Why is it called 120mm film?
120 film is named as such because it was the 20th daylight-loading roll film (on flanged spools) that Kodak produced, whose format numbering standard began with 101. It was originally intended for amateur photography but was later superseded by 35mm film in this role.
So Kodak made a decision to move the naming of their daylight loading spool film like 120 over to a number system. The Number simple represented when the film was first introduced and started at 101 with the roll film used in the 1895 No. 2 Bullet. 120 film was simply the 20th roll film Kodak developed.
Because of popular awareness of 35mm film, a common blunder is to use the term "120mm film." While 120 is indeed "bigger than 35," the width of 120 film is actually ~61mm. This is rounded off to "6" (centimeters) when referring to the image formats used by 120-film cameras, such as 6×7 or 6×4.5.
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for 35 mm film specifically for still photography, perforated with Kodak Standard perforations.
120 film is still a very popular medium format film, especially with the recent popularity of the Holga. The 120 film format was originally introduced by Eastman Kodak for its Brownie No. 2 in 1901. The 620 roll film was the same size, but didn't have a spool and is discontinued.
The US electric power network began at 110 volts. By the 1930s the voltage had crept up to 115. By the early 1950s at least 75 percent of the light bulbs sold in the USA were rated at 120 volts. As of 1984 the official standard US voltage was 120.
Now, historically speaking, one of the main reasons why the US stuck with 120V as its standard power supply largely has to do with the fact that it was initially tied to carbon filament lighting.
Your camera will need a specific size of film. You cannot use a 120 film in a 35mm camera, and vice versa. If you're not sure, check your model on Camerapedia. If you're still not sure, ask us!
The greatest difference between 35mm and 120 is that 120 offers better resolution and detail because of its larger negatives. Photos shot on 120 film also tend to have more depth than their 35mm counterparts.
The most common type of film for medium format is 120 but a lot of older cameras required 620 film which is very similar to 120 film. The only difference is that the 620 spool is slightly smaller than the 120 spool and 620 is no longer made but other than that the film is the same size.
Why is 70mm film special?
Hence, 70mm is considered better than 35mm because it can project more colours, more detail, more everything out onto the screen. In the days before digital projectors, 70mm was sort of like the equivalent of IMAX. You only ever saw the major blockbusters printed out on the format.
8 mm film is a motion picture film format in which the film strip is eight millimetres (0.31 in) wide. It exists in two main versions – the original standard 8 mm film, also known as regular 8 mm, and Super 8.
Because of this, don't ever worry that 35mm, 120 or 4 x 5" film will become unavailable in our lifetime. If anything, sheet film (4x5," 5x7," 8x10" etc.) is actually growing in popularity as new photographers who started in digital start to get serious, and jump straight to large-format.
The longest film ever made, according to Guinness World Records, is "The Cure for Insomnia" (1987), directed by John Henry Timmis IV. It lasts 85 hours and is considered an extraordinary achievement in the film industry.
120 (also known as medium format) roll film
With a ~61mm wide negative, it provides better resolution and less visible grain than 35mm. 120 is a roll-film format like 35mm, but instead of a sealed canister, the film is wound onto a plastic reel with a black paper backing that provides protection from stray light.
120 survived the test of time over other medium formats, such as 620 or 126, and is the only medium format film still currently being produced today. Depending on the type of camera it's shot on, 120 actually applies to a few different exposure dimensions (also known as framing ratios).
2. "110 volts" and "220 volts" represent an older standard that was changed to 120 and 240 volts about 75 years ago, depending on the region. This terminology is still familiar to many people and remains in use.
No, 220V and 240V are not the same. 220V is considered the standard voltage in Europe, while 240V is the standard voltage used in electrical wiring installations within Australia and North America. Before, Europe utilised a 220-volt system while the UK had a 240-volt one.
Historically speaking, one of the main reasons why the US retained 120V as its standard power supply was due to the power grid already being largely established, making it too costly to switch over. The main benefits of 120V power are quite limited.
127 volts allows for the electrical distributor (CFE) to have greater flexibility in the power delivery. The 127 standard is slightly higher than the 120 standard for the bulk of the rest of North America but allows for variance of as much as 10% and still be within the confines of what is acceptable.
Why does the US only use 110V?
