5X7 Format...what reasons for shooting 5X7??

[audioexcels]

I know a few around here shoot 5X7, but I am curious why. Here are some reasons I can come up with respect to why a person chooses 5X7 as their format of choice:

1) Ratio is better than 4X5.

2) Can achieve a larger contact print though is this really all that satisfying compared to Whole Plate/8X10?

3) Access to enlargers to make larger prints. In other words, one has to have a mega huge enlarger to enlarge 8X10 film. Then again, 4X5 can be enlarged no differently than can 5X7.


Aside from wanting super large prints, I'm having trouble understanding why people use this format instead of just shooting with 4X5 and just enlarging the 4X5 to the proportions/print ratio size you prefer (i.e. print it to 10X14, 11X14, 12X17, etc. etc.).

[alec4444]

QT wrote a great article on this a while back - have a look here:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/5x7.html

I chose 5x7 because I like the shape and it's the smallest format (IMHO) that can support contact prints, which is important to me because I want to do alt. process stuff. Sometimes the 11x14 is just too bog!

Cheers!
--A

[audioexcels]

QT wrote a great article on this a while back - have a look here:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/5x7.html

I chose 5x7 because I like the shape and it's the smallest format (IMHO) that can support contact prints, which is important to me because I want to do alt. process stuff. Sometimes the 11x14 is just too bog!

Cheers!
--A

I've read that article a few times actually. Alt process is a different story and definitely a reason to go with 5X7 over 4X5, and if you prefer the 5X7 size, would be better than 6.5X8.5 since it is easier to access 5X7 vs. 6.5X8.5 and of course 8X10 is just like 4X5 ratio so that wouldn't help you any!

So one reason aside from what I said is "alternative processing" with a larger sheet of film with 5X7 being the final print that you are working with. BTW, I have posted it here, I believe, but there is a person on Flickr that has "amazing" 5X7 alt processed contact prints. I don't know how many years it took her to learn how to do what she does, but it's amazing.

[Nick_3536]

Nicest format ever created. Except maybe for 5x8.

Better question is why waste time on formats like 8x10 etc that need to be cropped to 5x7?

[audioexcels]

Nicest format ever created. Except maybe for 5x8.

Better question is why waste time on formats like 8x10 etc that need to be cropped to 5x7?

6.5X8.5 is a format and it doesn't need to be cropped. As a side note, there's a ton shifting to 8X10 cameras at the moment if that says anything, though I don't want things to get too off-topic.

So another reason, but is the same reason as I have mentioned in the original post=proportion/ratio of image.


Curious, is there honestly a 5X8 format and with a spring back and available holders?

[rippo]

5 x 8 = 6 x 9 x Scissors

[audioexcels]

5 x 8 = 6 x 9 x Scissors

6X9 has backs and holders?

[rippo]

it was a joke. i have no idea what 5x8 is. i'll leave that up to Nick to explain.

but yes, 6x9 has backs and holders. 6x9 is metric, which is 2x3...baby press size. i have a great Busch Pressman Model C, with a bunch of cute little 2x3/6x9 holders.

[audioexcels]

it was a joke. i have no idea what 5x8 is. i'll leave that up to Nick to explain.

but yes, 6x9 has backs and holders. 6x9 is metric, which is 2x3...baby press size. i have a great Busch Pressman Model C, with a bunch of cute little 2x3/6x9 holders.

Ahhhh...I had a feeling you meant 6cmX9cm

[Eric Woodbury]

I like the ratio, but feel I can always crop any format to get the ratio.

Most of the lenses I have cover 5x7.

The camera isn't much bigger than 4x5.

5x7 is the largest size film I can handle with one hand.

It's fun.