a few 120-film questions

[jorisbens]

I've bought my first roll of 120 film and I have a few questions regarding it:
1)Should I just put the film in the slot of the take up-spool, should I put it in that slot and tape it or is it done on another way?
2)Can someone explain wath this paragraph means on the site of Ken Rockwell regarding 120 film:

use the little tab on the end to stick the roll from unraveling.

I hope someone will answer these very basic questions, that are probably very normal for experienced 120-film users.

Joris 😎

 

[Roman]

1) Yes, just stick it in the slit, and make about one turn rolling it, so it is secure; then (depending on what kind of camera you have - Rolleiflex Automats and a few others won't need the next step) put it in the camera and wind until you can line up the 'Start' line on the film's backing paper with the appropriate mark in the camera.

2) After you have finished the film, you'll see a little paper tab that is stuck to the backing paper; finish rolling up the backing paper, fold over the very end, lick the tab (it has got gum on it, like a postage stamp) and seal the roll, so that it won't unravel (the Agfa tabs taste like peppermint 😉 ). Some new Fuji films, don't have to be licked, they have self-adhesive tabs.

Roman

 

[Goodyear]

Am I the only one who finds Ilford ones to have a strange, almost minty, flavour to them?

 

[Chaser]

they are minty...kind of nice....kind of strange

 

[jorisbens]

Thanx for the very good answers Roman. 🙂

I guess I won't be licking the tab, cause I have Fuji film, the next time i'll try agfa or Illford 😉

Joris Bens 😎

 

[Goodyear]

they are minty...kind of nice....kind of strange

Meh. I really hate it - I'd much rather it just tasted of gum.

I've taken to licking my thumb and running it along the tab!

 

[WDG]

Here's a page with some basic 120 loading info that you may find useful:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how2load120.htm

 

[jorisbens]

Thanx for the url WDG, but i already know that site, and I've even quoted a bit of that page 😉

Joris 😎

 

[f/stopblues]

The other week I accidently let a roll of Delta 100 get loose after I unattached the adhesive and had to waste the whole thing.. but I licked it anyway 😀 It's sort of a vanilla-mint kind of thing.

Joris - The end of the leader is narrower than the rest, which is just paper by the way. The actual film doesn't start til further down. I slip that into the slot as far as it'll go without getting a bunch of slack behind it, then keep my finger pressed on that spool til I get it at least once around the spool. That will keep it reasonably in place until you get it secured. It just takes some practice.

-Chris

 

[WDG]

The other week I accidently let a roll of Delta 100 get loose after I unattached the adhesive and had to waste the whole thing.. but I licked it anyway 😀 It's sort of a vanilla-mint kind of thing.

I wonder if they have taste-testers for this sort of thing? 😀

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I loaded my first roll into the Meopta with no problems...it's not that hard as long as you take it slow and follow instructions.

 

[Pherdinand]

i kina like the Ilford tape taste. I agree, you should NOT lick the FUji one🙂
On Ilford films, at least sometimes, the little sticker is lose, not attached - and once i just could not find any! Gone misteriously.

 

[DougK]

It's kind of weird, but now that I'm used to 120, I can actually load my roll film cameras faster than any of my 35mm models. Go figure.

Anyway, I guess my point is you'll get used to it very quickly.

 

[wyk_penguin]

Not having to rewind is an advantage. I wonder why the 35mm guys didn't do catridge to catridge like they used to. Not to mention the negative size (617!!!).

 

[jan normandale]

Could I suggest a 'sticker' taster panel for evaluating all the 120 film manufacturers? It could be a RFF first! Who wants in?

Jan

 

[Roman]

How about making a petition to on of the film-makers for gourmet tab flavors? 😉

BTW, some cameras (esp. old folders) tend to 'eat' the tabs (pull them off the paper), and with some films (like Forte) the tab is not placed in the best spot for really securing the roll, so it's a good idea to carry a few rubberbands for that purpose.

Oh, and FotoImpex (and probably their US affiliate, JandCPhotography) is selling their Adox-branded HP5+ and FP4+ in plastic canisters like 35mm film, might be quite useful if travelling in adverse condition with 120 films (though rumor has it that F'Impex is only doing this because the backing paper their manufacturer uses is not 100% light-tight for prolonged exposure to bright sunlight).

Joris,
are you planning on developing the films yourself? If you never spooled a 120 onto a reel, practice in the light with a discarded film first - or you might end up with the backing paper spooled onto the reel, instead of the film (like I did with the very first 120 roll I ever used).

Roman

 

[jorisbens]

Roman, I wont develop this roll myself (It's color), but if I find an affordable medium format enlarger, I'll develop and print myself (black and white). And then I'll try with a film in daylight, I also did this when developing my first 135 film.

Joris 😎

 

[Roman]

Joris, affordable MF enlargers should not be a problem - look on German Ebay, there are plenty to be had, often for less than 50 Euros (like older Dursts, Or Meopta Opemus, etc.) Too bad - I just sold my Opemus 6 via another forum, because I upgraded to a Magnifax...

Roman

 

[jorisbens]

Are all meopta-enlargers of the opemus series capable of enlerging 6X6 negatives? And which are the most common durst enlargers that can enlarge 6X6? I don't seem to find the specs of enlargers on the internet 😕

Joris 😎

 

[Roman]

Yep, the Opemus enlargers are all capable of enlarging 6x6 negs - the Opemus 7 can even do 6x7 (Axomat: only 35mm format, Magnifax: up to 6x9, Magnitaurus: large format); I would go for an Opemus 6 or 6a, not one of the older models (OK, the Op. 5 might still be useable), since accessories and spare parts for those are not available any longer.

With Dursts, the M601 and M605 can do 6x6, and there are the M805 and various L-series enlargers that can do bigger negs.

Also, any of the Kaiser enlargers with a number starting with a 6 eg. VPN6xxx) can do 6x6), as well as the Dunco 66 ones - all of those are good choices.

Do you read German, by chance? There is a good darkroom forum at www.phototec.de, and FotoImpex also has one at www.fotolaborforum.de - the latter one also has an English section (not very active, though).

Roman