Huge 120 SS Reels !

[srtiwari]

Wanting to improve my 120 film loading on SS reels, I bid and won some Kindermann Reels, described as 120/220, which I apparently overlooked. They looked innocuous enough in the pics, and I had heard that they were easy to load. Well, they arrived today, and they are BIG, and 2 of them go into this tank that will require over a liter to fill. As you can see in the photos, they are substantially bigger than other 120 reels.
Has anyone used them for 120 ? and how much wastage of Chemicals is involved ? They are (obviously) too big to use individually in a "normal" 120 tank. Any other words of wisdom ?

Subhash 😱

 

[wintoid]

Strange. I use Hewes 120 reels in a Kindermann 120 tank, which requires 400-450ml. So, 2 in a litre doesn't sound too bad.

 

[Pherdinand]

Even plastic reels in a Patterson need about 400ml (for one 120-reel tank). I have no two-120-reel tanks, but i can't imageine it gettimg much lower than the double of this.
Are SS reels supposed to be more economical?

 

[srtiwari]

Sorry guys, I meant it figuratively (I should have said a gallon !).
Actually, I just measured it and the capacity is 1450 ccs. if you fill it to the top. Just holding it feels so much bigger than the other tanks, but then I'm not used to developing 2 120 rolls at a time.

 

[grainhound]

If these reels are made for both 120 and 220, it's not surprising they're huge. A 220 roll is a lot of film; that's a different story than 35mm, 24 or 36 exposures. I have a Kinderman 120 reel, along with another nameless one. I also have a tank that holds 2 x 120 reels or 4 x 35 reels; it holds 1 litre of developer. All of the reels are the same diameter. I've never seen 220 reels. Where is the picture of your reels?

edit for clarity: You've apparently bought 220 reels, which can also be used for 120 if you don't mind using a lot of chemicals. Highly diluted Rodinal?

 

[David Goldfarb]

You've got some old style 220 reels there. If you've got the tank to match, they're nice for 220. The wire is the same thickness as the wire used on 120 reels, so they're quite solid, but as you've noticed, the tank uses a lot of solution, so they're not practical for 120 unless you use replenished developer or load two rolls on one reel, which takes a little practice.

New style 220 reels use thin wire, like 35mm reels, so they fit in normal tanks, and you can load 120 on them without requiring more than the normal amount of solution. I like Hewes 120/220 reels, which load very easily compared to other reels, even some 120 reels.

 

[srtiwari]

Kindermann 220 reels ?

Kindermann 220 reels ?

... Where is the picture of your reels?

I think these are 220 reels. I think I will sell them as I never use 220 film- I've heard they are not handled well by most cameras, compared to the 120s.

Here are the pictures - Its the one on the left, comparing to the 120 in the middle, and 35mm on the right.

 

[David Goldfarb]

Fewer cameras and rollfilm backs take 220 than 120, and there are fewer film choices in 220 than in 120, but if you can 220, it's nice to get twice as many shots on a roll, and Zeiss has claimed that 220 is capable of better film flatness than 120.