I am about to embark on a neat and super light 5X8 kit that has a 4X5 reduction back and also permits shooting 5X7 film as well. Of course roll film backs if I want to go that route, but I'll keep this setup strictly for a light field use one only. This setup will be discussed later when I have the finished product around Christmas time, but for a very brief layout, it features the Arca F-Line Rail, Carriers, and then has a custom made back that is compactly made so it uses as little area as possible to cut down on bulk/weight. Think Chamonix horizontal only camera, but this one can be turned vertically since it will feature two dovetails on the rear standard, one that obviously holds the standard in place, one that is on on side of the camera to flip it around and have vertical. Overall weight should be about 4lbs or so.
Pros:
1) This is by far the most portable system of any that I considered (4X5 aside since my Arca can easily interchange to 4X5 only though I wanted the reduction back since that Arca back and front standard is quite heavy by comparison to wood based standards). By making this a compact camera, it enabled me to gain quite a bit of bulk even over whole plate (one of my considerations).
2) It fits that goldenish ratio I like, though I really considered WP and cut down to say 5.5X8 or even 7X11 cut to 6.5X10.5.
3) Ability to use many lenses on 5x8, 5X7, and 4X5 formats and gain different focal perspectives from each lens used on different sizes of sheet film.
4) Though it is nothing quite like even WP, the 5X8 area on the Chamonix film holders seems to look adequate enough for doing contact prints. Still a bit about whether this was a valid point over larger sized WP or 7X11.
5) While 4X5 is probably more than I would ever need, I did like the idea of the far lesser grain in 5X7+ sized film for those few that I will want to blow up a bit. Since it is compact enough, I could even use it strictly as 4X5 only for the day if the reduction back poses too much weight penalty for typical field use.
6) I obviously loved the WP gg and the 4X5 GG just looked too small, so the larger 5X8GG will suit me nicely.
7) I considered the challenge of movements, DOF, and so on, feeling that WP would have probably been ok, but may have been that bit more challenging for the versatile movements I enjoy using.
Cons:
All are pretty much the reverse of the pros=
1) Contact print is arguably too small.
2) I may not make enough enlargements to justify having the larger surface area.
3) From all I have read, developing 5X8 is something I will have to do myself. This is not a problem, though it is nice to have the convenience to every once in a while just send the film off to a lab to have it dealt with.
4) Cutting the film will not be too bad since I will have someone do it for me Any takers? Will barter for some 810 film!
5) If I am making enlargements often enough, I will almost wish I shot in 5X7 more often than 5X8 if I were to have the shots scanned optically. If done digitally, I drum scan or flatbed scan so size is irrelevant in this case.
Any thoughts people would like to add about this format, their own pros/cons list that I either did not capture or did not discuss properly would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot!!!
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