Why do the Brits say 10x8 and 5x4?

[Richard Wasserman]

Alan, you made my day!

[Joe Lipka]

Well, we all agree on 5x7.

And the obvious advantage to Aussie photographers is that the image is formed right side up on all view cameras.

[Louie Powell]

Why is it that the British refer to LF cameras sizes differently from all the rest of the world?
Why do they call an 8x10 "10x8" and why do they refer to the little 4x5 as "5x4"???
Enquiring minds want to know...

Its probably an aftereffect of the warm beer.

[jetcode]

the story behind driving on the left instead of right is that if you are right handed your sword will be in the most powerful position to slay oncoming traffic - yup - castles were designed with the stairwells spinning to the right so that right handed invaders swords would be confined to the inside stairwell - yup - and the last step approaching the next floor was additionally higher to trip the assailants while defenders lopped their heads off - called "the trip step" - yup - modern tower houses and castles had a entry called the murder hole where defenders from above poured boiling oil or stoned invaders who managed to enter the inner keep

ahh the times they were pleasant were they not?

[Craig Griffiths]

whether Aussies see things the right way up or not is dependant on the source of the ground glass. Alas mine was imported from the Northern Hemisphere and as a result the image is upside down.

Perhaps there is a marketing opportunity on ebay for Australian ground glass. I am sure that there would be a few purchasers.

[Pete Watkins]

Listen mate, we invented (or evolved) the language so if we say 5x4 it's 5x4, that's it, we're right you're wrong! We like our beer warm because it brings out the delicate flavours of a blend of English hops and fine English malt. Chilling beer, or ale as we prefer to call it in these parts, just obliterates the taste which in the case of New World "beer" is not a bad thing. We have an old saying that starts with "whats the difference between American beer and sex in a rowing boat? They're both F****** near water". jetcode, fantastic, you must have been reading up on our history, far more interesting than yours innit? Alan, that makes so much sense. Will the image be the right way up if I bring me beautiful B&J 5x7 down under?
One last thing, always remember that the word "colour" has a "U" in it, it's our language and thats that!
Pete.

[BrianShaw]

Listen mate (snip) it's our language and thats that!
Pete.

Yes, dear... or should that be "yes, luv".

[Ash]

Actually Brian, it's "m'love"

[Bill_1856]

Thanks, Alan. That was Wunderful!

Old sports car joke:

Q: Why do the British drink warm beer?
A. Because they have Lucas refrigerators.

[Rob Champagne]

Why is it that the British refer to LF cameras sizes differently from all the rest of the world?
Why do they call an 8x10 "10x8" and why do they refer to the little 4x5 as "5x4"???
Enquiring minds want to know...

If I'm not mistaken, photography and cameras were exported from Europe to the USA. Therefore the question should be: Why do the yanks always change everything and then delude themselves by thinking it was their idea in the first place?

So why do you do it? Does it make you feel important? Do you realise that it wasn't your idea in the first place?