Mercury Universal 5x7 Large Format Camera

The Mercury 5x7 camera has two main purposes: shooting 5x7 film, if you are ready to go even bigger than 4x5 large format, and shooting 6x17 panoramas on 120 film. This camera accepts wooden, wood/metal, and plastic 5x7 sheet film holders by all of the major brands: Baco, Kodak, Fidelity, etc. Uniquely, it uses a special variant of the Graflok back system to lock and unlock these film holders in place without the need of a spring back. Wooden and wooden/metal holders mount directly; plastic film holders require a thin spacer to be inserted with the holder (these spacers are included with the camera). This camera includes a 5x7 ground glass back that mounts and unmounts the same way. Also available for this camera is our 6x17 120 back. This new back takes 120 film and shoots the ultimate panorama format! It can take four exposures per roll. The Mercury Universal 5x7 camera also accepts the Da Yi 6x17 back and the Canham motorized 6x17 back. Special spacers are available for each--just reach out to us and ask if you own one of these backs. Due to the size of the 5x7 format, there are some limitations on lens configuration in comparison to our 4x5 and medium format cameras. This is our rough recommendation: The most popular focal length for this camera, for wide-angle photography, is 90mm. With a 90mm lens, you want the RS-40 version of the camera. Our recommended lens is the Schneider Super Angulon 90mm XL f/5.6. The Schneider Super Angulon 72mm XL lens also uses this configuration. 135mm lenses that cover 5x7 should use the RS-60 version of the camera. The popular G-Claron 150mm f/9 lens will work with this configuration, but will vignette slightly on the left and right when focused on close subjects (20 feet and closer). For longer lenses (usually 150mm or 210mm), you want the RS-90 version of the camera. This version minimizes front spacing and thus eliminates vignetting, but cannot mount lenses wider than 150mm. We don't recommend lenses longer than 210mm; they can be used, but will vignette on the sides. Due to these lens limitations, our 5x7 camera is far less versatile than our 4x5 and medium format cameras. However, most 5x7 shooters are using one of these focal lengths only: 72mm, 90mm, 150mm, or 210mm. The Mercury Universal 5x7 camera delivers maximum value for your money as the lightest and toughest 5x7 camera around, and the absolute best 6x17 panoramic camera out there! For complete operating instructions, see the Mercury Universal User Guide.