4x5 rollfilm

[BobbyR]

I have some old magazines that list a genuine, not medium format but full 4x5 roll-film backs for Linhof cameras.

Has anyone ever seen one of these, and as Linhof cameras seem to be comparatively cheap (that is a relative term) can one still get the film that would have been used?
Thanks,
Bobby

 

[Murray@uptowngallery]

I have heard of someone spooling & selling old postcard size (3-1/4 x 5.5) (103 &122?) spools with aerial film. There is a 'numbered' spool for 4 x 5 (of course the spool is what matters, the camera opening determines the format).

That and the occasional 'for sale' of Verichrome Pan in the postcard formats above for rediculous prices like $30 makes me think if I ever get around to it, I would roll my own from 5" aerial film. I would have to find appropriate black paper, but others have been down this path (arduous or not).

Developing it yourself is another thing to plan for or pay equally high prices for processing.

I've only heard of it used in old (1910 +/- 10 years or so) folding 'pocket' cameras. I have an Ansco 5? that uses something close to 4" film. There were a surprising number of formats that weren't drastically different.

You might check Mr Photo or similar name on eBay. (Pennsylvania?)

 

[Dan Fromm]

Aerial cameras, Murray. My AGI F135s used 5" roll film, and there are other aerial cameras that used it.

 

[jamie young]

I've seen references to the full 4x5 roll backs by linhof as well, with the mention that they were incredibly expensive when new. I don't think they made all that many, and don't know what they did about film. Maybe special cassettes?
I know of people who have been special ordering 5" film for specialty cameras like the Seitz 5" roundshot and various cirkuts up to just a few years ago. There were a lot of cameras that could use spooled 4" and 5" roll film (along with numerous other sizes) from between around 1900 and 1940. Graflex also had roll backs for all their slrs, up to 5x7.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I suspect they were for the Aerotechnika and for copy cameras.

 

[Removed Account]

According the film format article on Wikipedia there were several roll film formats for 4x5 or larger including 109, 110 (not the cartridge), 111, 112, 115, and 123. It would be interesting to use one of these cameras, or build one which uses the 5" arial film.

- Justin

 

[jamie young]

The kodak cirkut camera shot 5", 6", 6 1/2", 8", 10", 12", and 16", with the 6 1/2" and 8" spooled in two different ways. Al vista made panoramic roll film cameras that took various sizes including 4", 5" and 7" roll film. I have a chart of different sizes of al vistas on my web site
All this film needed to be on a thin base like 120 film so it would roll onto the spool ok. Film thickness matters a lot.A lot of aerial film is thin enough to work well for this, but check to make sure.