Current 5x7 film availability..?

[DougGrosjean]

Greetings,

After playing a bit with my B&J 4x5, I find that what I really like best is the contact prints.

So I'd like to pick up a 5x7 camera, so that the contact prints are a bit larger.

Is the film reasonably easy to obtain? I have no problem buying 4x5 locally, but haven't been out to buy any lately (a little goes a long way), and so I'm asking here.

Thanks!

Edit:
I'm in northwest Ohio, Toledo area.... and often spend time in Detroit as well. Sorry about leaving that out!

 

[keithwms]

I've had no problems getting standard b&w or slide 5x7 films. I have various efke stuff, foma 100, tmax100, tri-x, hp5+, fp4+, velvia 100, provia 100f.... and of course you can cut down 8x10. I'll probably do that for fuji 64T, which I like for night scenes.

See Dirk's store megaperls for some oddities that sometimes don't appear elswehere. Other than that I shop at b&h and freestyle.

Oh and yes the CPs are great!

 

[Erik Hartmann]

If you can't get it elswere, try http://www.wephota.de/fotogra.htm . It is in german but send them en email in english... Herr Grohmann wil answer you or try www.fotoimpex.de .... they have a catalog in english... or send them en email....

erik

 

[c6h6o3]

5x7 holders are a lot more difficult to obtain than the film. The only ones I've been able to find new are the Shen Haos at $66.95 apiece, which I refuse to pay. Battered, dusty, broken 5x7 holders are going on ebay for as much as $40.00 apiece. This is because B&H and Calumet sell only 13x18cm holders and not 5x7.

If you're primarily interested in color films, the availability of 13x18cm film might be more important to you than 5x7. Ektachrome 64T, for example, is available now in 8x10, 4x5, 4x5 Readyloads and 13x18cm sheets. No 5x7.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

It depend what type of film you're looking for and where you are located. I keep in stock the FP4 and HP5 in 5x7, but don't carry any colour. Other stores have a good selection as well depending on the country. The holders are tough though.

-Rob

 

[c6h6o3]

The holders are tough though.

I can't believe that Fidelity or Lisco isn't producing them. There's huge pent up demand for them. To just switch over to 13x18cm with no warning and no buildup of 5x7 inventory is just staggeringly stupid business practice.

 

[david b]

A quick look at freestyle turned up:

Efke PL25
Efke PL50
Efke PL100
Berger BPF200
Ilford FP4+
Ilford HP5+
Kodak Tri-X 320
Arista EDU Ultra 100
Arista EDU Ultra 200
Foma Fomapan 100
Foma Fomapan 200

 

[Nick Zentena]

I can't believe that Fidelity or Lisco isn't producing them. There's huge pent up demand for them. To just switch over to 13x18cm with no warning and no buildup of 5x7 inventory is just staggeringly stupid business practice.

I don't think that is what happened. They stopped making all holders. The 5x7 were in short supply even before they announced the stoppage. So what you are seeing at B&H etc is just what is left in the supply chain. Call it old stock.

If you watch KEH every so often you'll see older holders for reasonable prices. A few months back I got 6 older holders for $30.

Fotoman is supposedly also working on new ones but from the sound of it they'll be more expensive then the Shen hao by at least a 1/3.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I can't believe that Fidelity or Lisco isn't producing them. There's huge pent up demand for them. To just switch over to 13x18cm with no warning and no buildup of 5x7 inventory is just staggeringly stupid business practice.

Well, Fidelity and Lisco are one company, which was purchased several years ago by Calumet, and they seemed to have stopped production of all holders, and what you find are remaining stock. I have heard that at the last it was just one man doing all the work of manufacturing.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

A quick look at freestyle turned up:

Efke PL25
Efke PL50
Efke PL100
Berger BPF200
Ilford FP4+
Ilford HP5+
Kodak Tri-X 320
Arista EDU Ultra 100
Arista EDU Ultra 200
Foma Fomapan 100
Foma Fomapan 200

To clarify the above list

Berger BPF200 is Fortepan 200

Arista Edu Ultra 100 is Foma Fomapan 100
Arista Edu Ultra 200 is Foma Fomapan 200

The Berger item would be remaining stock, since Forte went belly-up,
however I am sure there will be a new Berger film item when they get
up to speed with Harman coating for them.

 

[david b]

I've also pondered the 5x7 format but in my head, I can see the manufacturers doing away with 5x7 and only having 4x5 and 8x10.

 

[Nick Zentena]

I think 4x5 of all the formats might be at the most risk from the camera makers.

Many 4x5 are relatively lower cost then the bigger cameras. Lots and I mean lots of used models out there.

