5x7 film holder confusion

[AbsolutelyN]

Hi

I bought an extremely cheap 5x7 (worn and heavy) monorail some time ago and have recently got some outdated film and some film holders to try it with. However having just tried to put the film in this evening I've realised the 4 holders I have vary in size ...

The 4 I bought advertised were as 13x18 which I assume is half plate rather than 5x7. The outdated film I got is FP4 - 4 3/4 x 6 1/2in - again I assumed this to be halfplate.

The holders turn out to be 13x18 and 12x16.5 - two of each.

The 4 3/4 x 6 1/2in seems to fit the 12x16.5 holders but not 13x18 which is way too big.

So my question is what size films fits in which holder? Is the 12x16.5 holder for 13x18 film and the 13x18 for 5x7" film? New to all this but I do find it rather confusing. If it turns out I have two of each I'm quite happy as I think the 5x7 holders should likely be more expensive and harder to find. Or have I bought some really obscure sized film and holders?

Thanks
Tristan

[Andrew Plume]

Hi Tristan

I've partially had a similar experience (and after putting the problem aside for a couple of years), I eventually cracked it. Mine concerned 5 x 7 and 13 x 18 issues, where the overall size of the holder is exactly the same but the film isn't

Here's what I suggest:-

I would use up the 4 3/4 x 6 1/2" first as it's infrequently available in Europe (and put those holders aside)

Concentrate on the 13 x 18 size as it's available (macodirect in Germany for one, have this as a stock item ( http://www.macodirect.de/13-x-18-cm-c-1_386_576.html )). 13 x 18 film is a different size than 5 x 7

hope this helps

regards

andrew

[AbsolutelyN]

Thanks Andrew, much appreciated. So am I right in thinking that there are three types of 5x7 holders which outwardly all look the same rather than just two? - 5x7in, 13x18cm and 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. Thanks, Tristan

[Charles Twist]

In my limited experience of a Kodak 2, the answer is yes: the half plate and the 5x7 were the same outward size.
Charles

[George Hart]

Threads like this make me smile. How different it must have been years ago, from today's relentless drive towards uniformity and standardization! There was another size labelled "half-plate", dimensions 4.5 x 5.5 inches. Has anyone had experience of this size?

[vanman]

Fomafoto also stock 5x7 & 13x18 films. Their prices look cheaper than others but I don't know if they include VAT.
Vanman

[Andrew Plume]

and see here

http://www.fomafoto.com/index.php?page= ... t&Itemid=1

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

recommended by 'vanman' as a very decent film, I understand

andrew

[vanman]

I've contacted Fomafoto in Norway and they do not tax the prodoct from their shop. You might be taxed under your countries policies when you recieve the goods. They have fresh stocks in. They only have 13x18 in 100 iso. I'm stocking up in the very near future.
Vanman

[Peter B]

As has been said, the external dimensions of the holders might be the same but metric sizes just don't mix with imperial sizes when it comes to sheets of film. The 13x18 is regularly described as 5x7 because the cameras we see on sale are 5x7 and that is the cameras that will be used for 13x18. Just another one of the joys of LF .........

[Andrew Plume]

I've contacted Fomafoto in Norway and they do not tax the prodoct from their shop. You might be taxed under your countries policies when you recieve the goods. They have fresh stocks in. They only have 13x18 in 100 iso. I'm stocking up in the very near future.
Vanman

yes, this is because they're not an 'EU Member State'

regards

andrew

[Susie Frith]

Hi Guys,

A bit late but Happy New Year!

If anyone is interested, I'll be ordering some Half-plate Foma 100 in the near future.

I emailed Jana at Foma before Christmas, who confirmed that they will still make it, but it is to order only, and I'll have to go through Silverprint as they are the official UK dealers. It will take about six weeks to arrive.

As to holder sizes, yes! half-plate, 5x7 and 13x18 are usually the same size outside, but take film cut to the stated dimensions. Quarted-plate is a quarter of whole-plate, but half-plate is larger than half whole-plate: for that you need double-quarter, which was usually used for stereo pairs!

Best wishes,

Susie

[Andrew Plume]

Thanks Andrew, much appreciated. So am I right in thinking that there are three types of 5x7 holders which outwardly all look the same rather than just two? - 5x7in, 13x18cm and 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. Thanks, Tristan

thanks indeed Tristan

yes, it doesn't help, does it...........................................

regards

andrew