Contessa Nettel ?

[gliderbee]

Stefan,

I'm glad the holders worked out. As Ian said, the ideal thing is to use what they call over here "film sheaths" which were adapters specifically designed to hold sheets of film in older plate holders. They are not too expensive, but they can be hard to find. I may have some spares, but it will take me a little while to dig through my boxes of photo gear in the garage. I'll let you know what I find.

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan,

That would be great, thanks!

Stefan.

[Sevo]

They are not too expensive, but they can be hard to find.

The main problem is that they rarely turn up by themselves, and it is mostly impossible to identify on ebay whether plate holders come with or without a sheath. Going by my ebay Germany experience, most don't, regardless what is said about them. About one out of ten holders I bought as "plate holders" came with a surprise sheath, while eight out of ten "film holders" were in fact glass plate holders without sheath.

The good news are that sheaths adapt film to plate, so they are not holder specific. Unless you run into some superficially sheath like film or plate holder for a "detective" camera or magazine (which would not be your damage if you bought them at sheath value, they tend to sell at higher prices), any will do. Provided that the film and plate size are right, that is - there have been 6.5x9 to 9x12 and 9x12 to 10x15 adapter sheaths that might be advertised only by their 9x12 dimension.

[jcoldslabs]

I've been very fortunate in that about 50% of my 9x12 plate holders (of all kinds) came with sheaths as a surprise. I did manage to find someone selling a large number of sheaths all by themselves a few years ago, but I paid about $5 each for them. I'm glad I did as 9x12 sheaths seem to be harder to find these days, if my recent Eb@y searches are any indication.

Jonathan

[Tim Meisburger]

I shoot a 6.5x9 Recomar, and am always looking for sheaths. I think I could make them pretty easily out of thin aluminum flashing, but have not found any here yet. I have made them out of card, but they don't work very well.

One thing about the sheaths, they hold the film the thickness of the metal behind the ground glass plane (assuming registration is perfect). I've never noticed an effect, but tend to shoot the tessar stopped down as much as possible.

[Sevo]

but I paid about $5 each for them.

5€ hereabouts seem to be the going ebay rate, unless you hit upon hidden ones that all others missed out on. Buying random unidentified holders does not really lose anything other than time, as these tend to go for 0.50-1€, and contain at least one sheathed holder per 5€ on average as well.

[IanG]

I shoot a 6.5x9 Recomar, and am always looking for sheaths. I think I could make them pretty easily out of thin aluminum flashing, but have not found any here yet. I have made them out of card, but they don't work very well.

You've just reminded me that here in the UK thin aluminium sheet is often used to seal between gas fires and old fire-places, it's easy to work with as well. I kept both pieces when I removed my gas fires

Ian

[Tim Meisburger]

That should work. Now that I think about it, aluminum cans might work as well. Perhaps I'll give it a try, and if it works I can post it on the DIY.

[gliderbee]

I'm very interested ....

Stefan.

That should work. Now that I think about it, aluminum cans might work as well. Perhaps I'll give it a try, and if it works I can post it on the DIY.