Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

So I'm nearing completion on my restoration of a Rochester Optical Co.
Universal 5x7 camera. Or at least I *think* it's a 5x7; now I'm not so sure.

So I have two questions here. The first is whether this is actually a
5x7. Here are the relevant dimensions:

Film holder opening (the clear opening in front of the holder):
5-1/8" x 7-15/16"
Film holder outside dimensions (measuring inside stop rails):
5-11/16" x 9"
Ground glass opening (viewable area:) 4-3/4" x 7-3/4"

The second question is, will standard 5x7 film holders (Fidelity, Lisco,
etc.) fit this camera? Or was it made for an earlier standard size of
holder? (The camera is close to a century old.) If the latter, then I'm
pretty sure I can find some on eBay.

Thanks for any help. I'm planning on actually taking pictures with this
someday.


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

David Nebenzahl wrote:
So I'm nearing completion on my restoration of a Rochester Optical Co.
Universal 5x7 camera. Or at least I *think* it's a 5x7; now I'm not so sure.

So I have two questions here. The first is whether this is actually a
5x7. Here are the relevant dimensions:

Film holder opening (the clear opening in front of the holder):
5-1/8" x 7-15/16"

The 7 15/16 is a bit large. There are two image sizes near that.

Nominal 5"x7" size that is 12.7mm x 17.8mm (the likely size)
Nominal 13mm x 18mm that is 5 1/8" x 7 1/8"

Film holder outside dimensions (measuring inside stop rails):
5-11/16" x 9"
Ground glass opening (viewable area:) 4-3/4" x 7-3/4"

The second question is, will standard 5x7 film holders (Fidelity, Lisco,
etc.) fit this camera? Or was it made for an earlier standard size of
holder? (The camera is close to a century old.) If the latter, then I'm
pretty sure I can find some on eBay.

Thanks for any help. I'm planning on actually taking pictures with this
someday.


You may wish to look he

http://home.earthlink.net/~eahoo/page8/filmhold.html

--
.~. Jean-David Beyer Registered Linux User 85642.
/V\ PGP-Key: 9A2FC99A Registered Machine 241939.
/( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey http://counter.li.org
^^-^^ 17:45:01 up 7 days, 11:01, 3 users, load average: 4.07, 4.21, 4.24

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

On 3/23/2009 1:43 PM David Nebenzahl spake thus:

The second question is, will standard 5x7 film holders (Fidelity, Lisco,
etc.) fit this camera?

I forgot to ask my other question, which is whether anyone can point me
to a reference showing the dimensions of a standard (contemporary) 5x7
film holder, preferably online somewhere.


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

I forgot to ask my other question, which is whether anyone can point me to
a reference showing the dimensions of a standard (contemporary) 5x7 film
holder, preferably online somewhere.

http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/00Hptl

http://www.butzi.net/reviews/filmholders.htm 45 but ask.

http://home.earthlink.net/~eahoo/page8/filmhold.html might be what you
want.

Otzi.

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

I forgot to ask my other question, which is whether anyone can point me to
a reference showing the dimensions of a standard (contemporary) 5x7 film
holder, preferably online somewhere.

Some more.

http://www.apug.org/forums/archive/i...hp/t-9686.html Building a Film
holder.

http://www.filmholders.com/filmho1.html

otzi

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

On 3/23/2009 1:43 PM David Nebenzahl spake thus:

The second question is, will standard 5x7 film holders (Fidelity, Lisco,
etc.) fit this camera? Or was it made for an earlier standard size of
holder? (The camera is close to a century old.) If the latter, then I'm
pretty sure I can find some on eBay.

Upon further examination, the answer to this question is obviously no; I
need to find some old-time film holders. There's no recess in the back
for the "rib" in the (modern) film holder to fit into.

Other than eBay, can anyone suggest places that will have these? I
already know about Pacific Rim Camera (they occasionally pop up there,
but none at present) and Craig Camera (ditto). Unfortunately, Thompson
Photo, which used to sell a lot of old stuff like that, is no longer in
business.


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 3/23/2009 1:43 PM David Nebenzahl spake thus:

The second question is, will standard 5x7 film holders (Fidelity, Lisco,
etc.) fit this camera? Or was it made for an earlier standard size of
holder? (The camera is close to a century old.) If the latter, then I'm
pretty sure I can find some on eBay.

Upon further examination, the answer to this question is obviously no; I
need to find some old-time film holders. There's no recess in the back
for the "rib" in the (modern) film holder to fit into.

Other than eBay, can anyone suggest places that will have these? I
already know about Pacific Rim Camera (they occasionally pop up there,
but none at present) and Craig Camera (ditto). Unfortunately, Thompson
Photo, which used to sell a lot of old stuff like that, is no longer in
business.


You might try Lens and Repro Equipment Corp. in NYC:

http://www.lensandrepro.com/

--
.~. Jean-David Beyer Registered Linux User 85642.
/V\ PGP-Key: 9A2FC99A Registered Machine 241939.
/( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey http://counter.li.org
^^-^^ 21:00:01 up 4 days, 3:14, 3 users, load average: 4.09, 4.17, 4.31

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 3/23/2009 1:43 PM David Nebenzahl spake thus:

The second question is, will standard 5x7 film holders (Fidelity,
Lisco, etc.) fit this camera? Or was it made for an earlier standard
size of holder? (The camera is close to a century old.) If the latter,
then I'm pretty sure I can find some on eBay.

Upon further examination, the answer to this question is obviously no; I
need to find some old-time film holders. There's no recess in the back
for the "rib" in the (modern) film holder to fit into.

What rib? Do ou mean the detent at the side opposite the dark slide slot?

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

On 3/28/2009 5:05 PM Jean-David Beyer spake thus:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

Other than eBay, can anyone suggest places that will have these? I
already know about Pacific Rim Camera (they occasionally pop up there,
but none at present) and Craig Camera (ditto). Unfortunately, Thompson
Photo, which used to sell a lot of old stuff like that, is no longer in
business.

You might try Lens and Repro Equipment Corp. in NYC:

Nope. Their "used large format equipment" page (last updated last Sept.,
apparently) only lists "modern" 4x5 & 8x10 holders.

Keep in mind that this thing is an antique, not a camera likely to
actually be used by anyone except weirdos like me.


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)

Camera dimension confusion (Rochester Universal 5x7)
 

On 3/28/2009 6:16 PM John J spake thus:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

On 3/23/2009 1:43 PM David Nebenzahl spake thus:

The second question is, will standard 5x7 film holders (Fidelity,
Lisco, etc.) fit this camera? Or was it made for an earlier standard
size of holder? (The camera is close to a century old.) If the latter,
then I'm pretty sure I can find some on eBay.

Upon further examination, the answer to this question is obviously no; I
need to find some old-time film holders. There's no recess in the back
for the "rib" in the (modern) film holder to fit into.

What rib? Do ou mean the detent at the side opposite the dark slide slot?

Well, um, not sure from your description: it's the ridge across the
width of the film holder that engages the matching slot in the back.
It's at the same end of the holder as the dark slide. So are we talking
about the same thing?

Anyhow, there's no such slot on the Universal's back, so can't use these
holders. (Could hack the back, I suppose, but I'd rather not go there.)


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)