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Greg
15-Jul-2016, 17:07
Am looking to replace my well used 11x14 film holders with 3 or 4 new ones. Chamonix holders are now going new for $540 each. I'm sure they are absolutely gorgeous, but are there any other brands out there that may not be 100% up to Chamonix's quality but are a bit more reasonably priced? My present ones are second hand very well used modified Fidelity Medical X-Ray holders which I fear are on their last legs...
Thanks

Daniel Stone
15-Jul-2016, 19:27
I've seen some 11x14 holders listed here in the classifieds at least once this year. Put a WTB ad up in the WTB section, and see what pops up. You never know :)

MAubrey
16-Jul-2016, 07:33
S&S Film Holders sell their 11x14's for $375. Still a nice chunk of change, but a far cry from $540.

http://ssfilmholders.com/?page=film_holders

Sal Santamaura
16-Jul-2016, 07:44
S&S Film Holders sell their 11x14's for $375...

http://ssfilmholders.com/?page=film_holdersNote that, while the ANSI standard for 11x14 holders' T dimension is 0.332 inch, +/- 0.016 inch, S&S specifies its holders at 0.350 inch with no tolerance given. I'm unaware of what T-dimension the OP's Medical Cassettes use, but it would be wise to explore this factor in detail before purchasing any holders.

Tin Can
16-Jul-2016, 07:46
Are S&S holders still available?

karl french
16-Jul-2016, 08:27
There is still some 'new-old' stock left. Email Sandy via the info@ssfilmholders.com address.

Greg
16-Jul-2016, 17:02
Note that, while the ANSI standard for 11x14 holders' T dimension is 0.332 inch, +/- 0.016 inch, S&S specifies its holders at 0.350 inch with no tolerance given. I'm unaware of what T-dimension the OP's Medical Cassettes use, but it would be wise to explore this factor in detail before purchasing any holders.

When I acquired the used 11x14" Fidelity Medical X-Ray holders, did some research and the overall thickness dimension of the holders did differ ever so slightly from 11x14" holders made to be used with conventional photo film. Holders made for holding X-ray film were a tad bit thicker to withstand heavy daily use. BUT the front of holder to film surface distances were the same for X-Ray and conventional film holders.

Being as I regularly use the f/64 aperture, the S&S holders very slightly differing from ANSI standards shouldn't present a problem for me.

Maybe 20 years ago also did acquire some used 14x17" X-Ray film holders. I sold them to another ULF photographer who told me they most probably did not meet ANSI standards, but the actual in reality flatness of 11x14" or 14x17" film definitely did not meet the ANSI standards. Also told me he regularly used apertures closer to f/90. From experience I totally agree with him. For one project shot quite a few 11x14" negs with the camera pointed down and the lens at max aperture. Focus was off because of the (gravity induced) sagging of the film. Had to turn to using double sided adhesive tape which turned out to be a real pain to use.

diversey
18-Aug-2016, 09:23
FYI.
11x14 Fidelity Medical Cassette (Medical x-ray holder?)

Dimensions: (ANSI in parenthesis)
Depth to fim surface: 0.330" (0.332"+/-0.016")
Retaining tab location: 16.125" (16.160")
Thickness: 0.75" (0.79")
Length: 16.25" (16.188")
Width: 13" (13.000")
Exposure height: 13. 563" (14.086"?)
Exposure width: 11.0625" (10.188")
Distance to exposure field: 1.25" (1.255")

153986

MartinP
18-Aug-2016, 13:27
Just the obvious silly question . . . do I recall correctly that some/all xray holders are sealed film-chambers, ie. without a darkslide ??

angusparker
18-Aug-2016, 15:38
Those medical holders are super heavy - I would avoid them. Since 11x14 is an ANSI standard you may be lucky if you match a modern camera and a modern film holder but it will be a bit of a gamble in most cases if you have an old camera or holder.


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glrerun
18-Aug-2016, 16:20
Try Richard Ritter

www.lg4mat.net

diversey
19-Aug-2016, 09:27
Compared a Fidelity 11x14 medical holder with a Richard Ritter or a Burker & James 11x14 holder, they are similar in terns of weight, Fidelity=3.3 ib, Burker & James/Richard Ritter=3ib. In radiology, all x-ray film holders are called cassettes, most of them are metal cassettes. This might be the reason a 11x14 Fidelity holder was also called medical cassette. The old 11x14 cameras such as those made in 1900s are for dry plates, modern 11x14 film holders would not fit in them including 11x14 Fidelity and Burke&James ones. My 11x14 Fidelity film holders (medical cassettes) fit my Deardorff 11x14 camera perfectly, but not my 11x14 Seneca camera.