Reference
Early Photo Sizes
Early photo sizes varied far more than
today, plate cameras particularly early on were handmade and to the size
the photographer wanted. As all prints were made by a contact process, before
enlargers, the negative had to be the same size as the finished print.
We have not included all the individual odd
sized plate cameras you can find in collections and museums, but have
concentrated on the more common and manufactured sizes.
This page includes individual sheet and
plate sizes as well as cut film. R
oll film can be found in
List of
Film Sizes
and a cross reference of film numbers across manufacturers in
Cross
Reference of Films
Imperial Sizes
Size (in inches) |
Type |
1⅝×2⅛ |
"sixteenth-plate" tintypes |
2×2½ |
"ninth-plate" tintypes |
2×3 |
sheet film |
2½×3½ |
"sixth-plate" tintypes,
plate and also cut film was available often used in cut film holders in
plate cameras. Some were 2.25 by 3.25. |
3×4 |
sheet film |
3⅛×4⅛ |
"quarter-plate" tintypes |
3¼×4¼ |
"quarter-plate" glass plates |
3¼×5½ |
postcard or 3A |
4×5 |
glass plate, sheet film
A common size for many uses, ie postcard production |
4¾×6½ |
"half-plate" glass plates,
sheet film |
4½×5½ |
"half-plate" tintypes |
4×10 |
sheet film "banquet" format |
5×7 |
sheet film |
7×17 |
sheet film "banquet"
format |
8×20 |
sheet film "banquet"
format |
8½×6½ |
"whole-plate" glass plates,
sheet film, tintypes |
10x8 |
glass plates, sheet film |
11×14 |
sheet film |
12×20 |
sheet film "banquet"
format |
14×17 |
sheet film |
16×20 |
sheet film |
20×24 |
sheet film |
"banquet" format was used by
cameras that rotated on a stand to take large groups, schools etc. As the
camera was spun from one end of the circle around to the other it was
possible for people to leave one end to join the other being in the photo
twice.
Metric sizes
Size (in cm) |
Type |
6 x 9 |
plate and cut film (2.25 by
3.25 inches) |
6.5 × 9 |
sheet film |
9 × 12 |
glass plate, sheet film |
10 × 15 |
sheet film |
13 × 18 |
sheet film |
18 × 24 |
sheet film |
24 × 30 |
sheet film |
Polaroid
Instant Photos
Designation |
Type |
Type 37 |
Polaroid roll film cartridge |
Type 47 |
Polaroid roll film cartridge |
Type 88 |
Polaroid flat film cartridge |
A lot of the information
for this table came from Wikipedia.
If you have additional
information then please let us know.
See Also:
Cut film holders on Wikipedia
|