Too many variables that are not a function of the film are mixed in here. Different lenses, different exposures and even different film stock, the Portra being a pro level film with much better exposure latitude and dynamics than the gold (which is evident if you shoot both in 35mm). There are really only two differences between medium format and 35mm *if* you assume all other factors equal (exposure, lenses, equivalent aperture): Grain and resolution. Each film has a specific resolution and a specific size of grain. The logical consequence is that using a larger area of film for the same size picture will give you better resolution and finer relative grain. It's kind of comparable to digital image sensor resolution. If 35mm is 8MP then 120 is 40MP (random approximate numbers just for making an example).

You didn’t account for enough of the variables in your conclusion. The lighting conditions are too different even though there wasn’t a huge time delay, the lab obviously used different hardware and probably software for the two formats, the metering wasn’t consistent and that could have contributed, and if either or both cameras was operating out of spec that could also skew the results. Fundamentally, the dynamic range is determined by the film type and has nothing to do with format size. It’s the same grains when the stock is the same, ie Portra 400 is the same in both 35mm and 120. Going bigger can provide some real benefits, but dynamic range isn’t one.

I would have loved to have seen an apples to apples comparison. Same metering and film. The 35 looks exposed for background and the 120 looks exposed for the dark foreground. I can NOT draw any conclusions from this.

I always thought film is film - if you use the same film stock in any camera, you should be able to duplicate the dynamic range. The only difference is that the larger format will allow for greater enlargement before losing sharpness ...

Me and my partner do mainly B&W and some darkroom work. For printing the 35mm has more notable grain even at 8x10" prints, the medium format is much finger grain wise and you can happily crop in at this print size. Bigger negative = bigger print. But for 8x10 or smaller either format is completely useable. One of the odd gripes my partner has of my 120 over her 35mm, is the 120 film has less shots, so you get to go through rolls faster and you less often get stuck with a less than optimal film (i.e. 100iso in dark conditions). The Hasselblad also has multiple backs (more common for 120 format) completely navigating this issue.

You make beautiful content. This deserve more views and likes

I don't believe one is better than the other, they are just different. One may favor the other depending on the composition, but this can be very subjective from one photographer or artist to the next. Again, the two are just different and it's difficult to draw a firm line on which one is definitively better over the other.

I'm not a pro, just an observer. My question is, how come the 120 images look so much lighter overall? Does it seem to overexpose a bit?

Really interesting comparison, funny enough I discovered your channel while searching for vids on the Yashica Mat. It was a pleasant surprise to find a content creator from my neck of the woods too, with locations I could realistically get to. I had ordered a Yashica Mat but unfortunately it was a dud with a stuck shutter, bit of a gamble but it was only £30. But watching your vids and the results you got made me determined to try it so I’ve ordered a fully refurbed 124 G and have a roll of Portra 400 waiting on it. I also shoot with a Pentax SV currently loaded with Fuji Eterna which I’m looking forward to seeing the results of, I’ve never tried it before. Anyway a very long winded way of saying I love your videos (excellent production quality) and wish you every success with the channel. Cheers

Filim

Sorry, but the test is flawed from the start. You used VERY different films. Portra in itself has WAY more dynamic range. There should not be such a huge difference when using the same film.

I don’t shoot on film, but it was interesting to learn about this!

Nice! I would have like to seen some crop to 100% comparison. The same film would also help to find out how big is the dynamic range difference. Maybe in the next one :-)

Great vid! Keep it up! 📸

New to the channel. Fun video and good input. (:

Which film do you shoot then folks?

I’m not sure the dynamic range is the deepest difference when it comes the medium format. Too much variables as the other person said. There is a certain Medium Format Look, which has more to do with the focal length and depth of field. Even after 15 years in photography I can’t exactly explain what is all about.

I shot film but now I shoot film-um...!