I have used formats from Speed Graphics 4x5 down to Medium Format down to 135 SLR all have pluses and minuses. But the question is on Medium format film cameras. In high School the Yashica Mat 124 G was a great twin lenses camera shooting 120/220 film with a built in light meter.

I later on purchased the Mamiya C330 with 80mm lenses which was a rugged well built but slight bigger camera with a leaf shutter.

Wanting to switch to an 135 SLR style but a medium format Mamiya 645 came out with a 120/220 frame format that was similar to a 135 but larger negative, I still have two bodies of this camera plus extra lenses, a light meter penta-house view finder that made the camera shoot like a SLR, instead of only 12 ex-posers on a 120 film you could now shot 15 photos per roll, the only setback was you could not change film between rolls until Mamiya came out with a attachable film back which came out on 645 later models versions, the balance between weight and size at a price a lot less than a Hasselblad medium format.

Any of these medium format cameras can be found on E-Bay at used prices will vary according to condition. All which make great all around and studio use that givea decent size negative in black & white and color.

Yashica Mat 124 G with lightmeter


Mamiya 645 w/ 80 mm lens 1st Generation


Hasselblad

I purchased an HP desktop computer to upgrade my work computer. After using it for a short time it would freeze up and slow down. Not wanting to trash it since it new and had all my work files on it I solved the problem by upgrading the amount of memory, switching to an M2 hard drive (the motherboard had a slot for one), and upgraded the processor for about $100. Since then the computer has been more like the one I should have purchased when replacing it, Never go with the lowest price model or you may regret it rather quickly.
I am hoping to got back to an Apple iMac 24" with a M3 chip and use Parallels so I can run both Apples OS Windows OS as needed with a lot better desktop computer.

I like reading the replies and the original question, got me thinking that if we already have the smart cell phone tech and apps why not use them in cameras and update the camera touch screen to perform the same functions that can be done on a smartphone plus the functions of a camera sort of like a 2 in 1 device, it seem that you would have better lenses photos along with smart photo easy to use apps, plus with the ability to store higher memory storage to match what is possible on a smartphone. It might make more people upgrade there cameras for better tech and take digital cameras to the next level and demand.

Since I have switched to digital photography, I like that I can do more versions of a photo in post-processing of images in less time than it would take in an actual darkroom to get amazing results, and now with AI assistance, it should only get better. This is why I now label my pictures as Photo-Art.

Olympus OM-D 10 M2 with kit lens , post processed Richmond Vt Round Church and joggers

I would check with eBay on used camera values, I have purchased several used like new with little use for really low prices from $25-100 with lenses prime and zoom that were over hundreds of dollars new, certain brands retain more values, but as digital and smartphones have been around for a while now and gotten better the longer you wait the less they are worth. I own a couple Mamiya 645 bodies with meter prisms, extra lenses, flash-handle that are in great shape and all working condition, but to sell them now would be a shame I would rather use them on my digital cameras with manual adapters.

I like your reply, the first thing I noted with his post was that he was a hobbyist so the need for Pro quality of lesser image quality might meet the needs of a smaller and lighter camera. I own cameras for various digital needs from Pro to casual, the one that I might use may be depended on the type of photography I am doing, and use afterward. With all the mega zooms available in smaller cameras there is pretty much a lot to choose from that will meet the needs without being always locked into gear you own that might be bigger and heavy.

Nikon Pocket CoolPix 12X zoom gets the job done without the weight for everyday hobbyist use


Sony line of Bridge cameras lightweight, lots of features, bigger zoom range and feel and works like a digital DSLR


Nikon Coolpix pocket camera 12X zoom


Olympus OM-D 10M2 sepia setting

You might want to think of an alternative to your camera gear for casual photo taking, if you own a smartphone the newer models do a pretty good job at the size most people view their photos. A used pocket camera with a zoom of up to 30 x or less can be had for reasonable prices on eBay with many name brands to choose from. A Sony bridge camera with a Zoom, switching to a micro 4/3 camera might do the trick with it smaller size and smaller gear making things a lot lighter.

