Cutting film to diffrent Size.

bherg · Aug 8, 2006

Hello,

After some soul searching i come to realize that the format ratio i like and see everyting is 4x5 and 8x10.

And im looking to upgrade my negative size, to something larger than 4x5 wich i own now. And i feel that 8x10 is a little bit to small for contacts.

And have looked at 11x14 cameras, but thats the wrong format. Is it possible to cut 11x14 film to 11x13? And order 11x13 holders and a 11x13 camera to cut the wheight and size down abit.

Is this problematic? or is it just to get a good paper guillotine and cut of an inch in a dark room?

Cheers Johannes

Ole · Aug 8, 2006

The most problematic thing about that is that it will be a "custom format". 11x14" is expensive enough, and getting a 11x13" camera built will be twice as expensive!

Cutting film to size is relatively easy. That's what I do when I order 24x30cm and get 9.5x12". Or 30x40cm, and get 12x16"...

Dave Parker · Aug 8, 2006

Getting a 11x13 camera could be a real challenge, as I have never seen a camera in that size and getting one built would be a long and tedious challenge, what you could do is use a standard 11x14 and mask the ground glass to the format you want to shoot and compose accourdingly when taking the picture, I doubt you would find much weight savings in having a 11x13 custom made over a 11x14 as the structural integrity of the cameras would have to be virtually identical.

Good luck, like I said, I have never seen a 11x13, if it was ever made, I would have probably made a screen for one by now.

Dave

ReallyBigCameras · Aug 8, 2006

What about 10x12? It's not a "standard" size like 11x14 or 8x10, but at least it's a size that already exists. Check with J&C to see if they have any 10x12 film in stock at present. I don't recall for sure, but I believe 10x12 was one of the unsual sizes included in the ULF special order programs earlier this year from Kodak and Ilford. Worst case, you can buy some 12x20 film and cut it in half to get two sheets of 10x12. S&S makes film holders in this size, and I've seen at least one 10x12 Canham camera. I've never seen anything (film, holders or camera) in 11x13. I think if that was the goal, most people would just shoot 11x14 and crop when printing.

Kerry

ronlamarsh · Aug 8, 2006

11x13 camera

Getting a custom back to shoot 11x13 on a 11x14 camera would be expensive to say the least as would be the 11x14 camera/lens in the first place.
Were I so inclined I'd go for the 10x12 first. The cameras/film/film holders are available and you could use a slightly less expensive lens. But if you really want to go larger i'd use a 11x14 , make a composing mask for the ground glass and mask off the negative in the printing process as the camera's /film/holders are semi standard and readily available. Check out the cost of the lens first. When you add all these costs together 8x10 starts looking pretty big.

bherg · Aug 9, 2006

when i calucalated that 11x13 should have the same ratio as 4x5 and 8x10 i got so happy that it was so close 11x14 that in my naivity thought that the camera should be abit cheaper than a 11x14, as the size got smaller less material as so on.

Now that my head has cleared i understand this isnt the case. And to go with a 11x14 and get a modified GG and masked film holders should be the best.

The 10x12 sounds tempting to, but beeing so far from "standards" formats it could be tricky, 11x13 is just a small modification of an more standard format.

Are there any size i could cut to get 10x12, ofcourse i could trim down 11x14 but that seems to be to big of a waste, would 20x24 work? to cut it down to 4 sheets?

Thanks for the advices anyhow

Cheers Johannes

Ole · Aug 9, 2006

Johannes, you might also go for 24x30cm if it's the 4:5 ratio you like. It's just a little bit smaller than 10x12", and has the advantage of being one of the old standard "continental" sizes so film can still be found. Even film that fits without cutting!

As to the seemingly small size difference to 8x10", try comparing a 8x10" print and a 24x30cm one. The difference is a lot greater than the measurements would indicate!

ReallyBigCameras · Aug 9, 2006

bherg said:
Are there any size i could cut to get 10x12, ofcourse i could trim down 11x14 but that seems to be to big of a waste, would 20x24 work? to cut it down to 4 sheets?

Johannes,

Cutting 12x20 in half will give you two sheets of 10x12. 12x20 is one of the reasonably well supported banquet formats. J&C currently lists five film choices in the 12x20 format.

Kerry

Steve Smith · Aug 9, 2006

4x5 ratio is 1:1.25. 1.25 x 11 = 13.75 So it seems to me that 11x14 is closer to 4x5 in aspect ratio than 11x13 would be since it is only 1/4" too big in the long direction. 11x13 would be 3/4" too short.

Steve.

John Bartley · Aug 9, 2006

bherg said:
Now that my head has cleared i understand this isnt the case. And to go with a 11x14 and get a modified GG and masked film holders should be the best.

Cheers Johannes

When I first read this, I wondered how much weight savings there could be going from 11x14 to 11x13, and also considered the economics of it, and I guess you've had the same thoughts yourself now .

As far as modifying your GG and film holders, that sounds like an awfull lot of work ... why not just ink out dots, dashes or lines for the format that you want on the groundglass, shoot to fit that "inked-out" format and then do your masking when you print? That way you get the format you want and you still have the option to go the inch bigger anytime ... ?

cheers

argus · Aug 9, 2006

You'd rather adapt your shooting style to the format you have/get than the other way 'round. Unless you can build the camera and holders yourself.
11x14 is a very well accepted standard and film in this size is rather easy to get. Going 11x13 sounds a bit silly to me.

The gain in weight will be minimal.

G

bherg · Aug 9, 2006

oh dear,

I never learned to calculate ratios in school (i was never at the math lessons )

Now i dont have this problem anymore. with 11x14 beeing the almost right ratio. With 11x13 more "wrong" as a fellow APUGer stated.

Thank you for all the replys.

Cheers Johannes.

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