherwise people would not be paying so much more just for a heavier camera.
Those who know can recognise the difference but that depends on the photo and most importantly the size at which it is viewed. In theory, one of the main difference is depth-of-field but since lenses are not the same on both for types of camera, you often have access to wider apertures on full-frame than on medium format, which cancels out much of the differnce.
The one difference that really stands out to my eyes is dynamic-range. I have shot architecture around me with Medium Format, Full-Frame, APS-C, Four-Thirds and even smaller sensor, so I have a good amount of images that I can directly compare. The Fujifilm GFX 50S for example captures such high dynamic-range that its outputs looks very similar to properly-done HDR.
Resolution is also very high on Medium Format, although the difference between Full-Frame is not that much. There are full-frame cameras with virtually the same resolution as Medium Format ones. This is mostly visible on very large prints but even when resolution is nearly the same, Medium Format will produce better pixels with lower-noise, more dynamic-range and refined colors. Again, this will not be noticeable on any image but it will on some.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
8y ago
0
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Usually, no—you generally can’t tell for certain from the final image alone. A great photo can come from medium format, full frame, or smaller sensors, especially once it’s resized for web or print.
What people may notice in some medium-format images is:
- very strong dynamic range
- a particular depth-of-field look for a given field of view and framing
- overall image quality when viewed large
But none of these are reliable proof. Lens choice, aperture, lighting, editing, and viewing size matter a lot. Full-frame cameras may use faster lenses that reduce or cancel some of the expected medium-format depth-of-field difference. Better lenses also influence the look significantly.
So the answer is: sometimes experienced viewers may suspect medium format, especially in large, high-quality images or direct comparisons, but you usually cannot know with confidence just by looking. Technique, lens, and post-processing often have a bigger visible impact than sensor format alone.
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