Which Film Format

[Greg Liscio]

B & H Sales Rep claims they sell more 8X10 than 4X5 film. I find this impossible to believe.

Please indicate your film format - indicate most frequently used if you work with more than one.

1) 2x3
2) 4x5
3) 5x7
4) 8x10
5) 11x14
6) Other

Thanks all.

[Ari]

They may be losing some of their 4x5 market to the Chinese, so what he's saying is possible, unlikely as it sounds.
I shoot only 4x5; on Chinese film, natch.

[J Ney]

That doesn't sound right to me either, but perhaps they are talking about units rather than individual sheets of film.

Most folks that buy 4x5 buy them in boxes of 50 or greater whereas 8x10 is probably in the 10-sheet box so maybe their math is saying 3 10-sheet boxes of 8x10 is more than 2 50-sheet boxes of 4x5. If so, that is way bass-ackwards.

I would wonder if they sell more 5x7 or 8x10...

[Ivan J. Eberle]

In film volume or dollar volume? In some emulsions, 8x10 is almost 4X as expensive, and B&H is one of the few places remaining places that stock 8x10. But it's still hard to believe.

[Toyon]

It can only be explained by a box count, not a unit sheet count. Maybe Henry Posner will weigh in?

[Sascha Welter]

Maybe they calculate by area (i.e. square meters of film)? 8x10 is not only 4x more expensive, but also 4x as big.

A Kodak sales rep had been doing that in a discussion many, many years ago, confusing everybody around.

[r.e.]

Greg,

Could you explain what the purpose is of this poll, as well as the other one that you have started about whether people use negative or positive film.

I'm just trying to understand what these threads are about/for. Idle curiosity, preparation for a film order, ...?

I think that there is some merit to finding out what people are using, especially given the gradual disappearance of emulsions. In the current environment, it might be interesting to know where demand lies. If we are going to engage in that exercise, it might be a good idea to do it with the full support/intervention of the owner of the site/moderators, and try to do it in a way that is more than anecdotal if not completely scientifically valid - in other words, polite pressure on people to participate. If a survey is going to be undertaken, it might also be a good idea to involve other sites, such as the French and German large format sites.

Thanks.

[Richard M. Coda]

8x10 BW most.
4x5 next, more and more for color, but I just got my first box of 8x10 Provia.
11x14 BW... hope to make that the default in the future.

[Greg Liscio]

Greg,

Could you explain what the purpose is of this poll, as well as the other one that you have started about whether people use negative or positive film.

I'm just trying to understand what these threads are about/for. Idle curiosity, preparation for a film order, ...?

Thanks.

My own curiosity, that I thought others might find interesting as well. It was not my intention to launch a survey of the scope you refer to. If anyone is interested they'll reply.
Thanks

[Diane Maher]

These days, it's mostly whole plate, 5x12 and 8x10.