Poll: Most common contemporary plate size

[captivelight]

Poll:

1) What size plate do you usually use?

2) Is material cost a factor in your plate size choice?

3) Are you limited to a specific size due to equipment constratints?

4) Do you get better results using a certain size plate?

Just trying to gather some information before I take the plunge and start aquiring equipment.

[Pobboravsky]

1) 5×7 inch

2) No

3) No

4) No

[Krokodul]

1) Sixth and quarter plates

2) No

3) Yes (max 5×7″)

4) Yes, as a beginner, I find it much easier to work with smaller plates

[Jon Lewis]

1) Quarter Plates

2) No, not at this point

3) Yes, quarter plate at the moment

4) Well I’ve only tried 2 1/4″, sixth, and quarter plates but didn’t really find inherent issues with going up in size apart from the fact that there’s a bigger surface to mess up. Though in terms of polishing, my fingers generally prefer the bigger plates.

[CasedImage]

1) 1/3rd pl. (3.75 x 4.25″)

2) No

3) No

4) 1/6th plate, I have a slightly better lens for my 1/6th plate camera.

www.CasedImage.com

[newone2010]

I use 4X5(almost 4X5,94mmx122mm) since I just have a 4X5 camera.

[dagist]

1) I use primarily 4″ x 5″ and 6.5″ x 8.5″ plates, but also shoot 2.5″ x 2.5″, 2.5″ x 3.5″, and occasionally 1/4 plates.

2) No. The subject matter determines the plate size choice.

3) Not really. I make 2.5″ x 2.5″ up to 8″ x 10″ plates, which is the maximum size my sensitizing boxes and mercury chamber can accommodate.

4) No. Plate size has nothing to do with “better results.” If you can polish a small plate, you can polish a large one, and your results should be the same if your polishing technique is cosistent.

Cheers,

Rob McElroy

Buffalo, NY

[Andy Stockton]

1) What size plate do you usually use?

35 mm “micro-plate” actual size 1.53″x1.06″

2) Is material cost a factor in your plate size choice?

Yes. While I am in the early stages of learning, I like the low cost of the very

small plates. Beyond that cost effects the number of plates I can afford to buy but

my current equipment and the subject and purpose of the image determine the plate

size I use.

3) Are you limited to a specific size due to equipment constraints?

I have a couple of 35mm cameras for the micro plates. The widest aperture lens I own

(f/1.2)fits the 35 mm. My 8×10 camera has an f/2.8 lens that will cover up to 4×5 with

slight falloff at the edge. My fuming box will take up to sixth plate. At present I

have everything to take up to sixth plate and am working on equipment to take up to 4×5.

My mercury fumer can take 8×10. Available equipment dictates maximum plate size.

4) Do you get better results using a certain size plate?

No.

[captivelight]

Thanks, to all of you that responded.

It’s quite interesting to see the varitity of sizes and formats that people use.

I’d like to start out with all 8×10 equipment so that I won’t be limited by size in the future, but that could get expensive very quick. So I’m thinking that I’ll start out with 4×5.

Seems like most of you agree that the degree of difficulty does not increase according to size.

Well, this will get me going on the right track for now. Thanks again for your input.

Best

[Author]

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