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Bulk Loading 120 film?
Bulk loading 120/220 film. Was this ever common? Why not?
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#3
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On Friday 22 April 2005 07:00, Alan Smithee wrote:
Bulk loading 120/220 film. Was this ever common? Why not? No. In fact, the only medium format bulk loader I ever heard of was for 70mm film (sprocketed) that loaded into magazines for long roll, motorized school portrait type cameras or for Hasselblad's 70mm film backs. Hasselblad even had a tank and reel system with loader, so photographers could process their own film. Why it wasn't common, I don't know, but I can guess. To load a 120 roll, you need to align exactly the film to the backing paper, so the frame numbers on the paper line up properly, so you can load the film to the first frame whether it automatically stops there or you have to use a window to view the frame numbers on the back of the paper. Also, the film has to load exactly straight on the paper. 220 would be a little easier, since it doesn't have backing paper, only a paper leader with alignment arrows and a tail to cover the exposed film. In any case, if you're shooting lots and lots of 120/220 and don't want to change rolls frequently, 70mm was the solution. I think most general medium format camera manufacturers have discontinued 70mm. Not enough people using it to warrant continued production. -- Stefan Patric NoLife Polymath Group |
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On Friday 22 April 2005 07:00, Alan Smithee wrote:
Bulk loading 120/220 film. Was this ever common? Why not? No. In fact, the only medium format bulk loader I ever heard of was for 70mm film (sprocketed) that loaded into magazines for long roll, motorized school portrait type cameras or for Hasselblad's 70mm film backs. Hasselblad even had a tank and reel system with loader, so photographers could process their own film. Why it wasn't common, I don't know, but I can guess. To load a 120 roll, you need to align exactly the film to the backing paper, so the frame numbers on the paper line up properly, so you can load the film to the first frame whether it automatically stops there or you have to use a window to view the frame numbers on the back of the paper. Also, the film has to load exactly straight on the paper. 220 would be a little easier, since it doesn't have backing paper, only a paper leader with alignment arrows and a tail to cover the exposed film. In any case, if you're shooting lots and lots of 120/220 and don't want to change rolls frequently, 70mm was the solution. I think most general medium format camera manufacturers have discontinued 70mm. Not enough people using it to warrant continued production. -- Stefan Patric NoLife Polymath Group |
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Stefan Patric wrote:
On Friday 22 April 2005 07:00, Alan Smithee wrote: Bulk loading 120/220 film. Was this ever common? Why not? No. In fact, the only medium format bulk loader I ever heard of was for 70mm film (sprocketed) that loaded into magazines for long roll, motorized school portrait type cameras or for Hasselblad's 70mm film backs. Hasselblad even had a tank and reel system with loader, so photographers could process their own film. Why it wasn't common, I don't know, but I can guess. To load a 120 roll, you need to align exactly the film to the backing paper, so the frame numbers on the paper line up properly, so you can load the film to the first frame whether it automatically stops there or you have to use a window to view the frame numbers on the back of the paper. Also, the film has to load exactly straight on the paper. 220 would be a little easier, since it doesn't have backing paper, only a paper leader with alignment arrows and a tail to cover the exposed film. In any case, if you're shooting lots and lots of 120/220 and don't want to change rolls frequently, 70mm was the solution. I think most general medium format camera manufacturers have discontinued 70mm. Not enough people using it to warrant continued production. Yes it does sound like a pain. And I'm guessing the price per frame didn't do much to incourage it either. The 70mm sounds kind of interesting though. What types of emulsions are available in 70mm? |
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Alan Smithee wrote:
Yes it does sound like a pain. And I'm guessing the price per frame didn't do much to incourage it either. The 70mm sounds kind of interesting though. What types of emulsions are available in 70mm? Today? About one colour film from each company. Usually a portrait film I think. Kodak might have one B&W film. J&C is going to have Efke in a couple of weeks. But the perforation issue might bite you. The 70mm back I have can take either perforated or non. Some backs can only take perforated film. In todays world you might not have a choice of perforation/non in your film of choice. Plus only bulk rolls are available now. At least I don't think anybody is selling the pre loaded cans. I think a few films designed for aircraft camaeras may also be available. Nick |