After the dust settled, the U.S. electricity distribution industry agreed on 110 Volts AC as their standard. This was to quieten the idea that 220 volts were far too dangerous in the public mind. Thus Edison had his way with the numbers 110, but not with the letters DC.
Yes, the Walmart photo center develops negative film and can deliver printed photos or scan them and deliver your photos on a CD. They rely on third-party photo labs to do so. They stopped developing film in-house in 2022. This has extended the turnaround time.
However, shooting in 120mm film does add its own unique challenges. Because it is a larger film, this means each roll contains only 16 shots instead of the 36 shots on a 35mm film. You know what that means – yep, it's way more expensive to shoot 120mm.
With the price hike in film, 35mm film has become more expensive than ever. But 120 film is more affordable still. You're shooting fewer frames, but you're also getting more emulsion per photo.
35mm Film. 35mm film is easily the most popular choice. It was first made available in 1934. Most people are familiar with this format, it comes as a cartridge that fits into all 35mm film cameras.
Why is 35mm film so popular? There are many reasons as to why 35mm film is the most popular format of choice: it is a very user friendly format, takes the most amount of exposures and comes in a wide variety of styles, colours and aesthetics to choose from.
The major advantages of 120 film are that you get finer details and considerably less grain compared to the standard 35mm format. You will get photographs of much larger resolution, because the film surface is several times larger than the ordinary 35mm format.
If the film you're using isn't too far past its expiration date and the environment is well lit, you can treat it as if it were a normal film. You might experience a bit more grain, but the quality will remain high.
Film used in Medium format cameras such as the Diana F+ and Lubitel 166+. 120 film looks different to 35mm and generally produces more detailed images. You can usually take between 12 and 16 photos on a 120 film roll.
Why is 35mm film more expensive than 120?
120 is just film, paper, a little bit of tape, and a spool - 35mm is film (which has to have a leader and perforations cut into it), spool, and a 3 piece (5 if you count the felt) canister. 35mm is more complex, and has more steps in making a complete roll.
History. A comparison between 35 mm and 15/70 mm negative areas. The IMAX film standard uses 70 mm film run through the projector horizontally. This technique produces an area that is about 8.3 times as large as the 35 mm format, and about 3.4 times as large as 70 mm film run through the projector vertically.
Each 70mm Imax frame is 8.3x bigger than 35mm. The film runs through the camera and projector horizontally, so the frames use 15 perforations of the film, making them 3.4x bigger than even 'standard' 70mm film. That provides the resolution to project on a screen 4 London busses tall!
IMAX 15/70 frame is, therefore, 8.3x larger than 35mm and 3.4 times larger than 70mm – and the result is unprecedented quality. This large frame allows much more fine detail to be captured, delivering richer colors and greater contrast.
LoCascio added that “shooting on 35mm or even 16mm, is that the resulting image immediately offers up an inherent beauty and softness that we unconsciously just associate with cinema. Film handles and retains colors better than any other format, is easier on the eyes than any format, and is best for preservation.”
Cinelab is a full service motion picture analog and digital lab. We offer Color and B&W film processing for all modern 8mm 16mm and 35mm film stocks.
Yes! Kodak still makes Super 8mm film, although they have discontinued a handful of film stocks. The two kinds of Super 8mm film stock you can purchase are color reversal and color negative.
Fujifilm has announced that it will no longer accept new domestic orders for a range of color negative 35mm film as well as reversal film in both 35mm and 120 formats due to a shortage of raw materials.
Yes. Old film doesn't go bad all at once – colors shift, contrast fades away, and fog builds up. Old film (~10+ years past the process date) will have faded, skewing towards magenta. In many cases, this is preferred and authentic to the time.
If stored optimally in sealed canisters at low humidity and with minimal viewing, film reels can last as long as 70 years. If the unexposed film was stored in a freezer, chances are you can use it and get decent results.
What is the shortest film ever made?
The shortest feature film classified is called Soldier Boy and is just seven seconds long. The story is about a couple that gets separated due to WW2.
' Some people may think anything over three hours is long, but there are several directors that have proven there is no limit to how long a movie can be.
- Gettysburg (1993) – 4 hours, 31 minutes.
- Once Upon a Time in America (1984) – 4 hours, 11 minutes. ...
- Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) – 4 hours, 2 minutes. ...
