bulk loading 120 film: why not?

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redcat - 01 Jul 2003 17:34 GMT

Hmm, in my ever expanding quest for finding the most financially viable way
of shooting medium format, i went on another quest:

1) If 100' long rolls of film are available for 35mm format, why not for the
120 / 220 format size? i am rather surprised that no one carries bulk
loaders or bulk film for medium format? i understand there might be
something to do with the paper backing, but i dont see why it shouldnt be
economically viable?

2) i noticed that B&H carried three categories of bulk film size: 35mm, 46mm
and 70mm. what format is the 46mm for? and what are the neg dimensions of
the 70mm?

many thanks for your insights! i hope am not tiring you all with these
questions. OTOH, i would like to know how i can look into past archives of
this newsgroup. am sure my questions were asked before. i have outlook
express and dont see any setting for specifying dates to download messages.

sri

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Victor Bazarov - 01 Jul 2003 17:43 GMT

"redcat" <gtg768c@prism.gatech.edu> wrote...

> [...] OTOH, i would like to know how i can look into past archives of
> this newsgroup. am sure my questions were asked before. i have outlook
> express and dont see any setting for specifying dates to download messages.

If your server has purged older messages, there is no way to
see them using your outlook express. Try going to the web,
and connecting to http://groups.google.com/, that's their
repository of the archived messages. Browse to rec.photo.*
hierarchy and/or use the search feature.

Also, visit www.photo.net, they have discussions going back to
the nineties, plenty of information there too.

Victor

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Mark A - 01 Jul 2003 18:53 GMT

> Hmm, in my ever expanding quest for finding the most financially viable way
> of shooting medium format, i went on another quest:
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> and 70mm. what format is the 46mm for? and what are the neg dimensions of
> the 70mm?

Are you serious? Have you ever shot 120 film? Have you ever developed a roll
of 120 film? The reason no one carries bulk loaders or bulk film for 120 is
that bulk rolls are not manufactured.

70mm film (and originally 35mm) was originally made for motion picture
cameras, which is why it has those sprockets to rapidly transport the film
at 24 frames per second through a camera (and projector). They have been
adapted for use in still cameras. 120 film was originally designed for still
cameras.

If you buy your film in reasonable quantities mail-order (or sometimes
locally) you can get a roll of 120 B&W for about $2.50. Can't do much better
than that.

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Thom - 02 Jul 2003 02:44 GMT

>Hmm, in my ever expanding quest for finding the most financially viable way
>of shooting medium format, i went on another quest:
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>2) i noticed that B&H carried three categories of bulk film size: 35mm, 46mm
>and 70mm. what format is the 46mm for?

46mm is commonly used is school photo cameras. Its actually close to
what a 645 should be. I'd love to see a cassett loaded 35mm style
camera using a 44x55mm image size.

>and what are the neg dimensions of
>the 70mm?

Depends. In the old Graflex Combat Graphic 70 it gave you a
2.25x3.25" neg, in the RB the same as I20, same with other cameras.
Demensions are determined by the camera, the film only determines one
side. Remember too there is perforated as well as unperforated 70mm.

THOM

>many thanks for your insights! i hope am not tiring you all with these
>questions. OTOH, i would like to know how i can look into past archives of
>this newsgroup. am sure my questions were asked before. i have outlook
>express and dont see any setting for specifying dates to download messages.
>
>sri

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Ken Hart - 02 Jul 2003 21:26 GMT

> Hmm, in my ever expanding quest for finding the most financially viable way
> of shooting medium format, i went on another quest:
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> something to do with the paper backing, but i dont see why it shouldnt be
> economically viable?

Unroll a roll of 120 size film, then try to roll it back up again. You'll
see why re-loading is a problem. The film is taped to the backing at one end
only. As for 220, since it is a paper leader, taped to a piece of film,
taped to a paper trailer, it may be possible.
Personnally, I don't think it's worth the hassle.

Ken Hart

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Patrick L. - 01 Aug 2003 00:28 GMT

what format is the 46mm for?

Those special kind of cameras that are used in school portraiture, use bulk
46mm film, I believe.

Patrick.

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