Plate Sizes?

[Dave Wooten]

Glass plate sizes in inches?

Thanks again

Dave in Vegas

 

[removed account4]

hi dave

plate sizes are in inches or cm, depending on country of origin. unlike film dimensions 4 inches by 5 inches is 4 inches by 5 inches , unlike film which 4 inches by 5 inches is about 1/16" smaller all the way around ( 3 15/16 inches by 4 15/16 inches ).

- john

 

[Dave Wooten]

Thanks John, also I am interested in
actual size of plates used i.e. 1/6 or 1/4 plate = ? what were the largest plates?

I know C Watkins used cameras over 16" etc but I am assuming those would be beyond the "normal" plate sizes?

 

[smieglitz]

Dave,

That depends on the country but in the US full plate (4/4) is 6.5" x 8.5". Quarter-plate (1/4) is 3.25" x 4.25", sixth-plate is 2.75" x 3.25" and half-plate is 4.25" x 5.5". Eight-plate is 2.125" x 3.25" and ninth-plate is 2.0" x 2.5". Other standard glass plate sizes would be familiar modern formats such as 4" x 5", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and 10"x12". I think 18"x22" was the historic "mammoth plate" size (although I'm not sure about that).

Joe

 

[Dave Wooten]

thanks again John and Joe,

wanted to have my facts straight when trying to match old lenses with plate sizes....

 

[smieglitz]

Dave,

I noticed you also recently queried about old Darlot lenses. If you are thinking of teaming up a historic lens formula with a certain plate size, you should be aware that earlier Petzval lenses had less coverage than modern-day lenses. For example, for full-plate you might want a 12" or 13" Petzval lens in contrast to a modern 12" lens being the normal focal length for 8"x10" film cameras. (Coincidentally, I have a Dallmeyer 3A Patent Portrait lens for full-plate listed in the classifieds if you have any interest in that.)

You might also find this page to be of interest in regard to lens catalogs:
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info.html

Unfortunately, there are no Darlot catalogs there. However, someone is selling CDs of old Darlot and Dallmeyer catalogs on eBay and you can also find the "Lens Collectors' Vade-Mecum" CD on sale there often. I have some reference materials so if you can give me an idea of what you might be looking for, perhaps I can find some info for you too. Unfortunately, I have nothing on Darlot lenses.

Joe

 

[Aggie]

Get a full plate camera, and we can swap lenses. I have two nice lenses that Jim Galli is keeping safe for me while he tests them out. So far word is they are great. I just need to restore my Full Plate camera from 1898. First would be the bellows, then the nice satin snow ground glass, then maybe some wood refinishing.

 

[David H. Bebbington]

... and half-plate is 4.25" x 5.5".

You Yanks must wash your plates hotter than we do! Over here in the UK, half-plate is 6.5 x 4.75"!

 

[smieglitz]

You Yanks must wash your plates hotter than we do! Over here in the UK, half-plate is 6.5 x 4.75"!

Wow. How do you guys/gals across the pond get the glass to only shrink in one dimension?

Joe