Wooden 5x7 holder won't hold 5x7 film?!

[Scott --]

Hi, all -

I picked up as a small rehab project an old wooden 5x7 holder, unmarked. Cleaned up nicely, but when I go to load it, my film won't stay put. While the little guides are just under 5" apart, the film's actually only 4-15/16" wide, just a smidge more than the guides. If it's centered just so, the film will sit between the guides, but will slide to and fro, and flops out if the holder's not laying flat.

I'm in dire need of 5x7 holders, and want to make this work. Any suggestions? Is there a way to tighten up the space behind the guides so the film can't slide quite so freely? Or is it just a delicate touch in loading that eludes me?

Scott

[Nick_3536]

I know some of my 8x10s are a touch wider then the plastic holders. The standard has some play in it. OTOH a film holder should hold film .

Those rails sound too big. You sure it's a 5x7 film holder? If you think about it the holder should mask off a bit more of the film. In your case it's more then full frame.

[Scott --]

If I center the film between the guides, the edges match up with the edges from my Fidelity holder. There's just tons more room to either side of the film beneath the guides, so the filmm slides to one edge, and then it wants to flop out on the other side.

What size nominal is 13x18cm?

[Ole Tjugen]

13x18cm is nominal 13x18cm, less the 2-3mm lost in the transition from glass plates to film. So the nominal size is very very close to 127x178mm, or in other words pretty exactly 5 inches by 7 inches.

[Scott --]

The gate opening on this is 6-3/4" by 4-3/4+". Still looks like 5x7. There's just an inordinate amount of room to either side of the film edges. Was older 5x7 film larger or something?

[Nick_3536]

Well if 13x18 is 5x7 that would fit your holders just fine. You lose 1/4" which off the top of my head doesn't sound like too much.

[Nick_3536]

I take it back. You lose 1/8" each side. Which sounds even better.

[Scott --]

Bah. I don't want to buy special film for just one holder...

[Gene McCluney]

Perhaps I am unclear on this, but this sounds more like a half-plate size film holder, however half-plate is actually a smidge smaller than 5x7.

[Nick_3536]

Bah. I don't want to buy special film for just one holder...

Might be perfect for the 5x7 lith film freestyle sells