Plate/film holders

[SalveSlog]

I'm new to large format. I'd like to start with an early camera, and I'm offered a Zeiss Ikon Ideal 250/7 (9x12).

2 holders comes with it. I don't think they are original, but the owner says they fit the camera all right (one is named ICA).

My question is: will the holder(s) take film? It seems to me that it is made for plates, and that something would have to be insered behind the film to hold it flat?

 

[Nodda Duma]

Those are definitely plate holders. You can shoot plates or get a 0.050” thick piece of glass cut to the proper size to use as backing for sheet film.

 

[Ian Grant]

You need 9x12 film inserts, these are standard and fit any 9x12 plate holder.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

Those are definitely plate holders. You can shoot plates or get a 0.050” thick piece of glass cut to the proper size to use as backing for sheet film.

9x12 sheet film is slightly smaller than a 9x12 plate so needs fixing to glass or card or it can fall out, it's the same with all sheet film formats. Some claim use a drop of honey or similar, it's better to find some film inserts.

Ian

 

[Nodda Duma]

Yes. Thanks for adding that detail, Ian.

 

[SalveSlog]

Thanks Ian. Seems the inserts can be found quite easily.

Do (some of) you know the Ideal 250/7 specifically? I looks like the holder is attached not by sliding in place, but just placed directly in position and fastened with some mechanism on top. Is this an inferiour system? And could light leak be more of a problem?

Still another question: will it be easy to find a rollfillm holder for this particular camera?

 

[Nokton48]

RADA 9x12 holders Makiflex 9x12 Back by Nokton48, on Flickr

I use Kodak 9x12 Film Sheaths in my 9x12 Plate Holders. They hold modern 9x12cm photographic film.

 

[Ian Grant]

I was lucky to get some boxes of those Kodak film sheaths on Ebay a few years ago in both 9x12 and Quarter plate sizes, I may also have 6.5x9. Unfortunately I've sold my spares. Kodak did sell these in Europe as well as the US, they are in my 1940 Kodak Ltd (UK) Professional Catalogue.

I have quite a few different German 9x12 cameras which I don't use enough it's a nice format.

Ian

 

[Nokton48]

Ian,
I bought three unopened boxes of Kodak 9x12 sheaths on Ebay a few years ago. Quite a deal and I still have them.

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

I have loaded my freezer with 9x12cm sheet film, among other sizes.