5x8 Chamonix

**Robert Fisher** · 30-Jun-2010, 13:30

Anybody know if half of a piece of a sheet of 810 film will fit in a 58 Chamonix holder or is additional trimming required?

Thanks!

**John Brady** · 2-Jul-2010, 05:24

Hi Robert, I no longer have my 5x8 chamy but when I did I would cut 810 sheets in my Harrison tent with a roto trim cutter. I taped a cardboard guide to the cutter to split the sheet into equal half's and once cut they fit perfectly in the holders.

It is a little tricky keeping track of the emulsion side on the half that doesn't have the notch, so keep close track.

The 5x8 format is beautiful and the efficiency of utilizing a full sheet of 810 is great.

My goal for this camera was to use it with my 72xl lens but unfortunately the design was not conducive for super wide.

www.timeandlight.com

**Rayt** · 2-Jul-2010, 07:07

Why 5x8 instead of 5x7? I understand there are more emulsions available in 8x10 but what attracted you to the slightly longer format?

**Ken Lee** · 2-Jul-2010, 07:25

"Why 5x8 instead of 5x7 ?"

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio

**IanG** · 2-Jul-2010, 08:56

I have an early Wray RR lens designed and sold for 8"x5", focal length is close to 300mm. But I've yet to see an 8x5 camera.

Ian

**Dave Wooten** · 2-Jul-2010, 09:31

Or you could just crop a bit in the enlarger or printing frame from the 5 inch side of a 5 x 7 and realize the golden ratio.

**Robert Hughes** · 2-Jul-2010, 12:10

Originally Posted by Dave Wooten

Or you could just crop a bit in the enlarger or printing frame from the 5 inch side of a 5 x 7 and realize the golden ratio.

But since we work with negatives, we could do a -114% crop of the 5x7 to get 5x8 in the print!

That's the beauty of analog. Try that with digital, and all you get are random bits all over the inside of your monitor.