Choosing between ULF formats

[Scott Davis]

I've got a 14x17 which I need to use more. The reason I have it is that it was available at the time I was looking to get into ULF (beyond 5x12). It does not travel well, and although the camera itself is reasonably lightweight (for the size), adding in five film holders and boom! I'm hauling 40+ lbs around. There's also a story behind the camera - I know personally everyone who has owned the camera, including the maker of the camera. It is 99% likely that when it leaves my hands, that chain of ownership will break. It's still a monster, but it's less of a monster than a 16x20, and the film is cheaper too. If I wanted to shoot x-ray film, it's available at that size as well.

[drarmament]

I just ordered a Ritter 16x20. I do wet plate and my daughter is getting married next year. I want to do her bridal portraits bigger then 8x10. With 16x20 I can put the ambrotype in a 20x24 frame and have a 4 inch border.


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[Steve Goldstein]

I just ordered a Ritter 16x20. I do wet plate and my daughter is getting married next year. I want to do her bridal portraits bigger then 8x10. With 16x20 I can put the ambrotype in a 20x24 frame and have a 4 inch border.

You'll only have 2" of border all around. The framed image would look cramped to me - I'd frame it at least 22x26, probably larger.

[drarmament]

You'll only have 2" of border all around. The framed image would look cramped to me - I'd frame it at least 22x26, probably larger.

Thank you. I’ll check that out.


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[Michael Kadillak]

I tend to see either panoramically or rectangularly so the choice for me was which was the correct formats to proceed with? I was fortunate to have been able to engage Michael Smith on the 8x20 and he sold me on it. I got to meet William Corey as well which helped in this regard. I ended up with a 12x20 and found I could not fill the verticals as easy so I let it go. My main camera format being 8x10 the 4x10 was a natural extension being half of the 8x20 so this camera is my go to when to location logistics are challenging. I also fell into a 11x14 camera deal so that rounds out the pursuit of lunacy artistically.

By the way I have a pile of expired B&W sheet film I am need to get rid of shortly on behalf of a good friend in 14x17, 11x14, 12x20 and even 14x20 in FP4+, T Max 400 and HP5. Smoking discounts. Wil be posting these options in the For Sale section now that Christmas is in the done column. Thanks!