645 Medium Format Film Photography

Sharp | Versatile | Timeless

The Gateway to Medium Format

Craig Fouché Photography embraces the 645 medium format as the ideal balance between portability and image quality, producing richly detailed photographs with the unmistakable character of analogue film. The 645 format represents the perfect balance between medium format detail and handheld versatility. It’s the gateway into a world where film renders tonality, depth, and atmosphere with unmistakable richness — yet remains agile enough for everyday shooting. With its pleasing 4:3 aspect ratio, 645 is both intimate and expansive, capturing portraits and landscapes with equal grace.

I use two cameras for this format — the Pentax 645N and the Mamiya 645 1000S. Each has its own temperament and strengths. The Pentax 645N, paired with its dedicated lenses and an adapter for the legendary Pentax 6×7 optics, offers an exceptional range of creative possibilities. The Mamiya, on the other hand, brings a certain vintage charm and mechanical precision that continues to inspire. Both systems lend themselves beautifully to my preferred subjects — portraits and landscapes — where tone and texture speak louder than words.

The 645 format is the smallest frame within the 120 roll film family, yielding approximately 15 or 16 exposures per roll, depending on the camera model. It’s often described as the “baby brother” of 6×8, sharing a similar aspect ratio but offering a lighter, more mobile shooting experience. For many photographers, 645 serves as the ideal introduction to medium format — a bridge between the portability of 35mm and the immersive quality of larger film sizes.

What makes 645 so compelling is its versatility. Its slightly rectangular frame lends a natural rhythm to composition, guiding the eye with a cinematic flow. In portraiture, this creates a sense of intimacy and focus; in landscape work, it encourages balance and quiet tension across the frame.

In a world increasingly driven by speed and convenience, 645 reminds us of the beauty of craft — of slowing down, of choosing each frame with intent. Whether rendered in black and white or colour, the format delivers a gentle balance between technical precision and emotional resonance.

Compact, capable, and beautifully proportioned, 645 remains the gateway format that defines many photographic journeys — a beginning that never truly ends.

Finding the Balance

The 645 format taught me that medium format photography doesn’t have to be slow or cumbersome. It offers the richness and tonal beauty of larger negatives while remaining agile enough to accompany everyday adventures, making it one of the most versatile cameras I own.

Whether carried into the landscape or used for portraiture, 645 continues to remind me that great photography often comes from finding the perfect balance—between craftsmanship and practicality, between patience and spontaneity, and between technical precision and creative freedom.

Film is not a relic. It’s a living medium—and in a world of automation and artificiality, it stands as a quiet rebellion.

Film is still very much alive. And so is the craft.

Explore the Collection

Discover the Fine Art Film Collection — a curated body of work that invites viewers and collectors alike to experience the grandeur of Africa’s landscapes through the expansive lens of medium & large format film.

Film is not a relic. It’s a living medium — and in a world of automation and artificiality, it stands as a quiet rebellion.

Film is still very much alive. And so is the craft.

View My Fine Art Film Collection