MF Definition (Re: Silly Question?)

[Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>You know, I was wondering about that.  What exactly makes it medium format?
>The film frame size?  It is longer than regular 35mm size.  There appears
>to be
>various MF sizes, 2 1/4  X 2 1/4, 2 1/4 X 3, 127, etc.  If you crop 2 1/4 down
>to fit in the landscape mounts, those are still MF.  The type of film?  I get
>Provia in 35mm and 120.  I get XP2 in 35mm or 120.  Seems like the same film,
>just trimmed to different sizes.  What else could it be?  What is the rule?

  I'm not a historian but from what I've read
the definition of MF has changed over time.
At one time cameras that used 4x5 or smaller
sheet film were called medium format (might
include 5x7's too). Roll film cameras were
called something else: small format maybe.

  Nowadays (is that really a word?) MF generally
means that you use 120 or 220 format roll film.
It probably also includes 127 format roll film
(4x4 cm images) but it's not very common anymore.


Greg