How many film holders do you use for ULF?

Curt · Nov 9, 2007

I'm building an 11x14 and was thinking about how many film holders I will need. Most people would say as many as one can carry, either in the vehicle or by back pack or hand carry, others would say as many as you can afford.

With roll film I might have hundreds of frames, with 4x maybe two dozen, with 5x 22, with 8x 14, with 11x ?. I was thinking about 6 sheets but I really don't like spending the time or energy on changing film, especially when I want to photograph. Then 12 sheets seems like a pretty long day with that format. So it comes down to a number that I won't run out on a days shoot.

This isn't necessarily going to be my primary camera so I am not done at the end of film, I can use another format and keep going.

How may film holders do you have for Ultra Large Format Photography, do you use them all on an outing? Any ULF info is appreciated. If I could figure out a a Poll I would put up a poll on "How many ULF film holders do you have".

Thanks all,
Curt

jimgalli · Nov 9, 2007

12X20 have 2
8X20 have 4
7X17 have 4
5X14 have 6
11X14 have 8
14X17 have 5

14X17 is calling me. Maybe this weekend. Far too little done with that camera.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 9, 2007

11x14"--4
7x17"--3
8x10"--14 (but I usually don't carry more than 5 or 6 on a day's outing)

I think I'll eventually settle on 5 of each for 11x14" and 7x17". I have one more 11x14" holder that needs some repair.

Dave Wooten · Nov 9, 2007

7 x 17 ... 7

8 x 10 ....10

14 x 17 ... 10

PHOTOTONE · Nov 10, 2007

4X5 about 80 useable
5x7 about 100 useable
8x10 about 25 to 30
11x14 just 4

Jim Fitzgerald · Nov 10, 2007

4x5 about 25
5x7 about 20
8x10 about 12
8x20 4.

I think I'm going to try for at least 4 holders in this format. I know that with the recently finished 8x20 at the Owens Valley workshop I wish I would have had about 8 holders. There were a lot of images I could have done in 8x20.

Jim

Brickbird · Nov 10, 2007

11x14......9 12x20......7 All are loaded when out tripping. Tav

Jim Noel · Nov 10, 2007

7x17 - 4 holders. I also carry a changing tent in the car.

jgjbowen · Nov 10, 2007

5x7 = 13
8x10 = 30
7x17 = 9

Just returned from a week long trip to Maine. Nothing but photography for 5 solid days. Never used more than 6 7x17 holders in a day (I expose 2 negatives per setup). I'm sure if I had more, I'd have shot more, but I was always aware that I wanted to have a few holders available just in case I ran across a "Moonrise" or something...

jp80874 · Nov 10, 2007

7x17 = 10

I have not used that many in a day, but at a workshop or a gathering I may not have a place to reload one night or there may be something I would rather do. That might be listen to the people I don't see the rest of the year or in worse case, sleep.

John Powers

Scott Peters · Nov 10, 2007

7x17 = 6 ; 8x10 = 10 -

I have used all 6 - 7 x 17 holders in one day for sure, but never more than one exposure of the same image. But I almost always take the 8 x 10 and 7 x 17 and will use both on photo outings.

Hugo Zhang · Nov 10, 2007

5 x 7=20
8 x 10=28
7 x 17=3
8 x 20=3
9 1/2 x 20=4

Zebra · Nov 10, 2007

10 x 12 = 6 plus one wet plate holder

7 x 17 = 3

16 x 20 = 2

20 x 24 = 2 plus one wet plate holder

Of course the wet plate in coat one and shoot. I carry a changing tent for the film holders. I rarely shoot more than four shots in a day for the 16 x 20 (which is a reducing back for the 20 x 24) or the 20 x 24.

Zebra

scootermm · Nov 10, 2007

12x20 - 3

There has only been a small handful of occasions when I've shot all 6 exposures.

George Losse · Nov 10, 2007

When I'm working within a days travel, I carry 4or5 - 8x20 and 12 - 8x10 holders in the Jeep. When I'm on a trip I'll carry 6 - 8x20, 25 - 8x10 and a Harrison changing tent.

I'd recomend a Harrison changing tent. For about the price of a new CFH you can reload during the day without heading back into the darkroom. It also keeps you from being locked up in darkened hotel bathrooms at night on trips.

Most days I'll only make one or two 8x20 exposures but it's still better to carry more holders then to see something and be out of film. Since buying the changing tent I've only reload the 8x20 holders once on a trip during the day.

When I used to shoot 11x14, I would travel with 4 holders outdoors. In the studio I shot with 8 - 11x14 holders.

TheFlyingCamera · Nov 10, 2007

5x7 - I've got about 15 good ones. 5x12 - 3. I got 3 when I got the camera, and that was all I could afford at the time. I wish I had at least 3 more; 7 more would be lovely for an even 10 holders. I shoot a bit more prolifically than some ULF folks, in part because 5x12 is not THAT big so it's easy to look around and move and reset the camera if I see something interesting, and it isn't THAT expensive to feed either.

Colin Graham · Nov 10, 2007

5x12 I have 8, but only keep 4 in my backpack, I keep the rest in the car. I've never shot more than 5-6 holders worth in one day though. Like Scott says though 5x12 is small and very very convenient compared to the true ULF sizes.

imazursky · Nov 10, 2007

4x5 about 30 but 10 more on the way.
12x20 1.5 one is missing a slide.
Can i count my 545? It an infinite holder.
I guess the same goes for the polaroid 405 and 550.

-ian

Dave Wooten · Nov 10, 2007

I just have to get more holders...one should just load up and go out and shoot the whole box! That is 12.5 holders.

Curt · Nov 10, 2007

I just have to get more holders...one should just load up and go out and shoot the whole box! That is 12.5 holders.

I agree; all things being equal why should a lack of holders hold a person back?

Michael Kadillak · Nov 10, 2007

ULF Holders

The magic number for me is six. Therefore I have six holders for 8x20, 11x14 and 12x20.

12 exposures for any one ULF format is plenty for a cycle of ULF photography. That said I have yet to utilize all of my holders in one day of shooting.However, I firmly believe in having the potential should the opportunity present itself.

The more you shoot the better you see and the more holders you need.

Cheers!

sanking · Nov 10, 2007

Michael Kadillak said:
The magic number for me is six. Therefore I have six holders for 8x20, 11x14 and 12x20.

12 exposures for any one ULF format is plenty for a cycle of ULF photography. That said I have yet to utilize all of my holders in one day of shooting.However, I firmly believe in having the potential should the opportunity present itself.

The more you shoot the better you see and the more holders you need.

Cheers!

I am with Michael on the number six for ULF. Here is what I have.

7X17 -- Six
12X20 -- Six
20X23 -- Six

The other formt I use is 5X7. For 5X7 I have twenty-six holders.

Sandy

mammolo · Nov 12, 2007

2 holders for 14x17 plus
2 holders for 12x16 that work for 14x17 as well

Cheers

Gary892 · Nov 12, 2007

12x20 = 3 Holders.
I am looking for a good way to keep them dust free.

Gary

RobertP · Nov 12, 2007

8x20 - 7 holders.... 12x20 - 3 holders + 1- wet plate holder

How many film holders do you use for ULF?

Curt

jimgalli

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Dave Wooten

PHOTOTONE

Jim Fitzgerald

Brickbird

Jim Noel

jgjbowen

jp80874

Scott Peters

Hugo Zhang

Zebra

scootermm

George Losse

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council

Colin Graham

imazursky

Dave Wooten

Curt

Michael Kadillak

sanking

mammolo

Gary892

RobertP

How many film holders do you use for ULF?

Moderator

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency