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Are 4x5 and 9x12 one and the same?
I've seen a view camera advertised with both 4x5 and 9x12 in the title. Are both sizes one and the same (with 9x12 being just a metric equivalent)? Or are they different but both sizes of film could be used in one camera using different backs that could fit in the same camera? 
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logic says they are not: 9x12 is a 3:4 ratio while 4x5 is 4:5.
the metric conversion is 2.54cm to every 1 inch. so that means that 4x5 is about 10x12.5cm.
The camera likely includes both 4x5 and 9x12 backs.
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Well, I did notice that ratio discrepancy immediately and yes, logic wanted to dictate to me that they would be two different species. My question was prompted however by an old document describing the size of a Polaroid Polacolor Pro 100 Sheet Film as "4x5 in (9x12 cm)":
< http://www.polaroid.com/service/film..._5/p100fds.pdf >. That got me confused and made me wonder if they might be actually of the same size but produced different ratios when the numbers were rounded up to the nearest whole numbers.
Furthermore, a Frenchman in another forum once posted that in France, they use the terms 4x5 and 9x12 interchangeably but they just prefer the metric system, thus the popularity of 9x12 there. However, I don't seem to see any 9x12 film posted for sale.
And oh, I think I completely abandoned my logic when my spending for this hobby started to outpace my income!!!
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They are actually different, with 9x12cm being slightly smaller.
However, the standard DDS film holders for 4x5" and 9x12cm have the same external dimensions. I use both 4x5" and 9x12cm holders in my MPP Microtechnical camera. I also have an old plate camera that takes 9x12cm film, but these holders are different.
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Oh, okay, that makes sense.
I just don't see any 9x12 film for sale. (Is it possible that some users just cut up 4x5 film?)
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that would be a waste of film, seeing as how nobody would ever use the strips that you would cut off. there's no point in doing that unless you have a dedicated 9x12 camera.
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Freestyle Photo have one.
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 Originally Posted by lomomagix
Oh, okay, that makes sense.
I just don't see any 9x12 film for sale. (Is it possible that some users just cut up 4x5 film?)
As posted, you'll find one or two types in this country, but... set up your supply lines with Europe and you'll have many emulsions available to you. I have only single sided 9x12 cameras and have converted them to 3.25x4.25 spring backs.
tim in san jose
Where ever you are, there you be.
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Yes, the modern(ish) film holders for 9x12cm and 4x5" are the same outer size. (These outer sizes are internationalized, at least since about the early fifties or so. This means that 9x12cm and 4x5", 13x18cm and 5x7", 18x24cm and 8x10" respectively all have the same DDS holder outer measurement. It's just the film size that differs slightly.)
The cm sizes is/was the common european norm, while the inch cut film was the norm in the US (and more common in the UK). Nowadays, it's even quite hard to find cm cut film in Europe as the inch cut films are more common.
So, if you are looking at any camera with an "international" back, i.e. any view camera from the fifties or later, it should take standard size film holders.
About 9x12 film in the US, Freestyle sells one film (Efke PL100), but there should be other retailers available. If you look at e.g. Fotoimpex.de you can see what is available in Europe. They will also ship to the US for a cost of €20. (If you really need film in 9x12 size that is.)
//Björn
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!H
Foma makes films in 9x12 format and, at least here in Poland, they are really cheap. Fomapan 100 costs almost 50% less than its 4x5 version and AFAIK around 4-5 times less than FP4+.
Linhof's 9x12 film holders work just fine with my 4x5 Shen-Hao camera.
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