6x7 Medium Format Film Photography

6×7 Medium Format Film Photography

Portrait Precision | Landscape Versatility | Timeless Craftsmanship

The 6×7 Format: A Cinematic Classic Reimagined

Craig Fouché Photography embraces the 6×7 medium format for its exceptional balance, producing negatives that combine remarkable detail with one of photography’s most natural and enduring aspect ratios. The 6×7 format has long been revered as one of the most aesthetically balanced frames in medium format photography. With proportions close to the classic 4×5 ratio, it offers a natural harmony between width and height—ideal for both portraiture and landscape work. Each 10-frame roll on 120 film encourages a slower, more deliberate approach, where composition, light, and timing must all align perfectly.

For Craig Fouché, 6×7 represents a timeless intersection of artistry and technical precision. It is a format that invites depth—both emotional and visual—rendering subjects with remarkable presence and dimension. Whether in the studio or out in the open landscapes of Southern Africa, the 6×7 negative produces a richness of tone and clarity of detail that stands the test of time.

The Pentax 6×7: Strength, Substance, and Soul

At the heart of Craig’s 6×7 work is the Pentax 6×7 MLU (Mirror Lock-Up), a camera legendary among professionals for its robust design and optical excellence. Its handling mirrors that of a traditional 35mm SLR but with a significantly larger negative—yielding vastly superior detail, depth, and tonal separation.

The SMC Takumar 105mm f/2.4 lens, in particular, is a cornerstone of Craig’s portrait work. Its rendering of skin tones, depth of field, and gentle falloff create an almost three-dimensional quality, admired by photographers worldwide. In capable hands, this lens becomes more than a tool—it becomes a storyteller.

Though often associated with portraiture, Craig also brings the Pentax 6×7 into the field for landscape photography. Its modular system and range of lenses—from wide-angle to telephoto—make it versatile enough to capture vast horizons or intimate natural details with equal grace.

Medium Format, Maximum Control

When shooting on location, mobility and flexibility are essential. For this reason, Craig also employs a 6×7 roll film back on his large format field cameras. This setup allows for the same beloved 6×7 aspect ratio while significantly reducing the amount of gear needed in the field.

This hybrid approach marries large format camera movements—tilt, shift, and rise/fall—with the convenience of medium format roll film. The result is a technically controlled yet spontaneous shooting experience, producing images with a precision and tonal depth rarely achievable in smaller formats.

Every frame captured is hand-developed, preserving the tactile integrity of film and maintaining complete control over contrast, density, and tonal range. Both black and white and colour stocks are used, with film from Kodak, Ilford, Fujifilm, and Adox forming the backbone of his workflow.

The Signature Look: 6×7 in Practice

The 6×7 format produces images that feel cinematic yet intimate—wider than a square, but without the distortion of panoramic formats. For portraits, it lends subjects a dignified stillness; for landscapes, it introduces a natural balance between sky and ground, scale and subtlety.

Each negative is a study in restraint and refinement—just 10 exposures per roll, each one demanding focus, anticipation, and technical mastery. There is no margin for excess, only for intention.

This discipline lies at the heart of Craig Fouché Photography’s analogue philosophy: that fewer, better images hold far more power than countless digital frames. The 6×7 format is not just a technical choice—it’s a creative statement.

A Format of Legacy and Longevity

The 6×7 frame remains one of photography’s most enduring proportions—a format that continues to inspire both professionals and purists. It captures the essence of analogue artistry: balance, patience, and the tactile joy of film. Many photographers regard 6×7 as a natural stepping stone towards 4×5 large format photography, offering a similar aspect ratio while retaining the convenience of roll film.

For Craig, the 6×7 is more than a format; it’s a lifelong companion on his photographic journey. It’s a space where light, texture, and emotion converge—a format that honours both the craft and the subject with equal reverence.

A Natural Proportion

The 6×7 format has always felt instinctive to me. Its proportions suit the way I naturally compose, whether photographing people or landscapes, offering a balance that feels neither constrained nor excessive. Every frame encourages thoughtful decisions, rewarding patience with negatives rich in tone, depth and subtle detail.

Working with the Pentax 6×7—and occasionally a 6×7 roll-film back on my field cameras—reminds me that great photography is rarely about complexity. It’s about choosing the right tool for the story you want to tell, then slowing down enough to tell it well.

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