- Hamlet (1996) – 4 hours, 2 minutes. ...
- Gone with the Wind (1939) – 3 hours, 58 minutes. ...
- Cleopatra (1963) – 3 hours, 53 minutes. ...
The number of available manufacturing facilities is decreasing. The equipment to produce film is no longer being produced so everyone is trying to maintain what they have the best they can. The environmental costs continue to rise, especially around chemicals, which have a direct impact on the cost to manufacture film.
You can buy 110 film at Film photography Store or Lomography.
Downsides of Shooting 120 Film
As for price, the cost of 120 film itself is often comparable to 35mm, but medium format cameras tend to be more expensive and they're also physically larger.
220 Film Developing
Originally introduced in 1965, 220 film is the same width as 120, but it is double the length (144 cm) and thus twice the number of exposures per roll. Although 220 film is no longer being produced, we are still happy to process any expired 220 film.
| 120 / 220 E6 film processing | |
|---|---|
| 120 E6 developing | $10.99 |
| 220 E6 developing | $14.99 |
| 4x5 or 5x5 prints at time of processing | 60c |
| 120 roll scan to CD | $7.99 |
The 120 film format was originally introduced by Eastman Kodak for its Brownie No. 2 in 1901. It was the main format for amateur photographers and beginners' cameras like the box cameras. With the popularity of 35mm, 120 film became a format for professionals.
Historically speaking, one of the main reasons why the US retained 120V as its standard power supply was due to the power grid already being largely established, making it too costly to switch over. The main benefits of 120V power are quite limited.
Is 120 film 120 mm?
The 120 film format is a roll film which is nominally between 60.7 mm and 61.7 mm wide. Most modern films made today are roughly 61 mm (2.4 inches) wide.
It was at 110V for a long time as more power companies came on line. The demand for brighter lights precipitated another change to 120V. For some reason the reference to 110V has stuck in the public's mind - maybe because it's easy to say.
In the United States and Canada, the electrical power supplied to most homes is a split-phase system. That power enters your home at about 240 volts. This 240 volts is split at the main circuit breaker panel into two 120 volt halves, called phases.
It is sometimes suggested that human lethality is most common with alternating current at 100–250 volts; however, death has occurred below this range, with supplies as low as 42 volts.
No, 220V and 240V are not the same. 220V is considered the standard voltage in Europe, while 240V is the standard voltage used in electrical wiring installations within Australia and North America. Before, Europe utilised a 220-volt system while the UK had a 240-volt one.
After the dust settled, the U.S. electricity distribution industry agreed on 110 Volts AC as their standard. This was to quieten the idea that 220 volts were far too dangerous in the public mind. Thus Edison had his way with the numbers 110, but not with the letters DC.
We develop all types of 120 film
Our lab has been providing High Quality, Medium format film developing for over 45 years. Most film developing orders are shipped back to you within 3-7 business days after they enter production.
110 volts was much more economic when electricity became widely available, and the voltage kind of stuck. At the time of the first widely available electric grid, it was mainly used to light houses, which used bulbs that worked best between 100 and 110 volts.
Once AC was widely accepted as being superior to DC for power distribution, 110V became the standard for AC distribution presumably because it used the "safer" Voltage level of the DC system. After metal filament lamps became feasible, 220V became common in Europe because of the lower distribution costs.
The voltage in Japan is 100 Volt, which is different from North America (120V), Central Europe (230V) and most other regions of the world. Japanese electrical plugs and outlets resemble North American ones. Plugs come in various versions, but most commonly they are non-polarized and ungrounded with two pins.
Why 240 instead of 120?
Lighter appliances or devices like refrigerators, toasters, TVs, radios, lamps are examples of devices that run on 120-volt circuits. On the other hand, your larger appliances with bigger, heavier power (wattage) demands like an electric dryer, water heater, or furnace. will require 240-volt electrical outlet.
In addition to appliances and electric cars, 240V power is great for lighting. Commercial greenhouses and stadiums use 240V power instead of 120V, and it's great for outdoor floodlights, too. Why? Simply put, it's just twice as much power.
The simple answer to that is that they are almost the same cost to operate or are just within a few dollars. Most people think that 240V is cheaper because it uses half the amps that 120V uses. Amps isn't what consumers pay for, it's actually the wattage used by the electrical device.