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120 film – getting it on the reel
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I’ve managed to do this once in the past with 120 with quite some ease.
Was trying it for a second time tonight, but just gave up, yes I entered the light :).Jeez it was a pain to try and get it on even after I could see what I was doing….
It just wasn’t gripping the film properly at all…Maybe I just need to practise more.
Anyhow, just felt like sharing the frustration with you all :D
That’s a pity Mark, any nice photos you think would come up? Some people like 120 more than normal size, but I have to say, for me it depends if I have a good day or bad one :)
It was a roll I had in a camera for quite a while and forgot about it. No idea what was on it to be honest.
On the upside, I’ll just practice ‘alot’ with the exposed film and see if I can get any better at this :)
I can do it in my sleep at this stage :D
Sit down and watch the TV and just use a spoiled role to practice on…. you get the hang of it after a bit. Get a system going, i use my two thumbs and the two fingers beside my thumbs (what ever their called:-)) to get the film on the reel….
It’s a very long time since I did this; the reel was plastic, as was the tank. The reel
had a sort of ratchet; you rotated the upper cylinder thing back and forth, and the
film wound itself on just like that. It was adjustable for 120 and 135.I suppose they are all stainless steel nowadays — I never tried this.
The only time I’ve ever had problems was when the reels weren’t squeaky polished clean-
literally-The reels can pick up a kind of a crud after a few processes,
and I usually clean the track of the reel for the length of the film-
about half way in.A pointy cotton bud will do the trick-
or a chewed up matchstick in an emergency-120 film has a much thinner base than 135.
If it’s forced onto the reel it can kink, which becomes evident on the negative as, well, a kink-
so I find it makes sense to prepare the reels before loading the film.j
Hi Mark, every now and again I get a roll thats just impossible to load and it drives me nuts. I usually put it into the tank, close the lid and go have a cup of tea and come back to it. I usually load 120 film from the very first bit that appears, I use a small nail clippers to snip the edge on both sides to make the edge smoother.
When I have problems I unwind the whole film to the spool, carefully rip away from the spool and load the tape end. Sometimes that works better.
You should open up a fresh roll for practicing and load a few dozen times while you are watching the telly. My missus thinks its hillarious but…..
Thanks for the advice lads !
I’ve been practising furiously since :D Now to shoot a roll :)
This guy cracks me up: http://www.jasonbrunner.com/videos.html
But it seems to be a pretty good series of tutorial videos. First one shows how to load 120 onto a reel.
Cheers,
PeterI presume you’re using the Paterson plastic tank and reels rather than the metal spiral. I always found the metal tank system more fiddly for loading and stopped using them years ago. The Paterson system is easier but you do have to be careful not to cause buckling when loading the film.
First of all, I would never use a changing bag with 120 roll, it’s too awkward and prone to problems. I always use a light proof room for loading.
Always make sure that the reel is completely dry. any sign of dampness and the film will keep sticking, buckling and popping out of the grooves.
When you have fed the film past the small bearings in at the start of the reel, make sure to feed it on a couple of inches further before you start twisting the reel to use the auto feed. If you look past the ball bearings there is a small lip which can obstruct the feed on occasions.
When twisting to load the reel, always make sure to hold the reel with the open for feeding the film to the top or it will be prone to popping out of the groove and you will have to start again.
Check on the reel that the small ballbearings are still intact and not jammed or even missing. They can over time get gummed up from bits of deposits of emulsion or can just fall out of the reel. If you are missing a ballbearing then it is next to impossible to load anything on to it.Thanks for all the advice and help guys.
Just managed to get a roll of 120 loaded (Paterson tank). :D
Thanks again!
I’m a newcomer to 120 film, and the last time I tried to load the reel (in a dark bag) the emulsion stuck the film to itself because of the heat in the bag. Much cursing, shouting, gnashing teeth and sweaty pawprints!
Eamonn
edhead2008 wrote:
I’m a newcomer to 120 film, and the last time I tried to load the reel (in a dark bag) the emulsion stuck the film to itself because of the heat in the bag. Much cursing, shouting, gnashing teeth and sweaty pawprints!
Eamonn
120 roll is difficult enough to load at the best of times, never mind trying to do it in the confines of a sweaty changing bag. I would recommend light-proofing the smallest room (cloakroom, hot-press, ….)in the house specifically for this purpose, less frustrating and less likely to damage your film. An alternative, if you have no room which is windowless is to use a wardrobe at night-time with the lights out. You’ll get some funny looks, freak out the kids and be ridiculed by all who know you, but it works. I’ve done it and people still point at me in the street, but my 120 films loaded fine.
‘Where’s daddy?”
“You better leave him alone! He’s in one of his funny moods again and has gone to hide in the cupboard, can you not hear him hissing and cursing to himself?”thedarkroom wrote:
edhead2008 wrote:
I’m a newcomer to 120 film, and the last time I tried to load the reel (in a dark bag) the emulsion stuck the film to itself because of the heat in the bag. Much cursing, shouting, gnashing teeth and sweaty pawprints!
Eamonn
120 roll is difficult enough to load at the best of times, never mind trying to do it in the confines of a sweaty changing bag. I would recommend light-proofing the smallest room (cloakroom, hot-press, ….)in the house specifically for this purpose, less frustrating and less likely to damage your film. An alternative, if you have no room which is windowless is to use a wardrobe at night-time with the lights out. You’ll get some funny looks, freak out the kids and be ridiculed by all who know you, but it works. I’ve done it and people still point at me in the street, but my 120 films loaded fine.
‘Where’s daddy?”
“You better leave him alone! He’s in one of his funny moods again and has gone to hide in the cupboard, can you not hear him hissing and cursing to himself?”Nice one Darkroom!
However, after years of using a small changing bag – usually with great success – I bought a Calumet Changing Room which is a fancier (roomier) version of a changing bag which allows your arms and hands to work much more freely and is the business.
Here’s a link to what I am talking about:
http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/RM1000/
Well worth buying and can be found on various online stores.
:D
Years ago I used to love watching the tv show Lost in Space, aaahhh, happy memories. When I followed your link I could hear this voice in my head going “Danger, danger, Will Robinson, danger, danger”. Probably before your time and this reminiscing is lost on you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lost_In_Space.jpg
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2647759104/tt0058824
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