#7
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Alan Smithee wrote:
Yes it does sound like a pain. And I'm guessing the price per frame didn't do much to incourage it either. The 70mm sounds kind of interesting though. What types of emulsions are available in 70mm? Today? About one colour film from each company. Usually a portrait film I think. Kodak might have one B&W film. J&C is going to have Efke in a couple of weeks. But the perforation issue might bite you. The 70mm back I have can take either perforated or non. Some backs can only take perforated film. In todays world you might not have a choice of perforation/non in your film of choice. Plus only bulk rolls are available now. At least I don't think anybody is selling the pre loaded cans. I think a few films designed for aircraft camaeras may also be available. Nick |
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On Saturday 23 April 2005 05:57, Alan Smithee wrote:
Stefan Patric wrote: On Friday 22 April 2005 07:00, Alan Smithee wrote: Bulk loading 120/220 film. Was this ever common? Why not? No. In fact, the only medium format bulk loader I ever heard of was for 70mm film (sprocketed) that loaded into magazines for long roll, motorized school portrait type cameras or for Hasselblad's 70mm film backs. Hasselblad even had a tank and reel system with loader, so photographers could process their own film. Why it wasn't common, I don't know, but I can guess. To load a 120 roll, you need to align exactly the film to the backing paper, so the frame numbers on the paper line up properly, so you can load the film to the first frame whether it automatically stops there or you have to use a window to view the frame numbers on the back of the paper. Also, the film has to load exactly straight on the paper. 220 would be a little easier, since it doesn't have backing paper, only a paper leader with alignment arrows and a tail to cover the exposed film. In any case, if you're shooting lots and lots of 120/220 and don't want to change rolls frequently, 70mm was the solution. I think most general medium format camera manufacturers have discontinued 70mm. Not enough people using it to warrant continued production. Yes it does sound like a pain. And I'm guessing the price per frame didn't do much to incourage it either. The 70mm sounds kind of interesting though. What types of emulsions are available in 70mm? I haven't check lately on what's available in 70mm. Not much, I imagine. With digital coming of age and the camera manufacturers adapting to that market, film is falling more and more into disuse. And with the reduction in film use, film manufacturers are adjusting, too, by discontinuing many film types that are not profitable or have little demand like 70mm. (Like I said: Hasselblad has discontinued their 70mm accessories, but it's available used, usually at a very good price, since their is little demand for it.) In any case, if you really like a particular emulsion, and if it's still in production, I sure you can special order it in 70mm. I don't know what the minimum order would be, but years ago, I had a friend who shot 8x10, 11x14 and 20x24 b&w, and special order it (Super Double-X, I think. It was still being made.) from Kodak. The miniumum order was $1000 US, but that was like a year or two supply, all the same emulsion number, regardless of the format. Saved him a lot of time with Zone System calibrations. -- Stefan Patric NoLife Polymath Group |
#10
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On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 09:30:02 -0400, Nick Zentena
wrote: Alan Smithee wrote: Yes it does sound like a pain. And I'm guessing the price per frame didn't do much to incourage it either. The 70mm sounds kind of interesting though. What types of emulsions are available in 70mm? Today? About one colour film from each company. Usually a portrait film I think. Kodak might have one B&W film. J&C is going to have Efke in a couple of weeks. But the perforation issue might bite you. The 70mm back I have can take either perforated or non. Some backs can only take perforated film. In todays world you might not have a choice of perforation/non in your film of choice. Plus only bulk rolls are available now. At least I don't think anybody is selling the pre loaded cans. I think a few films designed for aircraft camaeras may also be available. Years ago I had an X_US Army 70mm Combat Graphic (Graflex) with 3 lenses and it was a ball! 6x9cm images and a huge cassette. It took 15' of film (I may be wrong on that its been so long) In the 80's and early 90's I got a 90mm Keith back for my Crown Graphic and boy did that save lugging around hundreds of film holders. THOM Nick |
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