Why do 24-exposure rolls of 135 still exist?

[Prest_400]

I shoot 8 EXP 6x9 and 35mm, 36 exp regardless because of lab cost being equal. I only shot 24 once (27 actually) with a Fuji Quicksnap marine. A miniproject itself, but I wish those disposables came in 36 (39-40) exposures instead, just for efficency!

I'd say my sweet spot would be around 20 shots. Allows having lots of frames and doesn't cut short as 8.

 

[jamin-b]

For home development and scanning, a 24 roll means one pass only of the Epson *** scanner....

 

[dmr]

24 is more of an appropriate "portion size" for me. It's also what the retailers around here stock. I actually used quite a few of the 20 shot rolls when they were around.

 

[Ronald M]

There use to be 12 exp for a short time. It was a weekend roll for those who wanted to see results fast. Or for those who do not have a darkroom & scissors or Leica Knife.

Now we have SD cards-progress

 

[Brian Puccio]

If he price of the film and developing were one third less, I'd totally jump on board. I have one 35mm camera and there's nothing like having half a roll of Neopan 1600 in there when you want to switch to Velvia. (I midroll rewind a lot. I'd like to avoid this.)

 

[Spanik]

From the reponses so far I get the impression the question should have been "why 36 exp are the only one found?".

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I always use 24 exposure roll. It's easier to contact a full roll on a 8x10 paper sheet.
I put the negative in a negative page which holds seven 35mm strips of 4 frames, 28 frames total.
Contact prints on 8"x10" paper. Same paper size as my 120 negative contacts.

Good point. You can't fit 36 or more 35mm frames on a single contact printed 8" x 10" proof sheet.

Chris

 

[sevo]

There use to be 12 exp for a short time.

I've seen 135-12 in Japan in the 1990s - I don't know whether it was part of the half-format niche that was rather peculiar to Japan, or whether that came along the fast turnaround instant lab culture of the nineties (where any Tokyo suburb seemed cluttered with more 1/2 hour turnaround minilabs than all Germany).

 

[Spavinaw]

Why do 24-exposure rolls of 135 still exist? Because they are being manufactured faster than they can be used up. Simple!! Any other questions?

 

[Prest_400]

I've seen 135-12 in Japan in the 1990s - I don't know whether it was part of the half-format niche that was rather peculiar to Japan, or whether that came along the fast turnaround instant lab culture of the nineties (where any Tokyo suburb seemed cluttered with more 1/2 hour turnaround minilabs than all Germany).

The half framed thing must have been something in Japan. Fuji 6x9 sport a 4exp half-120 selection -- supposedly niche but well enough spread to become a permanent fixture of a camera.

12exp does seem more niche but perhaps quite a bit was produced towards consumers, look for some expired ferrania and there were quite a bit 12 exp rolls.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Darthfeeble]

Yep

Yep

That was my favorite size. Even with digital I rarely shoot more than 20 shots per shoot.

I wish they still had 12 exposure rolls. I might even use my 135 cameras then.

 

[filmtwit]

Because, 24 frames is awesome.

 

[film nut]

When I roll my own b/w I do a few rolls of 20 frames. When I go out with a special purpose with b/w I want to shoot the film and get it developed as soon as I can, so I don't want to get in a spot where I run out of subjects and I still have film left. So I won't waste it.

 

[Tim Murphy]

This!

This!

One nice feature I like about a 36 exposure roll is when I finally finish it, I'm usually surprised the photos I made at the beginning of the roll.

+1 for this answer Bill.

Regards,

Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[Rico]

I like 36 and if a roll needs to be finished right away, I test something: lens, lighting, DOF, etc.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

FWIW, I only shoot 24s. One of the pleasures of bulk loading, in fact, is that I can do even fewer. I like to shoot Eggleston-style, just one or two tries at a shot and you're done. It's hard for me to get through 36!

 

[John Bragg]

24 is great when trialling a new to me emulsion and also when someone is thoughtful enough to buy a half brick of film for me and doesn't know the difference between 24 and 36. Otherwise I always buy 36 and like the savings from the larger quantity. (Economies of scale).

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I always buy 24 exp rolls instead of 36 exp rolls. The main reason is due to my height: I'm only 5'3" and when I carry the developed negatives to the dryer at the darkroom I use, they drag on the floor if I use a 36 exp roll. This is a no-no. When I use a 24 exp roll, I can hold one end of the film in my hand with my arm stretched above my head, and the wet, freshly developed negatives won't touch the floor when I walk over to the dryer.

 

[dmr]

I definitely remember 12 shot rolls in the mid 2000s. I used them for quickie test rolls when getting the GIII and Mamiya fixed up and ready.

 

[Sid836]

I prefer 24 or 12 exposure rolls for use with my half frame cameras. I get bored easily having to go through a 72 frames roll with them.