120 Film Revival ?

[John Bragg]

My local Digital Photo Processor now proudly displays the unthinkable above its door... "120 mm Film now in stock" Could it be that more folks are becoming aware of the qualities of that strange stuff in yellow boxes to make images!

Regards, John.

 

[FrozenInTime]

Strictly speaking he will not have '120 mm' film in stock - don't know what camera would take film that wide 😉

My local Digital Photo Processor now proudly displays the unthinkable above its door... "120 mm Film now in stock"

 

[John Bragg]

Strictly speaking he will not have '120 mm' film in stock - don't know what camera would take film that wide 😉

Exactly ! But the fact is he has some ! Even if he doesn't quite know what it is !

 

[Ronald_H]

Well, when I tried to order 120 a few weeks back, a lot of flavours were out of stock... and also quite unthinkable, the photo envelopes of the Dutch HEMA department store now explicitly state (again) that they process and print 120...

 

[Brian Legge]

It makes sense. Holgas and other cameras increased the awareness of the format and probably demand. Many great 120 cameras have been extremely cheap for a while. Flatbed scanners which can scan the film at decent resolutions and quality are affordable. Fewer places process and sell film locally.

I'd be surprised if 120 wasn't on a bit of an upswing given how hard it fell.

 

[mgd711]

One word... “Lomography”.

The LSI is partially responsible for the interest in 120 film.

 

[bobby_novatron]

I think Brian's right ... at least, those are very plausible explanations. I think the popularity of Lomography has saved 120 from extinction, that plus the efforts of enthusiasts like ourselves who use vintage 120 cameras.

Let's hope things continue this way!

 

[healyzh]

Now if only Costco would start developing C-41 120 film. I hate the hour+ round trip to drop off or pick up C-41 120 film to get it developed. I do my own B&W.

Of course when making that trip, I then will typically browse the film room, check for interesting used film gear, and look for the new issue of the Leica magazine. 😀

 

[vdonovan]

I second that emotion. C'mon Costco!

Now if only Costco would start developing C-41 120 film. I hate the hour+ round trip to drop off or pick up C-41 120 film to get it developed. I do my own B&W.

Of course when making that trip, I then will typically browse the film room, check for interesting used film gear, and look for the new issue of the Leica magazine. 😀

 

[chris00nj]

I was long a time 35mm shooter and then decided to try medium format. I was hooked.

 

[shadowfox]

I'd break out the champagne when I see this in the US once more:

* Shanghai, China - Xing Guang Photography Equipment, a 6-story building full of independent camera stores.

 

[andredossantos]

Long live 120. I would be utterly devastated if I could
no longer shoot my Rolleiflex.

 

[Mablo]

The demand has increased for sure but it's hard to say how much. I think in %-terms maybe a lot but not that much in quantities. I wish Bill Mattock would still be here. He would have the numbers for sure.

 

[nikon_sam]

120 needs to stay around for some time...I have a Yashicamat 124 that's barely broken in...

 

[johannielscom]

I'm doing the best I can, shooting 6x9, only 8 frames per roll 🙂

Somebody sell me the Ciro-flex I'm looking for and I'll do more!

 

[Mr_Flibble]

My last roll of 120 is currently in my Rolleicord. Need to order more.

Ronald, Interesting about HEMA. Do they only do C-41 or do they also do B/W?
The Pro-lab the camera store uses, where I go to, do horrible things to the B/W negatives 🙁

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

Well, when I tried to order 120 a few weeks back, a lot of flavours were out of stock... and also quite unthinkable, the photo envelopes of the Dutch HEMA department store now explicitly state (again) that they process and print 120...

The envelopes have never mattered. DM (drugstore chain in central Europe) in Germany uses CeWe and has always handled 120 film. Its not on the envelope but they do it. I've not used the other drugstores but most too use CeWe so its just an issue of pricing which tends to be 1) the price of premium paper (should they have a cheaper alternative standard paper) 2) With square prints the size of the paper with the smallest dimension (e.g. 13x13cm is priced as 13x18cm). Hema too uses CeWe..

 

[oftheherd]

I haven't been using it as much as I would like. Glad it seems it will not be going away too soon.

 

[Ronald_H]

My last roll of 120 is currently in my Rolleicord. Need to order more.

Ronald, Interesting about HEMA. Do they only do C-41 or do they also do B/W?
The Pro-lab the camera store uses, where I go to, do horrible things to the B/W negatives 🙁

I had the same experience with 'pro' labs, so I started to do my own B/W.

The HEMA obviously uses some great big lab somewhere, but recently a friend send in a 120 B/W roll just to see what would happen. You can indicate that you want B/W film developed on the envelope, so he figured why not?

Well, he got his negs back and they were ok!

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Sounds like a reason for me to buy some ADOX in 120 format again 🙂
I assume the turn-around time would be something like a week?

I currently don't shoot enough B/W to develop it myself.