Medium format changes the calculation on almost every setting — the sensor's extreme resolution and dynamic range reward a slower, more deliberate approach than a full-frame body.
Studio/landscape: f/8-f/11 on a tripod, base ISO
The 102MP medium-format sensor resolves detail that genuinely justifies a narrower aperture and a stable base most full-frame work doesn't need.
Best for: Studio, product, and landscape work
Dynamic range recovery: expose for the highlights, lift shadows in post
The sensor's dynamic range headroom in the shadows is unusually deep, so protecting highlights at capture time and recovering shadow detail afterward outperforms exposing for a balanced average.
Best for: High-contrast scenes
Handheld: favour a faster minimum shutter speed than usual
The extreme resolution reveals camera shake sooner than a lower-megapixel sensor would, even with in-body stabilisation active.
Best for: Handheld work away from a tripod
Want the full lesson?
This topic is covered in depth in Lesson 1: Professional Camera Systems.
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