Sooner or later all the new 4x5 holders will be gone. I wonder if anybody will step up to make 4x5 holders.

So from a equipment stand point I think 5x7 might be safer.

 

[david b]

I guess I forgot to mention that I was talking about film.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

5x7 holders are a lot more difficult to obtain than the film. The only ones I've been able to find new are the Shen Haos at $66.95 apiece, which I refuse to pay. Battered, dusty, broken 5x7 holders are going on ebay for as much as $40.00 apiece. This is because B&H and Calumet sell only 13x18cm holders and not 5x7.

If you're primarily interested in color films, the availability of 13x18cm film might be more important to you than 5x7. Ektachrome 64T, for example, is available now in 8x10, 4x5, 4x5 Readyloads and 13x18cm sheets. No 5x7.

I bit the bullet and got four of the new Shen Hao holders. Yes, that kind of price is expensive, but when you consider what people are charging for used broke-ass beat-up 50 year old wood holders with cracked darkslides, that price is very reasonable. I've had the chance to test them out, and they're as nice as the best new Lisco and Fidelity 5x7 holders I have. And they're a fair sight prettier too.

As to the long-term survival of 5x7 as a size, well, if whole-plate (6.5x8.5) can make a comeback, which it seems to be doing, then 5x7 will stick around for a very long time to come. 5x7 is just such a nice size, and the proportions are terrific too. I really like the 5x7 proportion, much moreso than the 8x10 or 4x5 shape.

 

[david b]

My reasoning for my statement is that one sheet of 8x10 makes 4 sheets of 4x5. Both sizes that are being used.

As far as I know, and I have no idea what size film is originally made in and cut from, 5x7 is it's own run?

 

[Rolleiflexible]

I've also pondered the 5x7 format but in my head, I can see the manufacturers doing away with 5x7 and only having 4x5 and 8x10.

The 5x7 format has its own appeal, which may not be obvious until you shoot it. It's nearly double the size of 4x5, and is plenty big for contact-printing. On the other hand, 5x7 cameras and lenses are not a whole lot bigger than 4x5 equipment -- moving up to 8x10 means bigger, heavier and more expensive equipment, and slower shutter speeds for any given light condition. Here are a couple of neat essays that discuss the 5x7 format:

http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/medium_large_format/0106nottoo/index.html (By Roger Hicks)

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/5x7.html (by Q.T. Luong)

Many of the arguments for 5x7 apply to some extent to whole-plate cameras as well, though they come closer to 8x10 size. There is an effort afoot here on APUG to resuscitate the whole-plate format -- do a forum search and you will find the threads.

RFXB

EDIT: Oops, I see Scott beat me to the punch on the whole-plate reference.

 

[Nick Zentena]

My reasoning for my statement is that one sheet of 8x10 makes 4 sheets of 4x5. Both sizes that are being used.

As far as I know, and I have no idea what size film is originally made in and cut from, 5x7 is it's own run?

The cutting machine needs to be reset but it's the same master roll.

 

[david b]

Thanks Nick for clarifying.

As for the 5x7 format, I am holding out for a Canham 4x5/5x7, this way I have the best of both worlds.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Thanks Nick for clarifying.

As for the 5x7 format, I am holding out for a Canham 4x5/5x7, this way I have the best of both worlds.

David-

go for the Canham Woodfield! Awesome camera - I have it in the 5x7 guise, with a 4x5 reducing back, and with the 5x12 conversion kit to boot. Keith may start making whole plate kits for it as well, once the Fotoman holders hit the market and he has something to design around.

 

[david b]

Scott,
I thought the Woodfield was the only option. The metal 4x5 doesn't have a 5x7 option, does it?

 

[Nick Zentena]

or get an 8x10 with a bunch of reducing backs -) The Shen Hao FCL is light enough it almost makes sense for those of use who can't make a choice -))

 

[david b]

I have a relatively light set-up now and do not want to have to buy a new tripod and other lenses.

So to me, the 5x7 with a 4x5 reducing back sounds pretty good.

 

[Nick Zentena]

The Shen 8x10 is just under 4kg [I guess almost 9lbs?] If I'd been smart enough to ask about a 4x5 back I think I might have used this for 4 formats. 4x5,5x7,4x10 and 8x10.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The Canham woodfield is 6 lbs. And it fits in the same backpack I used to use for my Shen Hao 4x5, and takes all the same lenses. The 5x12 configuration weighs a bit more, obviously, but it's a fairly portable setup. Moreso than an 8x10 with three reducing backs.

 

[Nick Zentena]

You only haul all three backs if you can't decide for the day -)