120: Identifying the film advance markings...

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Morca007

Matt
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Using: Holga
Film: Ilford HP5+ 400

I'm trying to figure out whether I'm advancing my film right. I haven't encountered any conistant markings yet, except one arrow, I stopped right after it was out of the little red window. I haven't been able to find anything online about the frame advance markings for this film, can anyone give me a heads up on them?
 
All 120 films I know of (definetly hp5) have numbers on the paper that you can see through cameras with a window. Continue advancing the film until you see the number 1, take the first shot, continue to number 2 etc.
 
Morca007 said:
Using: Holga
Film: Ilford HP5+ 400

I'm trying to figure out whether I'm advancing my film right. I haven't encountered any conistant markings yet, except one arrow, I stopped right after it was out of the little red window. I haven't been able to find anything online about the frame advance markings for this film, can anyone give me a heads up on them?
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When you advance the film, you should first see a large vertical bar (the "Start" mark). Continue advancing the film and a bold horizontal arrow will show in the red window. After a few more turns, you will see 4 dots of increasing size. Once you have passed the larger dot, a "1" will show in the red window. Stop winding the film, take your picture and advance the film past the 4 dots until number "2" shows in the window, and so on until picture number 12. When you are done with picture number 12, continue advancing the film until you see the end of the backing paper through the red window. Open the camera, take out the exposed roll and don't forget to glue the small paper tape to prevent unwinding of the film.

If you have wound the film accidentally past the number "1", you can wind it completely in camera without taking any picture and then rewind it to the original spool in a dark room (or use a changing bag -- not the nappy changing bag kind).

Cheers,

Abbazz
 
The first time I did this I had an awful time seeing the faded-looking numbers through the red window. I kept advancing the film and not seeing numbers until I came to the end of the roll. Then I went into the darkroom and re-rolled the film and started again, looking more closely. The #1 was particularly tricky because it looked like a short line segment, not distinctly a number 1. So, at least in my experience, one has to look carefully for the number, and #1 is the toughest.
 
Current HP5 has a series of small circles formed by grey dots that get larger (the circles) and darker (the dots) as you go along, culminating in the frame number inside one of these circles. The first frame is quite a ways on. Each frame advance has the same sequence of circles of dots then the number. At the end of the roll you've got a pretty long lead out that will turn black- but keep going on past that. You should be able to 'feel' the film pull off the original spool, then hear it scrape along the back of the camera and onto your take up- then winding gets much easier.
 
FWIW, I just started out with a Holga as well, using HP5+. I developed a roll last night and noticed the dot circles imprinted onto some frames. It seems the light was bright enough to shine through the little red window and onto the film. It didn't happen on my first couple rolls, but just beware of it sitting in the sun butt-side up!



sepiareverb said:
Current HP5 has a series of small circles formed by grey dots that get larger (the circles) and darker (the dots) as you go along, culminating in the frame number inside one of these circles. The first frame is quite a ways on. Each frame advance has the same sequence of circles of dots then the number. At the end of the roll you've got a pretty long lead out that will turn black- but keep going on past that. You should be able to 'feel' the film pull off the original spool, then hear it scrape along the back of the camera and onto your take up- then winding gets much easier.
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Chris is correct the red windows wont work for fast red sensitive film, e.g. DELTA 400, most cameras have a shutter to cover the window, to avoid this, otherwise you need a flap.

Noel
 
Thanks for the help everyone, and mtbbrian, the toycameras website looks interesting.

I can't wait to develop these and see how they turn out! First I have to wait for my father to get back and show me how....
 
Morca007 said:
Thanks for the help everyone, and mtbbrian, the toycameras website looks interesting.
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It's a great toy camera forum, so whenever you have any very specific question about your Holga or just want to share your Holga photographs with like minded photographs, post there!
Good Luck!
Brian
 
I've not had any bleeding through of paper markings on the Holgas in use by my students- a lot of HP5 too. But Gaff tape is great for the flaps- (I have them on all my old Kodaks) as it won't leave any sticky ship when if you take it off.
 
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