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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

 


By: Keith Park   Section: Photography Section Key:
Page Ref: old_print_sizes Topic: Cameras Last Updated: 03/2012
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