Sources with available whole plate film?

[Removed Account]

I have ordered Dan Dozers little package about the making of his 8x20 camera, and doing so is that kick in the butt I needed to go ahead on my own camera. Even if building that large a camera is in my price range, the film and lenses are not, so I have decided to give building a whole plate camera a try. My reasoning being that Fotoman is said to be going to sell film holders, barring that I can make a weird clamshell deal, lenses that cover are more common and hopefully cheaper on the average than for 8x10 and larger, and film in 6.5"x8.5" is cheaper even than 8x10. That bit about the film is the problem. It would be several months before the camera is built, and I will certainly participate in next year's Ilford ULF run, but is there anywhere that carries it in stock? A quick search of the archives turned up J&C and retrophotographic.com as possibilities, but J&C is no longer in business, and retrophotographic.com doesn't appear to carry any, not to mention that shipping to here from the UK would be more expensive than just cutting down 8x10. I appreciate your help!

- Justin

 

[Nick Zentena]

FotoImpex maybe? But shipping issues again.

You can always cut your own. OTOH the waste means you won't save any money over 8x10.

I'm not sure if I buy your argument about lenses. Many lenses are either 4x5 or 8x10 in terms of coverage. A good number of the 4x5s cover 5x7 but full plate is step above that and gets you near the 8x10 lenses. Really you're looking at the lenses that don't quite cover 8x10.

Why not make the camera with removable backs? Make it big enough for 8x10 and you'll be able to use 8x10,full plate,4x10,5x7 and even 4x5.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Try contacting View Camera Store in Arizona, or Hunt's Photo and Video in New England. They were both participants in the annual Ilford order, and may well have extra film. Also, since you're in Canada, try Rob Skeoch of our very own apug-sponsoring Big Camera Workshops. He was in on the Ilford order.