6x9 format Observations

[aoresteen]

I don't use the 6x9 format. I use the 2.25 x 3.25 inch format. Over the years it has becom the norm to speak about various medium formats using rounded centimeter values - 6x9 cm means 2.25 x 3.25 inches even though it is more like 57mm by 83mm or 6x8 cm.

When I was in Germany in the early 80s' I bought a Galvin "6x9" view. It came a with a roll back and some 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 sheet film holders. I went to Munich and bought some "6x9" sheet film. Agfa 100 as I recall.

The film didn't fit my sheet film holders. It turns out that the size of 6x9cm sheet film is 2.5 x 3.5 inches. A ha!

There are two small sheet film standards: Europe 2.5 x 3.5 inches and US 2.25 x 3.25 inches.

2.25 x 3.25 inches is 57.15mm x 82.55mm (6x8?)

2.50 x 3.50 inch film is 63.5 x 88.9 mm (6x9).

Another issue is the actual frame size of 2.25 x 3.25 images. 8 exp 120 roll fim backs have film gate openings that are 2.25 x 3.25. When you use 2.25 x 3.25 sheet film, that image size is smaller due to cropping by the sheet film holder. 2.25 x 3.25 inch sheet film is exactly that size edge to edge. That is why Beseler made two different 2.25 x 3.25 inch negative carriers - one for roll film and one for sheet film (well, they made a third - the universal glass negative carrier but that's a different topic!).

So the term "6x9 CM" developed from 2.5 x 3.5 inch sheet film not from 2.25 x 3.25 sheet film or roll film images.

[Abbazz]

Tony,

The denominations for medium format picture sizes are only conventions and are not equal to the actual dimensions of the frame in centimeters. Just like the diagonal of a 1/1.7 in. sensor on a digital camera doesn't measure 1/1.7 in. (it's more like 1/2.67 or 0.37 in.) or the actual dimensions of a 5 x 7 in. picture in large format are in fact 4 7/8" x 6 7/8 in.

For medium format roll film, the "6" figure comes from the width of the whole film in cm, margins included (just like the small format 35mm film is 35mm wide, margins included, but the image only uses 24mm). By this convention, all the pictures taken on roll film are known as 6 by something. A square picture is therefore labeled 6x6, even though it doesn't measure 6 by 6 centimeters. In fact, as the usable width of the film is only 5.6 cm, a 6x6 picture measures about 5.6 x 5.6 centimeters, a 6x7 picture is 5.6 x 7.0, a 6x8 picture is 5.6 x 7.7 and a 6x9 picture 5.6 x 8.4. These are the common sizes as stated by Wikipedia. There are many variations, for example the Fuji G690 frame is 5.6 x 8.5 cm (2.2 x 3.3 in.), while the Graflex GH-8 back with lever wind delivers pictures measuring only 5.6 x 7.9 cm (2.2 x 3.1 in.), while both are nominal 6x9 size.

As stated in your post, a 6x9 picture on sheet film has a different size than a 6x9 picture on roll film and the format is not the same in Europe and in the United States. This is due to the established standards for sheet film sizes, which differ between both continents. The European format equivalent to the American 4x5 in. large format used to be 9x12 cm (a rather different size), even though many Europeans now use 4x5 film.

The Artbig website is about 6x9, as used for medium format roll film, be it 5.6 x 7.9 or 5.6 x 8.5 cm. Of course, you can call it 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 if you prefer!

Cheers!

Sebastien

[aoresteen]

Sebastien,

I didn't mean to sound negative about 6x9 in my post but on re-reading I might have been! Sorry if I did. I love the 6x9 format! I was just stating my expierence with the (small) different formats in the 6x9 arena.

When people ask me what size is my Cambo 23SF I tell them 6x9 not 6x8.

One 6x8 question that I've wondered about is what is the exact format size of Fuji's GX680 camera 6x8 9 exp? Google doesn't pop anything up.

Thanks!

Tony

[Abbazz]

One 6x8 question that I've wondered about is what is the exact format size of Fuji's GX680 camera 6x8 9 exp?

56x76mm.

Cheers!

Abbazz