Traditionally we never used 7x5 here in the UK that makes finding second hand DDS near imposible, and there were no 7x5 hangers for labs. Well into the 1960's we still used Half plate and Wholeplate formats here, and Continental Europe 13x18cm. My first LF camer 1972/3 was a Whole plate De Vere monorail with additional HAlf plate and 5x4 backs, by then Half plate and Whole plate film had largely disappeared.
.It was the advent of the Internet and particularly Ebay that really opened up the possibilities here of shooting 7x5 prices of LF cameras of all formats from the US were significantly cheaper than those here in the UK or Continental Europe. I paid £600 for a 10x8 Agfa Ansco Commercial View, with a 12" Dagor lens, cased with 4 spare lens boards, compendium hood, 3 DDS, and a dark cloth. Later that year I bought a Devere 5108 (10"x8") with 4 or 5 lenses, timer and large Beard easel for anothe £600. That was 2004 at the point where most commercial photogrphers had switched to digital, pro labs were closing and there was a wide range of LF cameras and enlargers on Ebay, there would be 20 or 30 De Vere 504's and usually a couple of 5108's.
Now prices have risen quite substantially and there's fewer bargains ariound, but they are there just harder to find
Ian
