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Thread: FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Posts
    444

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    In my never ending quest for cheap portability I have started looking at FKD tailboard cameras. Getting 13X18 film in North America seems to be extremely difficult and using 5X7 film in a 13X18 holder may work or the film may fall out depending on the individual holder(I got this info from previous posts). Neither of these are particularly good options. A third is to use a 5X7 holder in the camera. Would this work? If adaptations would be minimal it would be worth it to me. It is hard to beat a $130 folding camera.

  2. #2

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    These Russian tailboard cameras are not compatible with standard 13x18 holders, but rather are used with glass plates, and glass plate holders. You would have to make some sort of film sheath in order to use film. You could also pick up a 5x7 back on eBay and (somehow) attach it to the back of the camera.

  3. #3

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    I went down this road about a year ago. I tried fitting 5x7 sheaths into the FKD film holders. This worked OK in that the sheaths fit and held the film flat and snug, but the film holders themselves were full of leaks and did not fit tightly into the back. I ended up buying a used 5x7 back and attached it to the FKD back. This works fine but the camera will not fold with the back attached. If I were to do it again, I'd just skip the film sheath stage and plan on buying a 5x7 back from the start.

    Marty Lowman

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Posts
    444

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    What about getting a 8X10 => 4X5 reducing back and trimming it and permanently mounting it where the holder would go?

  5. #5

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    Ed - Have you got the FKD yet? It does not accept standard film holders - the ground glass flips up and a cassette fits into slots underneath the ground glass. I found that the casettes did not fit tight enough to prevent light leaks. While it should be possible to cut a back down to fit into this space, it's too much fine work for me.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Posts
    444

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    Marty, I don't have it yet. If I had to cut down a back I would more likely get an 18X24 and cut down a 8X10 => 5X7 or 4X5 back. That would give more wood to work with. My wife is the carpenter in our family and she loves to tell me what to do. In a perfect world I would just have to slap a 5X7 holder in, but then again, the cameras would cost more than $200.

  7. #7

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    My FKD came with 3 plate holders which I have adapted simply with thin 5"x7" glass plates from cheap picture frames. I had to try a few before I found ones which would fit. I mostly use 5x7 paper negatives but 5x7 film will fit and is held fairly - but not very - flat by pushing it under the wooden plate holder frame at one end and under the two clips at the other which are inteded to hold the plate in. It isn't pretty but it seems to work. The 210mm Industar lens seems quite good. I have also fitted a 165mm Goerz Dogmar in a Compur shutter to a home-made lensboard so I can make short exposures. Is anyone else making pictures with these strange Russian cameras?

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    390

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    On another forum a member got an FKD 8x10. He swapped out the back with a deardorf 8x10 back and is happy. He said it was very little trouble. Might be worth a shot. I suppose a 2D back might work as well. What are the dimensions of the back? When I get home I can measure my 2d to say if it will fit in?

  9. #9

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    Heh,

    FKD users of the world unite! I just purchased a 8x10 FKD via Ebay, can't wait to try it out. It looks like a steal, especially if you can find a good lens with a shutter to use faster films. Any recommendations for good, cheap 8x10 normal-view lenses?

    Take care, André

  10. #10

    FKD 13X18cm 5X7 compatability

    Hi,

    Another question: I am probably going to try swapping the 18x24 back with a Deardorff 8"x10" back like the above poster mentioned, as 8x10 film is WAAAY easier to find in Canada. Is there any problem using 8x10 film holders in substitution of the 18x24cm ones?

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