Difference between revisions of "120 film"

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| image_text=above:unexposed [[Ilford]] film and exposed [[Kodak]] film<br/>middle: end of film stripe of [[Fuji]] film is fixed with<br/>barcode sticker on the blackened side of the<br/>backing paper, an aid for automatic development?
 
| image_text=above:unexposed [[Ilford]] film and exposed [[Kodak]] film<br/>middle: end of film stripe of [[Fuji]] film is fixed with<br/>barcode sticker on the blackened side of the<br/>backing paper, an aid for automatic development?
 
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120 is a typical roll film format. The spool was originally made of wood with metal flanges, later all metal, and finally plastic. The film stripe is fixed at its two ends on the backing paper. The paper stripe is much longer than the film stripe. Thus the film is always enrolled light tight in paper before insertion into a camera or film back, and also after removal for development. The backing paper is black, or at least one side of it is blackened so that it is light tight. Usually a [[red window]] in the camera back is used for exposure counting. Therefore the exposure numbers for the main frame formats are printed onto the back of the backing paper.
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120 is a typical roll film format. The spool was originally made of wood with metal flanges, later all metal, and finally plastic. The film stripe is fixed at its two ends on the backing paper. The paper stripe is much longer than the film stripe. Thus the film is always enwrapped light tight in paper before insertion into a camera or film back, and also after removal for development. The backing paper is black, or at least one side of it is blackened so that it is light tight. Usually a [[red window]] in the camera back is used for exposure counting. Therefore the exposure numbers for the main frame formats are printed onto the back of the backing paper.
  
Frame number markings for the three standard image formats are printed on the backing paper. The three series of numbers did not appear at once: at the beginning only the '1' to '8' numbers for 6×9 format were present, this explains why the very first [[Rolleiflex]] models used the [[#105 and 117 films|117 film]] designed for 6×6, and why the first 4.5×6 cameras like the [[Ikonta A]] had two red windows to control the film advance, using twice each of the 6×9 numbers.
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Frame number markings for the three standard image formats are printed on the backing paper. The three series of numbers did not appear at once: at the beginning only the '1' to '8' numbers for 6×9 format were present, this explains why the very first [[Rolleiflex]] models used the [[#105 and 117 films|117 film]] designed for 6×6, and why the first 4.5×6 cameras like the [[Ikonta A]] had two red windows to control the film advance, using twice each of the 6×9 numbers. Film start and film end are marked on the backing paper too. When taken out of the camera the film is kept coiled up by fixing it with a little adhesive strip, as it is fixed by factory before usage. Film advance of 120 film is always unidirectional. That means that the coil of a used film roll always becomes the coil-up spool for the next film roll.
  
 
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Revision as of 22:28, 1 March 2008

See the Category: 120 film for a list of cameras using this film.

120 film is a film format for still photography introduced by Kodak for its Brownie No. 2 in 1901, and is still very popular, as the surviving medium format. Its specifications are defined by ISO 732; most recently (as of 2006), by ISO 732:2000.

The 120 format was originally intended for amateur photography, and actually became the main format for beginners' cameras, especially for box cameras. It was later superseded in this role by 35mm film and cartridged film types. 120 film became a format just for professionals and advanced amateurs.

In Japan, 120 film was normally called "Brownie film" (ブローニーフィルム) film until approximately the 1950s, because it was introduced for the Brownie camera. Thus the Bronica, named after the film size, is indirectly named after the Brownie. At the same time, the 6×4.5 format was called Semi (セミ) and the 6×6 format was called Six (シックス).

A120 or Autographic 120 film was produced by Eastman Kodak from 1924 to 1934.

Characteristics

120 is a typical roll film format. The spool was originally made of wood with metal flanges, later all metal, and finally plastic. The film stripe is fixed at its two ends on the backing paper. The paper stripe is much longer than the film stripe. Thus the film is always enwrapped light tight in paper before insertion into a camera or film back, and also after removal for development. The backing paper is black, or at least one side of it is blackened so that it is light tight. Usually a red window in the camera back is used for exposure counting. Therefore the exposure numbers for the main frame formats are printed onto the back of the backing paper.

