5X8 camera

[highpeak]

I am thinking of get a 5X8 camera, it can also use 5X7 and 4X5 back. I searched the forum and didn't find too much info about it. I don't think there are a lot of people shooting at this format, am I right?

I guess this kind of camera would be a little bit bigger than 5X7 camera, but can anybody who used this kind of camera tell me exactly how big is it? Is it just a little bigger than 5X7 or it's close to the size of 8X10 camera?

Another question would be the lens. I assume the lens used on 5X7 can be used on 5X8 but with more limit movement.

Thanks in advance for comment and suggestions.

PS. I only plan to do contact print with this format.

Alex W.

 

[Whiteymorange]

The only 5x8 images I've seen come from an 8x10 with a splitter. Is there really a 5x8 camera?

 

[Nick Zentena]

There was an old Anthony and Scovil catalog on the web. It had a 5x8 in it. Of course this was 100 years ago -)

 

[Capocheny]

I've never come across a 5x8 camera either...

Just learned something new. Thanks Nick.

Cheers

 

[Nick Zentena]

That catalog must have had every size possible. Sort of like hat sizes -))

 

[Terence]

The only 5x8 images I've seen come from an 8x10 with a splitter. Is there really a 5x8 camera?

A lot of the very early American cameras came in 5x8. Rochester, Scovill, Anthony, etc all made them. Check out http://www.fiberq.com/cam/anth.htm There were lots of popular formats that are half of larger sizes: 8x10/2=5x8, 11x14/2=7x11, 14x17/2=7x17, 16x20/2=8x20, etc.

Finding film for 5x8 now typically means cutting down 8x10 film.

 

[sanking]

I am thinking of get a 5X8 camera, it can also use 5X7 and 4X5 back. I searched the forum and didn't find too much info about it. I don't think there are a lot of people shooting at this format, am I right?

I guess this kind of camera would be a little bit bigger than 5X7 camera, but can anybody who used this kind of camera tell me exactly how big is it? Is it just a little bigger than 5X7 or it's close to the size of 8X10 camera?

Another question would be the lens. I assume the lens used on 5X7 can be used on 5X8 but with more limit movement.

Thanks in advance for comment and suggestions.

PS. I only plan to do contact print with this format.

Alex W.

5X8 would be a very rare format. Did you not mean 6.5 X 8.5? This is the old full plate camera and was once quite popular.

Sandy King

 

[Jerevan]

I don't think there ever was a 5x8 inch camera made for film, but there are a few different ones for plates. I guess they are comparatively rare and expensive. It would be possible to have someone make a new one of course, but you'd need holders and would have to cut down film for it. Unless you made some kind of holder for an 8x10 or masked off a holder for a 6.5x8.5 camera. Anything is possible, given time and/or money...

 

[Richard Kelham]

I don't think there ever was a 5x8 inch camera made for film, but there are a few different ones for plates. I guess they are comparatively rare and expensive. It would be possible to have someone make a new one of course, but you'd need holders and would have to cut down film for it. Unless you made some kind of holder for an 8x10 or masked off a holder for a 6.5x8.5 camera. Anything is possible, given time and/or money...

It's hard enough getting film for 7x5 – why make life really hard? What is so special about the format that couldn't be obtained much more easily by cropping a neg shot on 10x8 (or indeed 7x5).

Perhaps we should have a new section for "Masochism"? Or do we have one already, albeit hiding behind the "Wet Plate" rubrik?



Richard

 

[Mark Fisher]

It's hard enough getting film for 7x5 – why make life really hard? What is so special about the format that couldn't be obtained much more easily by cropping a neg shot on 10x8 (or indeed 7x5).

Perhaps we should have a new section for "Masochism"? Or do we have one already, albeit hiding behind the "Wet Plate" rubrik?



Richard

I think 5x8 would be an interesting format to use. I like the proportions and it is reasonably simple to cut an 8x10 in half. Now, the prospect of making holders seems a little more daunting.

 

[paul ewins]

KEH has three 5x8 plate holders in their LF collectables section for $8 each. Cutting a sheet of 8x10 in half doesn't sound that difficult and it shouldn't be too hard to make a spacer to keep the film in the correct place in the plate holders.

 

[Terence]

I don't think there ever was a 5x8 inch camera made for film, but there are a few different ones for plates. I guess they are comparatively rare and expensive. It would be possible to have someone make a new one of course, but you'd need holders and would have to cut down film for it. Unless you made some kind of holder for an 8x10 or masked off a holder for a 6.5x8.5 camera. Anything is possible, given time and/or money...

I owned a 5x8 camera (an Anthony) with film holders (not plate), and have handled one other (unknown maker). They are definitely less common than the plate holders, but they ARE out there.

 

[highpeak]

The reason I asked is I knew somebody in China is currently building and selling 5X8 camera, but I couldn't get the maker tell me the dimension and weight of the camera. It has a rotating back, has a lot of front movement but rear movement is limit to only base tilt and a little swing(about 20 degree). He has the 5X7 back and 4X5 back, also, he has the 5X8 holders.

Based on the fact that 8X10 film is fairly easy to get, it should be ok to just cut the film to make 5X8 films. what I heard the price is about 15 hundreds. I will try to make contact with him. If the 5X8 camera is not significantly bigger than my 4X5 and weight around 6 pounds, I think I will get one.

Thanks everyone for comment.

Alex W.

 

[Jerevan]

I owned a 5x8 camera (an Anthony) with film holders (not plate), and have handled one other (unknown maker). They are definitely less common than the plate holders, but they ARE out there.

Well, no doubt about it - APUG is the place to learn strange new things!

 

[Justin Cormack]

And now there is a 5x8 Rochester plate camera (1885) on ebay uk. Maybe it was a really common format.

 

[eric]

I am thinking of get a 5X8 camera, it can also use 5X7 and 4X5 back. I searched the forum and didn't find too much info about it. I don't think there are a lot of people shooting at this format, am I right?

there is a 5x8 film holder on the auction site right now.