Why is 5x7 so much hard to find than 4x5

[Momentz]

As the topic says, is the 4x5 a much popular film? i looked on fujifilms website and then at there store locator, not one deals in 5x7 but everyone in 4x5?

[QT Luong]

With modern equipment and film, 4x5 is plenty for most needs, while 5x7 is not thought as sufficiently larger to warrant a step-up, hence 8x10 being the next popular format.
See also http://www.largeformatphotography.info/5x7.html

[Kirk Gittings]

I have no idea of the actual numbers, but there are probably 100 4x5's out there for every 5x7? Part of that history is the availability of 4x5 Polaroid which made it a favorite format amongst commercial photographers and photography schools.

[Capocheny]

I agree with both QT and Kirk... there's a lot more 4x5 and 8x10 shooters out there than there are 5x7.

However, IMHO, 5x7 is the ideal format for my way of seeing. I have both 8x10 and 4x5 cameras. I had a 5x7 Dorff but I sold it when I decided to change camera systems. However, if I can locate a 5x7 conversion kit for the Arca Swiss 4x5 F-Metric, that's the format I'll be shooting more of.

The 4x5 is a tad bit small for contact printing. The 5x7 is quite acceptable. And, of course, 8x10 is great.

Decisions, decisions, decisions... it's all about individual preferences.

Cheers

PS: If you go to View Camera Magazine's website there's a couple of informative articles on 5x7 cameras and the films available.

Lastly, contact Jeff at Badger Graphics (www.badgergraphics.com for 5x7 color Fuji films... or Rob Skeoch (www.bigcameraworkshops.com) in Ontario for B&W films.

[Glenn Thoreson]

A 5X7 Speed Graphic is pretty impressive. I have one. I will get into 5X7 albumen prints one of these days. Imagine the looks you would get, using the thing hand held in a big, crowded city. I don't have to worry about looks. Nobody but cows lives around here.

[venchka]

The link to Badger Graphic sent me to a printing company. Here is the web page at Badger Graphic listing 5x7 film.

http://www.badgergraphic.com/store/c...uct_list&c=202

[Capocheny]

The link to Badger Graphic sent me to a printing company. Here is the web page at Badger Graphic listing 5x7 film.

http://www.badgergraphic.com/store/c...uct_list&c=202

Wayne,

My apologies... that "s" always throws me off.

Cheers

[John Kasaian]

A 5X7 Speed Graphic is pretty impressive. I have one. I will get into 5X7 albumen prints one of these days. Imagine the looks you would get, using the thing hand held in a big, crowded city. I don't have to worry about looks. Nobody but cows lives around here.

Another 5x7 Speed Graphic shooter here! They are fun!

IMHO 5x7 is a very unique format---like the 11x14 the elongated image just looks more appropriate for some subjects. Being larger than 4x5 it makes composing on the gg easier and more logical---especially for contact printing where cropping is dubious. Is it less popular? Who cares! Get your film from Badger Graphic, Freestyle or whomever else you enjoy doing cyberbusiness with. It's a great format.

[Gene McCluney]

5x7 was VERY popular in the b/w portrait industry in the 1950's. Most portrait studios had 5x7 split frame backs that could take 2, 3 1/2 x 5 views on one sheet of 5x7 by sliding the back from one position to another. One could get 4 views on a holder of film. Very efficient. This is probably where a lot of the old 5x7 film holders come from. In commercial photography, the standards have always been 8x10 and 4x5, and of course Polaroid makes materials in both those sizes. I shot commercial product photography on 8x10 transparency for many years.

[Captain_joe6]

I think that in addition to the Polaroid bias to 4x5, that part of the downfall of 5x7 has been because of the ability and the preference to enlarge 4x5 and smaller formats, and the general acceptance that 8x10 must usually be contact printed. In this case, 5x7 becomes the forlorn middle child, too big to enlarge with all but a very few enlargers, and too overshadowed by 8x10 contact prints.