Topcon/Graflex 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 film sheet holders compatibility

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 10, 2022

As tittle says, does anyone know if th graflex 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 film sheet holders are compatible with Horseman/Topcon camera? On specific I have a HS 970 camera.

Thanks

Marcelo

abruzzi · Jan 10, 2022

I've used a 2x3 Grafmatic film holder as well as a bunch of later Fidelity plastic double sheet holder on my VH, so I'd suspect the answer to your question is yes.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 10, 2022

Thanks abrauzzi. Meaning to use my Horseman 970 with sheet film again but was unsure. I only got 2 Horseman original holders and one got broken so wanted to check before going to the bay and get some. I would like to have at least 8-10 ready.

Best regards
Marcelo

abruzzi · Jan 10, 2022

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Thanks abrauzzi. Meaning to use my Horseman 970 with sheet film again but was unsure. I only got 2 Horseman original holders and one got broken so wanted to check before going to the bay and get some. I would like to have at least 8-10 ready.

I mostly use the roll holders because sheet film selection in that size is pretty limited whereas roll film has a huge variety. (here for 2.25x3.25 sheets you can get Foma 100, foma 400, and HP5+. I see Adox CHS listed as well, but I've never seen it in stock and shipable.) Also, if you are doing sheet, I found the grafmatic, which can be bought for ~$50-$70, to be very convenient. I'd buy a few more, but I'm trying to shoot less sheets and more rolls.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 10, 2022

Yeah I like the roll holder too, but sometimes I want to shoot some frame without using the whole roll. Probably 2 portraits and I would need to wait till I finish the whole roll. Foma is ok for my personal use and also like the sheet film thickness vs the 120 film thickness.

Marcelo

grat · Jan 10, 2022

Ilford FP4+ was also available, but seems to be special order only now.

Sirius Glass · Jan 10, 2022

grat said:
Ilford FP4+ was also available, but seems to be special order only now.

Just like 3.25" x 4.25" film. Watch for announcement in the spring. I vaguely remember that the orders need to be in by June. When I ordered it many years ago, I think that you have to order it through a camera store. Do your research early and often because if you miss it you have to wait for the next year.

grat · Jan 10, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Just like 3.25" x 4.25" film. Watch for announcement in the spring. I vaguely remember that the orders need to be in by June. When I ordered it many years ago, I think that you have to order it through a camera store. Do your research early and often because if you miss it you have to wait for the next year.

I'm familiar with the custom order-- but last year, 2¼ x 3¼ was listed on Ilford's website for both HP5 and FP4. I bought a box of FP4+ from Freestyle-- along with a box of CHS II 100. Which reminds me, CHS II 100 is supposed to be available in 2x3 and 3x4 via Freestyle, but it's out of stock right now.

Checking wayback, 2¼x3¼ was removed from Ilford's site on April 19th, 2021. You can still search by the format, but while FP4 and HP5 come up as results, it's no longer listed as an available product.

abruzzi · Jan 11, 2022

grat said:
Which reminds me, CHS II 100 is supposed to be available in 2x3 and 3x4 via Freestyle, but it's out of stock right now.

I've been watching that for close to a year, and its never actually in stock. Fotoimpex has it in stock periodically, but the shipping cost is as much as the film. Ultimately rolls give me more variety and sheet film doesn't work on my Cambo, but its nice to do sheets now and again.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 11, 2022

Yeah, thats mostly my case. If I want to do some serious work, I would use the roll film back and the best film I could get. For fun, Arista and HP5+ is more than enough.

Marcelo.

grat · Jan 11, 2022

abruzzi said:
I've been watching that for close to a year, and its never actually in stock. Fotoimpex has it in stock periodically, but the shipping cost is as much as the film. Ultimately rolls give me more variety and sheet film doesn't work on my Cambo, but its nice to do sheets now and again.

They had some early April last year. I bought some FP4+, CHS II 100, and Arista EDU 100, all in 2¼ x 3¼. I think I had to buy the 20th Century 2x3 reel direct from 20th Century, though.

abruzzi · Jan 11, 2022

grat said:
They had some early April last year. I bought some FP4+, CHS II 100, and Arista EDU 100, all in 2¼ x 3¼. I think I had to buy the 20th Century 2x3 reel direct from 20th Century, though.

Damn, some came through that I missed. For a bit I was cutting down 5x7 to 4 sheets of 6.5x9 for the Linhof holders I had, but that was an immense PIA, so I gave up and decided to only shoot film that was actually made to fit, so the 6x5x9 holders are not used any more. Fortunately, I love Foma 100, so I'm happy shooting it. I wish I could get Foma 200 especially given the issues Foma 200 seems to have on 120 rolls.

I had some issues with the 20th century reel. You have to really make sure the the film is properly caught under the spiral hook, or it will slip off and scratch. I recently snagged a Nikor 2x3 sheet insert to a Nikor tank. It can actually handle 10 sheets which is nice, but its also a bit tricky to load.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 11, 2022

Got a Fedco tank. Really easy to use. They hold about 14 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 sheets. I usually do only 4-6 so not exactly sure at the moment.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...570.l1312&_nkw=fedco+developing+tank&_sacat=0

I've found that Foma/Arista unfamous quality issues are not present on sheet films. Arista 35mm film 100 ft that I bought had some quality issues, 120 has almos none and sheetfilm was ok for me (both on 4x5 ans 2 1/4 x 3 1/4).

Regards

Marcelo

grat · Jan 11, 2022

abruzzi said:
I had some issues with the 20th century reel. You have to really make sure the the film is properly caught under the spiral hook, or it will slip off and scratch. I recently snagged a Nikor 2x3 sheet insert to a Nikor tank. It can actually handle 10 sheets which is nice, but its also a bit tricky to load.

The 20th Century reels can be tricky to load if you're not familiar with them. I spent some time loading one with developed negatives in daylight. The two oddities are loading with the emulsion "down" (towards the inside of the spiral), and making sure it's clipped correctly. I have good results by holding the back edges of the spool on both sides with my fingertips, and pressing against the edge of the film with my thumbs. Also makes it easier to feel both the flex, and the "click" as the arm clips the negative.

I've got both the 4x5 and the 2x3, and never had problems with either-- well, not entirely true. When loading the 2x3 reel, because you're loading the "long" way, it's possible for the corners of the film to slip through the ends of the reel if you're not perfectly straight. Easy to correct though, as long as you don't try to muscle the film into place.

Topcon/Graflex 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 film sheet holders compatibility

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