Koni Omega Rapid backs

joe bosak

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Hi all,
I'm looking at a Koni Omega for sale on-line which comes with a 220 back. Is that going to be ok for running 120 film through, or will it get the frame spacing wrong on 120 so I'd really need to find a 120 back for the camera? I can't find anything online about this.
 
I can't give you an accurate answer from experience as I only have 120 backs for my Koni. Thinking through it though, the only risk should be that the frame spacing would be a little wider due to the 120 film and backing paper rolling up thicker than 220 film. You might loose some of the 10th frame.

I don't think that you would run into any focus issues because of the way the pressure plate works in the back. The pressure plate retracts from the film gate when you wind, and then presses down, holding the film against the film gate for the next frame. There is a bit of spring tension holding the pressure plate against the film gate so it should hold it snug. It should still pull away enough when winding so as to not cause problems.

Obviously, you'd have to wind past frames 11-20 at the end of the roll. I suppose that there could be some issues with lining up the first frame as well, but I would think that it would just start a little later on the actual film, which again would contribute to loss of some of the 10th frame.

Again, I have no direct experience with the 220 backs so I may have missed something. If you do try it, post back what your experience was.
 
I think you will have problems. For one thing, the 220 back requires you to advance the film 4 times to get to frame 1 while the 120 back requires only 2 advances. I addition spacing will possibly be a problem.

I suggest that you buy a 120 back (they turn up on Ebay) or use 220 film.
 
As it turned out I got one with both backs, so I'm just using the 120.

Film spacing is a bit awry, but loving how easy and natural this camera is to use, especially compared to my 35mm rangefinders. Also finding that MF has other advantages - fewer shots per roll so more immediate feedback on results [I think I'd prefer 12-shot rolls for 35mm rather than even 24 let alone 36]; and bigger negs scan better on a flatbed.
 
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