Frame number markings for the three standard image formats are printed on the backing paper. The three series of numbers did not appear at once: at the beginning only the '1' to '8' numbers for 6×9 format were present, this explains why the very first Rolleiflex models used the 117 film designed for 6×6, and why the first 4.5×6 cameras like the Ikonta A had two red windows to control the film advance, using twice each of the 6×9 numbers. Film start and film end are marked on the backing paper too. When taken out of the camera the film is kept coiled up by fixing it with a little adhesive strip, as it is fixed by factory before usage. Film advance of 120 film is always unidirectional. That means that the coil of a used film roll always becomes the coil-up spool for the next film roll.


Frame sizes

Typical frame sizes
(actual sizes may differ slightly)
name nominal size frames
cm in mm on 120 on 220
6 × 4.5 56 × 44 15 or 16 32
6 × 6 2¼ × 2¼ 56 × 56 12 25
6 × 7 2¼ × 3¼ 56 × 70 10 20
6 × 8 56 × 75 9 19
6 × 9 2¼ × 3¾ 56 × 84 8 17
6 × 10 56 × 93 7

The 120 film allows several image formats, the most common being the "6×6" (more exactly 56×56 mm) square format. It is sometimes referred to as "2¼ × 2¼" inch film, though this is less common. Rectangular formats that are nominally 6×9 cm (120 full-frame format) and 6×4.5 cm (120 half-frame format) are also standard. Additionally 6×7 cm and less commonly 6×8 cm and 6×10 cm are used. Special-purpose panoramic cameras even produce 6×12, 6×17 cm or even wider frames. Like "6×6", all sizes are nominal; actual dimensions are a bit smaller. Among them, 6×7 and 6×4.5 enlarge almost exactly (without wasting any film) to 8×10" (inch) paper, for which reason their proponents call them ideal formats. The 645 format (6×4.5) in particular is the smallest, lightest, least expensive, and most popular roll-film design.

There are 16 exposures per roll for 6×4.5 format (for some cameras, only 15), twelve for 6×6, ten for 6×7, nine for 6×8 and eight for 6×9. The film is 72 cm long.

Similar 6 cm formats

220 film

220 film, introduced in 1965, is the same width as 120, but with double length (144 cm) and thus twice the number of exposures per roll. ISO 732 also specifies the dimensions of 220 film. Unlike 120, there is no backing paper behind the film itself, just a leader and a trailer. This allows a longer film on the same spool, but as a result there are no printed frame numbers for old cameras that have red window as frame indicator. (Moreover, light from the window would fog the film.) Also, since the film alone is thinner than a film with a backing paper, a differently positioned pressure plate may be required to achieve optimal focus. Some camera capable of using both 120 and 220 film will have a two-position adjustment of the pressure plate, while others will require different film backs.

620 film

620 film, introduced by Kodak in 1931 as an alternative to the 120, is essentially the same film on a slightly different, all metal, thinner spool (120 was wood cored at that time):

  • 120 spool: 2.466″ length, 0.990″ flange, 0.468″ core
  • 620 spool: 2.468″ length, 0.905″ flange, 0.280″ core

The cameras designed to use 620 film usually cannot take 120 film. Most of them were made by Kodak. 620 film was discontinued in 1995, but some photographers respool 120 film on 620 spools in the darkroom to use their 620 cameras. (Novices seeking to try out a vintage camera should note that this process would have to take place in complete darkness, utilizing a darkroom, dark-box, or dark-bag. The film is also susceptible to damage from debris, dust specks, or scratches during this procedure.)

Spools can also be purchased from some suppliers, and at least one can often be found in an old, forgotten, 620 film camera offered for sale used. A mechanically-inclined person could make their own 620 spools.

There still remain a few antique film suppliers who may offer this film for sale at a premium price. They generally use the above technique to produce this product.

105 and 117 films

105 film, introduced by Kodak in 1898 for its first folding camera, was the original 6×9 cm format roll film. 117 film, introduced by Kodak in 1900 for its first Brownie camera, was 6×6 cm format. These formats used the same width film as the 120, but with slightly different spools and backing paper.

See also

Sources

Links