11 Fun Medium Format Cameras To Try

Beatriz Valim @beacasso

September 15, 2025

Medium format is the best format. Here are 11 fun cameras to look into if you want to level up from 35mm.

Medium Format Is the Best Format

Natalie and Bea here — two Moment team film lovers, seasoned professionals, and long-time photographer lovers. We both prefer a medium-format camera over a full-frame 35mm for film and digital work. The textures, bokeh, and overall visual aesthetic are hard to replicate with other analog shooting systems. Plus, they're pieces of tangible art and lovely to have on the shelves.

Yes, medium-format cameras, both digital and analog, can be expensive. Their superior capabilities come at a cost, and the resurgence of film photography hasn't helped prices. But we believe they're worth the investment. With careful research and patience, you can find well-refurbished models without excessive markups; the market fluctuates, so good deals are out there.

Whether you're a pro or just venturing into medium format as a newcomer, these cameras offer a really beautiful and rewarding journey. Below are 10 medium-format cameras that many other film enthusiasts rave about, including a few personal favorites (with 1 or 2 experimental options!).

1. Pentax 645

Everyone's First Go-To

The original Pentax 645 is a straightforward medium-format camera that nails exposure and keeps costs friendly for every first-time user. It skips a few niceties: no AE lock, the in-finder meter reads only full stops, and exposure comp is full stops too — because it was built with negative-film wedding shooters in mind. Precision tweakers can still fine-tune by nudging the ISO in third-stop increments, making it easy to achieve perfectly exposed scans every time. What you get in return is the camera so many film folks cut their teeth on: approachable, durable, and wildly practical. It helped open medium format to more creators, edging past the old Yashicamat 124G as the budget hero and delivering beginner-proof scans. The body packs a motor drive, offers auto or manual exposure, and pairs with a deep lineup of sharp, affordable lenses—especially if you source from Japan eBay. Pop six AAs into the handgrip and you’re rolling. If you can live without fractional metering, the 645 delivers clean, consistent frames with the classic Pentax name.

Pricing: Most high-quality used bodies on Etsy or eBay can be found for around $250-$500. This is a great entry point for those who want to step into this world, but you need to find a good lens to accompany it.

The Head-Turners

These are the medium format studio kings.

RB67 vs RZ67 in plain terms: the RB is the all-mechanical brick; the RZ is its smarter, slightly lighter, battery-powered cousin. RB67 shoots with leaf-shutter lenses, bellows focus, and a rotating back — no batteries, super reliable, but everything is manual and chunky. The RZ67 keeps the rotating back and bellows vibe but adds electronics (takes a 6V 4LR44), nicer ergonomics, better screens, and access to the newer Sekor Z lenses; throw on an AE prism and you get aperture priority, which the RB can’t do.

Both sync flash at any speed and top out around 1/400s. Lens compatibility: RB lenses can go on an RZ with an adapter (you lose the electronic niceties and AE), but RZ lenses won’t run on an RB. Price/weight wise, RB kits are cheaper and heavier; RZ kits cost more but handle a bit quicker. If you want tank-like, battery-free reliability, go RB. If you want modern glass and easier exposure workflow, go RZ.

Portrait shooters LOVE these two cameras. The bellows focusing lets you get close without distortion and the results are chef’s kiss. They’re heavy and a little awkward to hold but worth every pound.

And while you’ll only get 10 shots per roll for either camera, trust me, those 10 frames will come out fire.

Pricing: Vintage models can be found for around $500-$1,000, depending on condition and accessories. The RZ67 is more expensive due to its electronic counterparts, but that only makes it more prone to breakage! For this reason, we recommend going full-time manual with the RB67.

The Point-and-Shoot Medium Format

This is kind of like the Contax T3 of medium-format cameras: stunning, easy to use, and really popular. It's the point-and-shoot golden child of 120 film, making it easy to snap super gorgeous photos with a button click. The built-in Fujion 60mm f4 lens is sanely sharp but not overly clinical.

Like most medium-format cameras, the Fujifilm GA645 isn't as fast-operating as its digital counterparts, so make sure you have the scene set up before you load the roll. It's not super stealth or fast-to-focus for wildlife or sports either, but that doesn't mean you can't try!

