Is Medium Format Film in Trouble?

Not many film cameras are being made these days: but they are indeed being made. Perhaps it has to do with profitability and understanding the market. But what’s really fascinating to think about is that we haven’t had a major manufacturer make a solid medium format film camera since the Lomography LCA 120. That was over a decade ago at this point. And while brands are still making medium format film, more cameras aren’t being made to support them. So instead, photographers need to dive into auctions and thrift stores to find those cameras. But will medium format film ever really recover?

So if there were new medium format cameras made, what would we have or need?

• Something with autofocus in the form of a point and shoot perhaps
• A camera that could take old Pentax or Mamiya lenses
• Some sort of camera that could use Hasselblad V lenses

Of course, I think that it might make the most sense to start at the 645 format and then work your way up to 6×9 or something that big.

If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably also wondering it too: why isn’t medium format film given the same affinity and love as 35mm. Clearly, 35mm is the more profitable format. And in an already niche industry, it’s hard to justify the investment. But 3D printing cameras could be done pretty cheaply and already is done for a profit.

Even I have to admit, I don’t shoot medium format film as much. If anything, I’ve adapted my Hasselblad to shoot Instax film.

I truly hope that more and more photographers pick up analog processes in rebellion against AI — and that’s if they’re not going to have content credentials on their work. Either way, humanity truly needs to come back to processes that are more organically human than they are digital.