The main advantage of large format is a higher resolution image at the same pixel pitch, or the same resolution with larger pixels or grains which allows each pixel to capture more light. A 4×5 inch image has about 15 times the area, and thus 15 times the total resolution, of a 35 mm frame.

Large format is used in landscape photography to fine-art and scientific purposes, especially when images need to be enlarged to a high magnification while requiring a high level of detail. We regularly create fine art prints in the range of 40x50″ from a 4×5″ original, and well beyond that for larger negatives.

Large format is also used to document historical places and is widely used by the National Park Service. We provide complete HABS/HAER/HALS processing services for film and paper to the exacting standards of the Library of Congress.

Did you know that a sheet of 5"×7″ film has almost twice the resolution of 4"×5″ film, and 4"×5″ is almost 16 times larger than a 35 mm film image?

The most common large format is 4"x5", but there is also what is known as 'quarter-plate' (3.25"x4.25"), 5"x7", and 8"x10", 11"x14" and 20"x24".