I looked into making such a move a number of years ago. My motivation was for greater clarity of image. I ended up shooting 4x10 and 5x7 as a result from that investigation. Consider this:

For 8x10

  1. Image quality is much better for 8x10.
  2. Equipment is a lot more expensive than 4x5 with bigger everything in the field as well as in the darkroom.
  3. Supplies are a lot more expensive for operating a 8x10 camera.
  4. 8x10 is not very portable because it is bigger and heavier
  5. DOF with the bigger lenses needed for 8x10 was more restrictive.
  6. Film can sag in the middle of the holders resulting in uneven focusing.


For 5x7

  1. The improved clarity between 5x7 and 8x10 is not significant. The improved clarity between 4x5 and 5x7 is significant and very notable.
  2. Cost of equipment was much less. All ten of my 4x5 lenses worked with my 5x7 camera except my 75mm lens.
  3. Cost of supplies are much less for 5x7 than 8x10. I cut my own 5x7 film from 8x10 film and get two sheets from a single sheet of 8x10 film.
  4. There is not a lot of 5x7 film available on the market. Most likely you will have to cut your own film.
  5. My 5x7 camera is very portable. My 5x7 camera weighs less than my 4x5 camera and is smaller than than an 8x10 camera.
  6. I love the aspect ratio of 5x7. 4x5 and 8x10 are more boxy in shape while 5x7 is more elongated like 35mm. 5x7 is a better fit for doing landscape photography.
  7. I do have a 4x5 reducing back, and I still shoot 4x5 when doing macro photography, need more lens coverage, or need more telephoto range with my bigger lenses.

Currently, I have two separate camera bodies, 5x7 and 4x10, I port into the back country of Colorado with two llamas. This allows me to shoot 4x5, 5x7, and 4x10 which gives me the flexibility of fitting the format to the composition rather then compromising the composition to fit the format. I am investigating switching to a single 8x10 camera body with 4x5, 4x10, and 5x7 reducing backs. Ebony offers such a configuration. I believe that this approach will be lighter and require less space than carrying two camera bodies. This will also allow me to use 8x10 on occasions where the composition and lighting is extraordinary.

Hope this helps.