What is this free film that I found?

[Huss]

I saw an ad on craigslist:

"FREE medium format photography film
Had an old box of medium format film. Maybe 100 packs. Been in storage for years, may or may not even be good.
Located next to utility pole between ...."

So I jumped in my car (as I was close) and rushed down thinking it may be 120/220 film.

Instead it is this:

It measure about 5 inches by 7 inches. There is a lot of it.
What is it? What uses it? This could be fun if I could figure out how to use it.

Thanks!

 

[Corran]

5x7 sheet film?
Open it up (in the dark) and take a sheet out if you can. You can figure out the type of film by the notch codes.

Excuse me if you already know the above.

If they advertised it as MF film they were probably really old and remembered the days of large format starting at 8x10!

If it is that and you don't need it...feel free to send it my way! 🙂

 

[GarageBoy]

Hopefully, someone didn't take a peek...

 

[johannielscom]

...Located next to utility pole...

That's an actual address where you live?

Wow! 😀

 

[sevo]

It won't be that old - sealed laminate packs did not appear until some twenty or thirty years ago, it was black plastic bags, a black paper wrap or a triplicate of black cardboard boxes before that. I don't remember any of the major makers ever using an anonymous laminate wrap - on photographic film I'd expect at the very least a stamp or ink imprint containing the film code and expiration date. Even if it has an edge ID (of several notches), it is more likely to be some smaller maker (Foma, Efke or the like), so you'd better do some test shots to test the speed and processing. If it has no edge mark or only one single notch to mark the upper right corner (rather than a sequence of notches to identify the film type) it might be copy or even X-ray film - YMMV as to how that can be tamed for general photography.

 

[Muggins]

It looks like X-ray film to me -though that could be because I work in a lab and have never seen " proper" photographer's sheet film.

Adrian

 

[Dwig]

It won't be that old - sealed laminate packs did not appear until some twenty or thirty years ago, ...

Common Kodak camera sheet film was supplied in heat sealed foil bags inside of triple boxes since at least the mid-'70s, some 40+ years ago. Kodak also sold heat-sealable empty bags, the same bags that they used for their fresh film, to be used for archiving processed film.

 

[Huss]

It looks like X-ray film to me -though that could be because I work in a lab and have never seen " proper" photographer's sheet film.

Adrian

I don't think it is X-ray film as the ad mentioned it was MF photography film.
There are no markings on the packages. If this is 5 by 7 sheet film, how would I use it? What camera ? etc etc.

 

[rwintle]

I don't think it is X-ray film as the ad mentioned it was MF photography film.
There are no markings on the packages. If this is 5 by 7 sheet film, how would I use it? What camera ? etc etc.

Not a sound conclusion, since whoever posted the ad was wrong about it being MF film. They almost certainly don't know if it's photography film or not, either.

The Kodak X-OMAT X-ray film I used to use in the lab was labeled as such in teeny-tiny writing along the edge that appeared during development, if I'm remembering correctly. Developing a sheet might reveal such writing if it is indeed X-ray film.

That said, the stuff I used was either 8x10 or 17x20 (I think that's right, I'd have to go and measure one of the old ones in the basement if I can find it - EDIT - it was 14x17). I've never seen 5x7 X-ray film but that certainly doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

EDIT - yes it does. This is the stuff I'm talking about.
https://us.vwr.com/store/catalog/product.jsp?product_id=4537771

And... it certainly came in paper packs like this, packaged inside big, yellow and black Kodak boxes. This is in the 90's I'm talking about, although it doesn't seem to have changed since then. I could try and find someone at work who's still using it next week, if you like.

And and... it had rounded corners. Does regular 5x7 photographic film have rounded corners? I've never used it but the X-OMAT stuff sure did. Sorry if this is bordering on unhelpful trivia now.

 

[sreed2006]

If it is X-ray film, you might want to see Jay Defehr's photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jay_defehr/

Search his photo stream for "xray." He has had some impressive results, and gives the recipes he used for processing.

 

[farlymac]

I don't think it is X-ray film as the ad mentioned it was MF photography film.
There are no markings on the packages. If this is 5 by 7 sheet film, how would I use it? What camera ? etc etc.

Once you figure out what type of film it is, then the next step is to get a camera. This would usually be what they call a "Mono-Rail" camera, because it's basically a front and rear standard with a bellows stretched between them, and mounted on a tubular base. The base can be round with one flat side or a groove, or a four sided square, or even triangular. The standards ride along the tube so you can make adjustments for focus and magnification.

The film would be carried in holders mounted in the rear standard, usually with two sheets per holder so you can take it out of the camera, and flip it over for another exposure, utilizing dark slides to protect the film from daylight while the holders are out of the camera.

The lenses for this type of camera are usually sold separately, and need to be mounted on a board made specifically for whatever brand you have (or you can custom make your own). They need to be matched to whatever size of film you are using, and have enough coverage (image circle) to expose all the film while making swings, rises, drops, and tilts of the front standard (for adjusting the focal plane, or when taking photos of tall subjects).

The reason a mono-rail camera would be best is you can get ones that have interchangeable rear standards to go from 4x5 to 5x7, and 5x7 to 8x10.

Oh, and you'll need a sturdy tripod too. And a dark cloth for focusing. Developing can be done one sheet at a time in trays, or you can get a tank system with racks to hold multiple sheets.

PF

 

[leicapixie]

I would walk away, real fast!
If it is old film, you will invest time and effort to expose.
Seems as it's large format, 5x7", film holders are reqd.
A camera and a lens to shoot with..
To find out it's fogged, so old it won't develop.
I no longer use old film.
Slightly out of date, a year or two tops.
If it is color, no way Jose!
Run do not walk.

 

[Corran]

If it actually is 5x7 film I can help you determine if it's worth using (by shooting some and trying it out).

If it's x-ray film that is surprising as I thought they only made x-ray starting at 8x10. But that might be different today than it was before.

I use x-ray film for my 8x10 camera when I'm just dorking around.

 

[sevo]

Common Kodak camera sheet film was supplied in heat sealed foil bags inside of triple boxes since at least the mid-'70s, some 40+ years ago.

Maybe they converted earlier in the US, I still remember them using plastics bags, and am too young to have used LF in the seventies.

 

[RandyB]

Please check your PM's. I sent you a question.

 

[Fixcinater]

Do you have a changing bag or tent? If so, you could pull one sheet out of a pack and put the pack into a photo paper light proof box. Develop the sheet and see if there are any edge codes. That'd be step one, if I was in your shoes.

Next you could look at options for cameras to fit the film.

 

[Huss]

I'm sending a packet to a member here who is going to examine it, determine what it is, test it...
stay tuned!

 

[RandyB]

My initial test is very disappointing, very heavy base fog consistant with very out of date film. The film is Kodak Tri-X Pro 4164. The film has an area of light struck fog all around the edges but that might be my film holder. I will do another test tomorrow with a different developer. I will PM you the results tomorrow night. RandyB

 

[RandyB]

Second test done, I pulled a sheet from the center of the pack and just developed it, no change from the first test. Very heavy base fog with black patches all around the edges and some extending 1/3 into the film. I'm afraid this packet of film is toast, not useable for any photography, other packs that you have may not be as badly fogged but the only way to tell is to test each and every pack. It must be very old, like 20 years out of date plus not cold stored to have that much fog. Thanks for letting me test it. RandyB

 

[Huss]

Thanks for concluding this experiment Randy!