Why Half Frame Photography ( and Cameras)

Why Halfframe Photography?

3/20/2018

The main reason I was attracted to half frame photography was the ability to shoot 72+ shots on a roll of film. For someone on a budget , this is an enormous benefit. You are literally doubling the productivity of a single roll of film and thus halving your costs associated with development and scanning. Now that comes with a drawback of a smaller negative size decreased resolution which may limit one’s ability to make large prints, but for web work and small prints this is minor issue. This decrease in resolution is just another way to say increase in grain. Grain is such a polarizing topic, some people love it, others hate it. Some grains may be more appealing than others, but grain is almost always visible in half frame photography. I found that using modern films like Acros or Portra can minimize it’s effect, but there is no escaping it. I’ve also found using traditional emulsions like HP5 or Tri-X can yield some beautiful grainy images that would be difficult to duplicate in full frame 35mm film without push processing.

Another reason I found half frame photography so appealing was that I loved shooting vertical and (most) half frame cameras have a vertical viewfinder. The ratio is also a 3:4 ratio which makes more appealing vertical composition than the 2:3 ratio of standard 35mm photography. Coincidentally, half frame cameras share this vertical ratio with many medium format cameras which produce a negative 4.5cmx 6cm in size. Not so coincidentally, the majority of print media is vertically oriented and with the increase of media delivery on mobile phone platforms, the vertical composition will likely overtake horizontal in the near future (wait they’ve been saying that forever)

The vertical composition, paired with the ability to take 72 shots on a roll of film really make it easy for half frame shooters to do diptychs, triptychs, panoramic sequences and photo collages. For me this was a huge draw. Diptychs and triptychs allow some real creative freedom and make it easier for me to tell a story. I also love panoramic landscapes or shooting a scene from several angles and stitching them together to make an altered reality. I always felt too stifled by a traditional 35mm camera when attempting projects like this, but with the half frame, not so much.

Speaking of landscapes, another side effect of the smaller negative is an increased depth of field. f/8 behaves much more like something between f/11 and f/16. People who are looking for blurry backgrounds will be disappointed but those looking for everything to be in focus will be really happy.
Most half frame cameras are also quite compact. Not everyone cares about size, but for me it’s paramount. I shoot all the time and I like to keep a camera in a pocket or in my hand. I can't stand wearing a neck strap and I don’t like carrying a camera bag around everywhere I go. Super cliche mottos like “ the best camera is the one in your hand” or “f/8 and be there” sound redundant after awhile but in the end they are true.

Dan Marinelli - Founder

5 Comments

Anna

6/25/2018 11:47:02 am

Hi Daniel,

My name is Anna and I just found your website after reading a piece on 35mmc. Very excited for your site!

I liked so much what you wrote about the half frame that I just ordered (two!), a pen ee and a pen s. It was a package deal. Looking forward to getting further inspiration from #halfframeclub!

Greetings from Amsterdam

Marcus Gunaratnam

2/8/2023 10:50:12 pm

I bought my first olympus pen FT in oct1968 in Singapore on route to Australia,I used to "do" wedding photography B&W using Ilford HP3 processed in Micrphen developer or if i needed a faster film Ilford HP3 developed in Neofin Blue rated at 400ASA,usually rated 200ASA and usually with the electronic flash and usually at 500th sec as the flash sync for on X was all shutter speeds and to avoid"ghosting".
Being an OCD helps with half frame photography.I used to flter all the developer,stop bath, and fixer solutions using a Buchner Funnel and Buchner flask with a extra fine filter disc.
I used to have anti static and streak free additive solution as the final stage of the development(rinse).I used Paterson reels and tanks and a daylight bag to load the tank.
I used to 'earth' the enlarger to prevent static electricity.
I used a time-Temperture chart for low temperature development (and fine grain)thanks to a scientist from Ilford (UK)
I had a Nikkor enlarging lens (leica thred)50mm/2.8f which used to have a wide enlargement without racking out and toppling the enlarger or shake during exposure.The paper used was'Portriga Rapid"
There was little cropping needed for post card or 8"x10"enlargements as one composed the 'shots' carefully and the format resembled 8x10closer than 35mm.
Other advantage was that if you used non olympus full frame lenses only the central part of the lens(with the highest resolution and correction) was used.Of course there were a muth watering array of lenses for half frame produced by Olympus and the 50-90 zoom was a lens in point.
My friend who shot color negs used a full frame, and I used to do the B&Ws and provide B&W proofs on a single 8x10 sheet.
The other advantage was that one reloaded less often and using the microscope and other attachments wereeasy as the set up was less bulky.Also one tended to 'bracket' shots when the lighting was by daylight and you were able to do this because of the number of 'shots' per roll.
olympus developing the MFT digital format makes it easier to collect and carry lenses and be careful re composition.

Jack link

5/23/2023 11:12:32 pm

I read your article "Why Half-Frame Photography" and found it informative and useful. The author does an excellent job of highlighting the unique advantages of half-frame photography. The article emphasizes the creative possibilities that arise from the limited frame count per roll. I particularly appreciate how half-frame photography encourages us to slow down and immerse ourselves at the moment. Keep inspiring us with your wonderful work. Thanks for sharing.

5/24/2023 03:19:46 am

Thank you for your comments,Half frame allows more 'shots' per roll,thus allowing experimentation, whether it be in composition or exposure.
It also colosely compares with the 8"x10" format so that little is lost in cropping , when enlarging in the dark room.It is also the reason as to why I support the micro four thirds format.

Nio86 link

8/31/2023 04:26:54 pm

Great read tthank you

Why Halfframe Photography?

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