Yashica 24 and 120 film.

SCOTFORTHLAD

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The Yashica 24 was designed to use 220 film,but I seem to have read somewhere that with a little knowledge on the correct starting point when loading the film,then more readily available 120 film can also be used.Does anyone have any experience or advice on this.
Thanks:)
Brian.
 
Here is a picture of a Yashica 24 that came with a sticker showing where to start the 120 roll film. It is the red arrow just above the spool in the film loading chamber.

Also, since 120 film has a paper backing, I measured how thick the backing paper is. Then I measured how thick a yellow sticky note is, and they are very close (0.004" plus or minus). So, I cut rectangles of sticky notes and put them on the posts where the film pressure plate rests, and that should make the pressure plate just right for 120 film instead of 220 film. You can see the yellow sticky note rectangles on either side of the red and yellow sticker on the left side of the film gate. You can verify that the pressure plate has tabs that rest on these posts to make sure that's where they go. One of the tabs on the pressure plate can be seen in this picture, at the lower-left of the pressure plate, in the upper-right corner of the picture.

On flickr, I've added notes showing the 120 film start mark sticker, the yellow sticky note spacers, and the pressure plate tab - hopefully that will make it easier to see what I'm talking about.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/18894742@N05/4929249248/

4929249248_6070c938c8.jpg
 
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Thanks for such a detailed and clear reply.It seems that some at least of these must have been manufactured with the 120 option built in.
Cheers,
Brian.
 
The Yashica 24 is not a common camera. The manual is available on-line, but I have the original manual that came with the camera. It says to only use 220 film, and there's a sticker below the pressure plate in the camera that says "Use 200 film only."

But, then there is a factory installed sticker than says "120 FILM START MARK." It is a puzzler.

On another web forum (sorry don't remember which one) in a discussion about using 120 film in the Yashica 24, a user said that sometimes you have to double expose the first frame. I had than happen with mine. If you have to do that, just put a lens caps on before pressing the shutter button, and you won't mess up the first picture. I shot with 120 before putting the yellow sticky-note spacers on, and it was not a smooth operation. Haven't tried it yet with the spacers, but hopefully that will improve it. I am curious just how much difference 0.004" will make.
 
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