Full Frame total dedication to the art of photography


Nikon Pocket Coolpix camera 12X zoom, jpeg files


Sony Bridge 30X zoom Camera with GPS, some with jpeg & RAW files


Olympus Tough m4/3 Zoom, Macro jpegs & raw and video


m4/3 vs full frame size matters

Nice photos for such a small camera, might need to check it out.

When I transition from real film to digital cameras were for film Konica Auto T, Olympus OM series of cameras, Yasicha 124, Mamiya 300 twin lenses, Mamiya 645, Speed Graphic sheet film 4x5, and Minolta Maxxum series.

Now that I have switched to digital and gotten older I have added several sizes depending on the type and use of the photos for pay or pleasure needs. I don't own a smartphone/ camera yet even though they have gotten better with time and AI apps. For real casual use, I own a Nikon Coolpix pocket camera that has a 13x zoom but only shoots 16mega pixel jpegs. Next, I went with a Sony Bridge camera cause of all the newer features plus built-in GPS and a 30X zoom from wide to telephoto, plus sweep panorama. Next, a Sony SLT A-55 cause it allows me to use the A mount AF lenses from my film camera at great prices for almost like new used Minolta Maxxum lenses off eBay at low prices that still take great photos. Next to reduce weight and size and shoots RAW files and Jpegs My goto Camera is Olympus OM-D 1, 5, 10 which looks and feels like my Olympus Cameras from my film day. Just being able to carry a full set of gear and less gear bulk and less weight and photo quality equal to or better than my days of shooting film.

Welcome to the new world, as we have switched from film to digital along the way we have bad mouth the tech along the way, but as it has gotten better we now embrace it with all its pluses and minuses. Just as hardware and cameras have changed along with processing the images good or bad, AI advances good or bad will do the same, it is just another tool in our toolbox to use into the future of photography.

Maybe the files that are saved from AI can include in the metadata that it is enhanced by AI.

Even Ansel Adams Zone System images were manipulated during the shooting stage and dodged and burned during the printing. Man was the AI back then, now it will be log rythumns made by man.

For me anything that adds to what we can add to our tool kit is a plus, the genie has been let out of the bag, the only con I can see is how people use it for faking things and hiding the truth on purpose.

I like your response, even though I do not own a smart camera, the quality of the camera phone has really gotten better with phones like the iPhone 13-14 plus the AI apps most people use, with built-in GPS you'll locate without memory where the photo was taken along with the metadata, plus most photos will be viewed on a screen that is more than adequate for display or printing out, plus sharing to cloud storage, plus video.

Having said that I still see the use of a pocket camera or bridge camera if you like me and don't use a smartphone but want easy-to-use cameras with many features. Sony makes a lot of the sensors for other brands so that is not an issue as to image quality. Here are my go to cameras to use when I want to keep it simple, but want shoot that I can print or share with others. These are quite reasonable in price if bought used and easily available on Ebay. Just be sure to buy extra batteries for extended use.

Nikon Coolpix with 12x zoom

Nikon Cool-pix 12X zoom some Nikon models also have GPS


Sony Bridge 30x zoom with GPS Used $100-150

The reason I reply on Apple is that yes I can use MS Windows on my Apple computer by using a program called Parallels that allows me a virtual window to operate in because I have software that is MS Win only, just showing that on one computer I can use both depending on my needs on one computer.

Been an MS Win user since MS DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 for about 40+ years, but I like the fact that I am not stuck using a Windows OS which they had some very bad ones over the years.

A LOT OF TRUTH TO YOUR STATEMENT. MS WINDOWS is a lot of not ready for prime time OS that uses its user to find all the bugs for updates to keep it staple. Computer manufacturers should have more standards on hardware and software like Apple does a better job at that keep their computers stable.

The things I hate about new Apple computers are the lack of parts and few to no upgrades on memory as everything is now soldered on the motherboard. Like you, I have found it necessary to add a unit for more ports to get things done.

I am waiting till Fall either to get an iMac Mini or iMac 24 all-in-one with M3 processors should last me for a few years and be dam fast.

Ms Windows' OS constant Updates are a great reason to go to Apple computers