What do you consider large format?

[Dan Fromm]

Not to be impolite, but unless we're considering banishing individuals or barring topics, what's the point of this question? Who cares? Why should I care?

Cheers,

Dan

[tim atherton]

Exactly Dan, it raises the question - what's the point and who cares anyway.... ;-)

espcially as this site has a category for 6x9 cameras and lenses in the question topics....

[Graeme Hird]

>5x4 inches

[Jay DeFehr]

Eugene wrote:

"Therefore, I have to conclude that cameras that are capable of taking 2.25X3.25 inch (and larger) sheet film, are to be classified as large format cameras."

So, my RB67 is a Large Format camera? Who knew?!

[mark blackman]

Graeme,
You are not allowed to write 5x4 (or 4x5), that has already been claimed by Donald as an 'American'. Presumably because it was such a common film size in Brazil, Canada and other American countries. As an Australian, you are also barred from using European sized film, as demarked by Donald. You are just going to have to make up your own dimensioned format and then submit it here for all these experts to decide whether it's large format or not.

[Donald Qualls]

Mark, I'm sorry if you feel I'm "laying claim" to certain sizes -- I used those designations to clarify which were common where, not to say they were only permitted in certain locations. I'm American, live in America, and have never visited Europe, but I have two 9x12 cm plate cameras (which I consider large format) -- and it's something of a challenge to find film that fits them here, or I should say to have a choice of films. I can buy all I want, as long as it's ISO 100 B&W from either Efke or Foma.

It's simple fact, however, that 9x12, 10x15, 13x18 and 18x24 (cm) were and are more common on the Continent than the inch-based sizes or the fraction-plate sizes, though if you know where you can still buy quarter plate, half plate, and even full-plate sheet film in the UK, Europe, and the USA -- as well as centimeter size film in the USA and inch-size film in Germany or France (and both in the UK, of course). If you're willing to pay for it and don't wait too long, you may still be able to buy 9x12 cm glass plates (ISO 100) from Retro Photo in UK, part of a batch purchase from a Russian factory, the last on Earth still making glass plates AFAIK.

[Gem Singer]

Jay,

Is your RB67 capable of sliding a a Fidelity 2.25X3.25 double SHEET (cut) film holder under it's ground glass? If so, it is a very unique medium format camera.

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

Eugene. The Rolleiflex TLR and SL66 can take 6,5x9 glass plates & cut film. Of course only a 56x56 mm window will be exposed. The Hasselblad had, as an accessory, a 6x6 cut film holder shipped with a special pair of scissors required to pre-cut 6,5x9 film down to 63.5 squared (the story does not say if the special scissors could also cut glass plates, you never know : Sweden has a deserved reputation for top-quality steel products ;-). Ah the good old days of weird accessories in Braunschweig and Göteborg !! ;-);-)

[Gem Singer]

Emmanuel,

I'm well aware of the ability of medium format cameras to be adapted to use cut film in single-sided metal septums. I worked with Rollei TLR cameras for more than thirty years. My point is that medium format cameras do not utilize the standard double sided Fidelity-type of film holders that slide in under the ground glass after composing the picture on the ground glass. That's what makes medium format cameras different from cameras like the Ebony SV23, or the baby Speed Grapic, that are classified as large format cameras.

[Jay DeFehr]

Eugene,

you wrote:

"Therefore, I have to conclude that cameras that are capable of taking 2.25X3.25 inch (and larger) sheet film, are to be classified as large format cameras."

The Mamiya RB67 does have that capability, despite using a camera-specific holder, and being of an SLR design, which precludes the necessity of sliding the holder under a ground glass. Graflex LF SLRs didn't use standard, Fidelity-type holders, or have a GG at the film plane either. I think that the argument that the type of filmholder used is determinant, is specious at best. There are several MF cameras that are capable of using 2x3 film in standard holders, but that doesn't make them LF cameras, in my book.

Jay