Loading Medium Format Film
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Elder User
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From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Loading Medium Format Film
I looked up my grandpa's old Minolta Autocord Model L on the Internet the other day and found that they were fairly high quality cameras with good optics that can make poster-size prints that will blow the socks off of any 35mm camera today. So I went out and purchased a box of Kodak Ektachrome E100G transparency film in 120 format.
Inside the box of film, it says to handle unprocessed film in total darkness. That's fine, I could probably load the spool in the camera inside a closet at night, but the instructions for the camera say, "With the camera back open, wind the film advance crank until the arrows on the film-backing line up exactly with the red dots on both sides of the film rail of the camera."
I haven't opened up one of the individual film rolls to see if there is any arrows on it yet, but how can you in total darkness?
The camera instructions say nothing about loading in darkness, but I can understand the importance because unlike 35mm, 120 film is an open reel design; there is no protective case. Which brings me to another question; when the film is used up and I unload it and take it in for processing, do I wrap it up in something like aluminum foil or the old wrapper?
Inside the box of film, it says to handle unprocessed film in total darkness. That's fine, I could probably load the spool in the camera inside a closet at night, but the instructions for the camera say, "With the camera back open, wind the film advance crank until the arrows on the film-backing line up exactly with the red dots on both sides of the film rail of the camera."
I haven't opened up one of the individual film rolls to see if there is any arrows on it yet, but how can you in total darkness?
The camera instructions say nothing about loading in darkness, but I can understand the importance because unlike 35mm, 120 film is an open reel design; there is no protective case. Which brings me to another question; when the film is used up and I unload it and take it in for processing, do I wrap it up in something like aluminum foil or the old wrapper?
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
As I recall, from when I used to shoot film like that in my old Argus 40, I would load and unload in subdued light, but not total darness. The film has a baper backing, that's where the arrows are, and on my Argus there is a round red view window in the back so that you can see the arrows, and then the frame numbers printed on the backing. When you are done with the roll, there is a little piece of tape attached to the end to secure it to itself on the roll, and there is (or was) no need to wrap it in anything. It may be however, that the film you bought is much more sensitive to light than anything that was available when our old cameras were made, so handling may be a little different. Hope this helps. -TD
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Homer, Alaska
The 120 film has a paper separator. You do not need to be in total darkness to load it, but stay away from bright light or it may fog the edges. Just roll it on like you do most film, and advance it until you see the arrows. Nothing special is needed after you reroll the film, except you will need to lick the little tab (kind of like the old postage stamps) to close it up. Ectachrome is easy to develop, but you may have trouble finding a place to develop it and especially mount it. Then you need a 120 projector to look at them. The 120 format does make awesome prints, especially with the color slide film. What the total darkness is referring to is when you go to process the film, it must be totally dark. I have considerable experience in the darkroom and with the 120 film. If you would like more info, let me know, and enjoy. It's lots of fun.
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Elder User
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From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Thanks, guys. Having a leader & follower paper seperator for the film sounds logical; I thought about that, but wasn't sure. I thought about a 35mm/med. format combo projector, but for about the same price, I could get a high quality film scanner that would be more versatle and useable for "digital darkroom" work. At least until the price of 20MP digital cameras becomes reasonable.
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