First Impresions - New Single Sheet Readyload Holder

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I just posted this over in rec.photo.equipment.large-format and thought I'd post it here as well...

Well, Airborne Express was just at my front door delivering a much anticipated new Kodak Single Sheet Readyload Holder. Obviously, I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I wanted to let the world know they are available, along with my first impressions of this new product.

First thing I noticed was the box was bigger than I expected. Bigger than either the old double sheet Readyload of the Fuji Quickload holder box. Upon opening the box, the reason was obvious. The new holder comes with its own nicely padded, velcro closure, cordura case. A very nice touch.

The new holder also smacks of quality. It has a VERY solid feel to it, but is still quite light (10 3/4 oz. compared to 10 oz. for the Double Sheet Readyload Holder or 12 1/4 oz. for the Fuji Quickload holder). It has nicely rounded corners and a much more sculpted look than the boxier Double Sheet Readyload Holder. It has a nice big red release button that has a very positive feel to it. Pressing the release button both releases the film clip and also retracts the spring loaded pressure plate. Of course, the real test will be in how well it performs with the film packets, but my first impression is that this is a very high quality product that Kodak put a lot of thought into. Everything about this holder exudes a professional level of quality and I can't wait to get out and use it.

I've been using the new Single Sheet Readyload Packets in a double sheet Readyload holder for the past several months now with 100% success rate. Obviously, Kodak got the design of the new packets right, and based on the look and feel of the new Single Sheet Readyload Holder, they are committed to supplying us with a quality film packet system. Kudos to Kodak!

Kerry

-- Kerry Thalmann (largeformat@thalmann.com), September 04, 2001

Answers

Really like to see someday Kodak and/or FujiFilm will introduce an 8x10 single sheet film loader and film packets. Wonder if this dream will ever come true......

-- Geoffrey Chen (DB45TEK@AOL.COM), September 04, 2001.

Kerry, who has them in stock now ? I have been waiting for one. Don

-- Don Hall (dhall5662@cs.com), September 04, 2001.

Kerry, does the holder seem to make allowance for packet thickness at the packet insertion end? In other words, how does film positioning accuracy look?

Geoffrey, I think your fantasy is a bit greedy. It is probably better to just be very happy that we are getting this much support from Rochester for 4x5, and hope they continue to supply 8x10 TMX in *any* packaging.

-- Sal Santamaura (bc_hill@qwestinternet.net), September 04, 2001.


I meant 8x10 TMY.

-- Sal Santamaura (bc_hill@qwestinternet.net), September 04, 2001.

Great news, thanks.

I am always a bit weary about velcro closures near film holders/cameras etc. I have had tiny nailclipping type spots on negs and traced them back to velcro closure systems. Just open and close a velcro system over a clean white sink and see what I mean.

Looking forward to the improved Kodak film holder,

Hans B.

-- Hans Berkhout (berkhout@cadvision.com), September 04, 2001.



Kerry, does this new Kodak product accept Fuji quickloads? I thopught I remember reading this somewhere...

-- Bill Glickman (bglick@pclv.com), September 04, 2001.

Remember back in 1978 sitting in a lecture given by a famous landscape photographer. He dreamed someday that Kodak Ektachrome would come in single wrapped packages. In those old days, I guess one could say his fantasy was too greedy. Now we have QuickLoad and ReadyLoad for 4x5. He might be the founding father of our modern convenience. Who knows? It doesn't hurt to have a dream, or a "greedy" fantasy, which might lead to a meaningful product in future. Hey, that sounds familiar. How many great products are originated from greedy dreams? God knows. If there is a consumer base, and the film manufacturers can make a better profit, when the business timing is right, the product will arrive. I bet my two cents on it. For now, I just enjoy my Provia-F. Cheers

-- Geoffrey Chen (DB45TEK@AOL.COM), September 04, 2001.

I for one agree with Geoffrey, I dont mind carrying 10 or 12 4x5 holders, but 8x10? forget it!! if anything if Kodak put 8x10 in ready loads maybe more people would get into 8x10 since weight is a mayor problem in this format. So I share Geoffrey's dream....

-- Jorge Gasteazoro (jorgegm@worldnet.att.net), September 05, 2001.

Sal,

I don't have a depth micrometer to accurately measure the film plane in the new Readyload holder. I will sacrifice a packet to visually check the film flatness, but it won't be a substitute for an accurate measurement. Kodak claims that the new Readyload holder is optimized for the single sheet packets. One of the reasons the new holder was delayed was that they wanted to get it right.

Hans,

The Velcro is on the outside of the case. As long as you are reasonably careful when opening the case, you should have no problem with "velcro fallout" getting into the holder or packets. If that still makes you nervous, you can always use a one gallon ZipLoc freezer bag as a "case". That's what I've been using for years for carrying my Fuji Quickload holder in the field.

Bill,

Not sure on the Quickload support. I've got a call into Kodak with that very question. Also, over the next few days, I'll sacrifice a few sheets of Fuji film to see how they work in the Kodak holder.

Kerry

-- Kerry Thalmann (largeformat@thalmann.com), September 05, 2001.


I've looked around but can't find a source for the new holder. Where did you get yours?

-- David Munson (orthoptera@juno.com), September 06, 2001.


Kerry -

When you've had a chance to shoot and develop some film, could you post the exact dimensions in millimeters of the negative, and of the exposed image area? Also, whether the borders of the image are clean or have artifacts like ragged edges, sheet-film holder "ears", roll- holder "horns", or whatever...

Thanks...

-- Oren Grad (orengrad@world.std.com), September 06, 2001.


David,

I got my holder directly from Kodak. I'm working on an article on packet films (both the new single sheet Readyloads and Fuji Quickloads) and have been getting my samples directly Kodak and Fuji. So, I'm not sure if/where/when they are/will be available for retail sale. If I find out anything more, I'll post it here.

Oren,

Of course the outer dimensions won't change with the new holder, so using a cheap plastic ruler on one of the single sheet packets I shot in the double sheet holder, I get what looks like 100mm x 125mm. Placing the Kodak film on top of an exposed sheet of Velvia (Quickload), the two appear identical in terms of external dimensions. The labeling on the Kodak box just says "4x5 in. sheets". The Fuji box says "10.2 x 12.7cm (4x5)", but unless my ruler is off, that's just a straight conversion from the English 4"x5" to centimeters and not the "true" dimensions of the film. I don't have one handy right now, but I'm pretty sure the Fuji Quickload film is indentical in size to standard Fuji 4x5 sheet film and not undersized in any way.

WRT image area, once I get some film processed (probably Monday), I'll post the dimensions of the actual image area. I'll also try to scan a couple TXs full frame from single sheet Readyload holder, the double sheet Kodak holder - if it's any different, and the Fuji Quickload holder. Time permitting, I'll eventually try to add a sheet exposed in a conventional 4x5 holder for comparison. I'll scan them all at 1:1 full frame for an accurate comparison. Might take me a while to get around to doing all of this, but it should give an idea how the image areas, shapes and borders vary for the different holders.

In the meantime, you might want to check out Paul Butzi's excellent film packet/holder comparison at:

http://www.butzi.net/reviews/readyquick.htm

He doesn't have any info posted on the new single sheet holder (yet), but lots of detail and measurements on the single sheet packets in the double sheet holder, as well as Fuji Quickloads and Polaroid holders. As far as I know, it's the most complete comparison of the various 4x5 packet films and holders available.

Kerry

-- Kerry Thalmann (largeformat@thalmann.com), September 07, 2001.


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