Medium Format on Sony Cameras

Name: Baveyes HB-S/E 0.7x
Brand: Kipon
Availability: InStock

Old medium format lenses are cheap — but how do you use them on Sony cameras? We'll help you out!

Over the last decades, medium format cameras have been used for the most extravagant photo shoots; whether it's fashion or retail, if you want that special look you go for the medium format photographers.

The tools for medium format photography have now started to age, which makes them a great target for photography hobbyists and enthusiasts — and that's where we come in; how do you use the tools on modern Sony cameras?

Let's deep dive into the medium format photography world.

The Focal Reducer

The first thing you're gonna need is a focal reducer. Since a medium format sensor is larger than a full frame sensor, the focal reducer is used to convert the lens to a full frame equivalent.

The focal reducer needed in this case is the Baveyes M645-S/E 0.7x, which reduces the image circle by 30%, turning a 110 mm Mamiya 645 lens into a 77 mm full frame equivalent.

Best Medium Format Adapters for Sony

There are two different medium format adapters available for Sony:

1. Kipon Baveyes M645-S/E 0.7x

This focal reducer from Kipon is easy to use and feels great in your hand; it's built from metal and locks the lenses in a solid way, which makes me feel confident about using it for long periods of time — or even on professional shoots.

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✅ Solid build quality
✅ Great optical quality
✅ Acceptable price
✅ Mamiya 645 lenses are cheap

Buy Kipon Baveyes M645-S/E 0.7x here:

Store	In Stock	Price
	✅	See Price ➡

2. Kipon Baveyes HB-S/E 0.7x

This focal reducer is essentially the same as Baveyes M645-S/E 0.7x, but with one exception: the lens mount is Hasselblad instead of Mamiya 645. Other than that, they perform the same.

Our only caveat is that the Hasselblad lenses are much more expensive than the Mamiya 645 lenses.

Find Lowest Price

✅ Solid build quality
✅ Great optical quality
✅ Acceptable price

⚠️ Hasselblad lenses are more expensive than Mamiya 645 lenses

Buy Kipon Baveyes HB-S/E 0.7x here:

Store	In Stock	Price
	✅	See Price ➡

Medium Format Lenses

When it comes to medium format lenses, you have two choices that are both great; Hasselblad and Mamiya. There is one big difference though; the price. Older Mamiya lenses are much more affordable than older Hasselblad lenses, and most of the Mamiya glass is good enough for photographers like you and me.

One of the most popular lenses to buy second hand is the Mamiya 645 110mm f/2.8 lens, which has a great build quality and can be bought for a couple of hundred dollars.

Calculate Focal Length

In order to calculate the focal length you get when using a medium format adapter (like the focal reducers we mention in this article), simply multiply both the lens speed and the focal length by the focal reduction factor, in our case 0.7x.

Mamiya 110mm f/2.8 becomes:

-	Medium Format	Full Frame
Focal Length	110mm	77mm
Speed	2.8	1.96

This means that the 110mm f/2.8 Mamiya lens essentially becomes a 77mm f/2 lens on a full frame camera, using the Baveyes M645-S/E 0.7x focal reducer.

Why Medium Format?

So, why the fuzz about medium format?

1. Professional Look

The shallow depth of field you get when shooting medium format is like the step from APS-C sensors to full frame sensors; it's simply a step up from full format photography and cinematography.

2. Great Lenses

First of all, the lenses made for medium format cameras are really good — and since many of them are so old, they are cheap on eBay as well.

3. Less Chromatic Abberration

Since the lenses are longer in medium format photography, you actually get less chromatic abberration and better optical quality than you would if you shot on a wider lens; it's easier to make a great 110 mm lens than it is to make a good 77 mm lens.

4. Low Prices

Even though modern medium format cameras are very expensive, the older cameras and the older lenses are very affordable. Keep an eye out on eBay to find great deals all over the world.