Being Square

something you'll notice from most TLR is that the final image is usually in a square format. The images on the actual negatives are 6 centimeters by 6 centimeters. This can be an interesting way to compose an image.

However one of the best benefits of the square composition, is that you can get up to three compositions per image. Most medium format cameras shoot images in one of the following, 6x4.5, 6x6, or 6x7. Some cameras do shoot 6x9 but anything larger than 6x7 is often considered large format. A 6x6 frame gives you the ability to shoot in a square, a vertical 6x4.5, or a horizontal 6x4.5.

The extra inch and a half can also give you the extra resolution needed. If you were to scan in a 6x6 negative at 3200 DPI on a flatbed scanner, then scanned in the same exact shot on a 6x4.5mm frame there would be roughly a 10 megapixel difference in resolution. Roughly 30% more resolution if you choose to shoot in the square composition. You could get an additional 7 megapixels out of a 6x7 camera, but the bulk of most 6x7 cameras are considerably larger than even some 6x6 TLRs.