But again, because it's automatic, you need to be cautious. Electronic film camera models, no matter the reputable source you buy from, are prone to damage. This model specifically is known to be compromised if the LCD screen stops working; one little component could entirely overthrow the camera. And because it's a little more pricey than others, it's healthy to expect this. But hey — the risk is well worth the reward. You get insanely beautiful images that are exposed and focused perfectly nearly every time.

Pricing: Its popularity raised the price over the last year, but depending on the exact model series or year produced, you can expect a range from $1,000 to $2,000.

The Heirloom

We would be remiss if we failed to include the incredible and historically significant Rolleiflex TLR 120 medium-format camera on this list. This camera has been a crowd favorite for several decades, establishing itself as a go-to choice for analogs photographers since the early 1920s.

Natalie has personally used the Rolleiflex as her primary 120 camera for more than a year, following the unfortunate incident where a cherished Mamiya 645 was damaged in an Arizona monsoon a few summers prior. The Rolleiflex is entirely mechanical, ensuring its longevity without the need for batteries, and it delivers exceptional image quality that you can’t help but praise. It operates efficiently with minimal features, making it a reliable manual camera for all kinds of shots. Plus, it's a stunning heirloom piece on the shelf, adding a kiss of heritage and elegance to any collection.

Pricing: Prices vary widely, but expect to pay around ~$1K for a mint-condition model. The good thing is that a lens is already built-in and included!

7. Mamiya 7

The Travel Photographer’s Dream

The Mamiya 7 is an absolute legend in the medium-format world. This rangefinder somehow packs incredible image quality into a compact, lightweight body — perfect for those who want big, beautiful shots without hauling around a beast of a camera on long trips. Its lenses are razor-sharp, and the color rendition is just a chef's kiss.

But honestly, the Mamiya 7 isn't exactly the cheapest on this list, and finding one can feel like a bit of a treasure hunt. But ask anyone who's used one, like Sam Elkins, and they'll tell you it's worth every penny. There's a running joke among photographers that once you shoot with a Mamiya 7 — you start neglecting all your other cameras. The colors are dynamic, punchy, and downright beautiful when used in tandem with the Kodak Portra series.

Pricing: Starting at around $2,600 for body only, it’s a premium option for serious photographers.

9. Mamiya 645 Series

Deep, Rich Tones

The Mamiya 645 system is one of the easiest ways to step into medium format.

It delivers that rich 6×4.5 look with SLR ergonomics and a deep, affordable lens lineup, so it feels familiar if you’re coming from 35mm yet clearly upgrades your image quality. You get about 15 frames per 120 roll, quick handling, and a body that’s lighter and more compact than most 6×7 rigs, which makes it a genuinely practical daily carry.

Where it shines is flexibility. The classic manual-focus bodies (M645, 1000S, J) keep things simple and sturdy, but the later 645 Super/Pro/Pro TL add interchangeable backs and AE prisms for aperture-priority; and the 645AF/AFD line goes further with integrated metering and autofocus for the easiest user experience. Mamiya’s Sekor lenses are serious standouts for the pros too — sharp, consistent, and reasonably priced. The normal 80mm f/2.8 is an easy win; the 150mm f/3.5 is a sleeper portrait lens; the 55mm f/2.8 is a great wider everyday option; and the cult-favorite 80mm f/1.9 delivers dreamy separation if you can find a clean copy.

But some advice — treat the camera like the vintage electronic it is: these aren’t weather-sealed, so avoid rain and big temperature swings, and know that AE prisms add weight and can be dimmer than a clean waist-level finder.

Pricing: Body-only options start at around $500 and are in excellent condition, offering incredible value for money.

10. Hasselblad 500CM

The Iconic Medium Format

There's nothing quite like a Hasselblad, and Bea could talk about this bay boy for hours (I'm not kidding).

Once you have this camera, everything else feels like a toy. Its build quality is bulletproof, and the modular design lets you mix and match components to build your perfect setup.

Sure, Hasselblad's latest digital models might cost as much as a small car (I'm not kidding), but the 500CM gives you that iconic Hasselblad experience without totally draining your bank account. You'll be respected on the streets, that's for sure.

Pricing: Prices vary widely, but depending on condition and included accessories, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.