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Mr. E. [deleted] says:
You can also cut down the 120 spool, from what I understand.
Posted 76 months ago.
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I've always just broke off the round ends of a 120 roll so it fits in the camera. It's fairly easy to do by hand, but pliers help.
If you try this, make sure to load/unload/transport the film in very subdued light; the round ends protect the film from becoming fogged and if you remove said ends, you lose that protection.
Posted 76 months ago.
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A nice step-by-step guide is here.
Posted 76 months ago.
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Blue Moon Camera in Portland, Oregon www.bluemooncamera.com sells 620 film. It is really just 120 film with the spools ends shaved down a bit so they still prevent light leaks and fit in the 620 cameras. They sell any film they carry in 120 for the normal price plus $1.50 for the conversion. As a side note, you can learn to do this yourself, just by a disc sander or the like, and grind of just a tiny bit of each round end. Much easier than respooling in my opinion.
Posted 76 months ago.
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Adapting many 620 cameras to take 120 films can be a major undertaking (due to the machining & tight tolerances that can be involved) & is really only worth doing w/certain classics, like the Kodak Medalist cameras. For other cameras, it's really not feasible (not enough room inside) & you'll have to go w/re-spooling or adapting 620 or buying it from B&H or J&C.
Posted 76 months ago.
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most of my old cameras were fine with a trim but in one of my old cameras cutting down the edge of the spool just wasn't enough. the bulk of the paper (as it rolled up on the out spool) forced the roll to stop turning near the end. there simply wasn't enough room for a roll of 120 to work normally in that camera but i could expose most of the roll and unload it in my darkroom for processing
i use cheap wire snips to trim the spool edge
Posted 76 months ago.
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Somewhere on flickr I read that nail clippers work great on trimming down those 120 spools.
Worked like a charm. But keep in mind that these reworked 120 spools still may have some trouble fitting in a few oddball 620 cameras. Oh well.
Posted 76 months ago.
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OK, but if you cut down a 120 spool, you almost always still need a real 620 takeup spool, because the winder won't fit in the hole of a 120 spool. That leave oyu with the problem of getting you 620 spool back after processing.
Posted 39 months ago.
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I agree, you'll need a 620 takeup spool in almost all cases. That leaves you with the problem of reminding your lab to return the empty spool to you (unless you develop yourself).
For the supply compartment, though, it totally depends on the particular camera. In some, the extra flange thickness of 120 makes it impossible (unless you modify the camera). In others, you simply have to trim down the flange diameter using the old nail-clipper trick.
I find it helps to stick some short lengths of aquarium tubing into the ends of the 120 spool. It keeps the spool centered on the smaller nubs of the 620 spool holders, and in some cameras this will help avoid binding.
Originally posted 39 months ago.
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Voxphoto edited this topic 39 months ago.
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I think I'm going to try respooling. What about this? What if I take the finished roll on it's 620 spool and then respool it back to 120 to send to the lab, since I don't care what they do with THAT spool.
Posted 39 months ago.
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It'll work--but remember that when you rewind you'll get to the loose (untaped) end of the film first and need to tuck it into the backing paper. Then when you get to the taped end you may find you need to carefully peel up the tape and re-stick it, or else the film won't roll up without bunching.
The backing paper will show the "unexposed" end outwards, so you'll need to explain to the lab "yes, this is really exposed film in here... "
Posted 39 months ago.
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I just did the surgery, and I respooled it twice so that it looks like correctly exposed 120 film. There was a tiny bit of light coming from the doorframe but it was only 100 speed film and it was so dark I could not see the film in front of me at all, so I think it's probably going to work. Now that respooling holds no more terrors, I can start digging through this grabbag of 620 cameras I just bought! I got them from a nice guy who is saving up for an operation. I plan to keep a few and sell the rest off piecemeal.
Originally posted 39 months ago.
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Meleager edited this topic 39 months ago.
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my only 620 camera loaded a 120 roll spool just fine with no modifications needed.
Posted 39 months ago.
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I respooled it twice so that it looks like correctly exposed 120 film.
That's actually a great solution, because when you unroll the film from the 620 spool you can just roll it up loosely without any spool at all; then roll it back onto a 120 spool without needing to monkey around with the tape.
my only 620 camera loaded a 120 roll spool just fine with no modifications needed.
On the supply side that's pretty typical. The problem is with the little winding tab which fits into the takeup spool--for 620 it's much smaller than the slot of a 120 spool. Even if a 120 spool fits in the space, it may spin crookedly and mangle the edge of the backing paper as you advance.
Posted 39 months ago.
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www.flickr.com/photos/chipbandit99/sets/72157604709581716/
this is my only 629 film camera and like i said 120 film rolls work well in it with out any problems
Posted 39 months ago.
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this is my only [620] film camera and like i said 120 film rolls work well in it with out any problems
Heh, there's a reason for that.
It looks like there's a decal inside your camera's back saying "Use B2 film." That was just Agfa/Ansco's own designation for 120. I think you'll find that a 620 takeup spool won't even work in that camera (because the tab on the wind knob is too wide).
Posted 39 months ago.
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Hi! new to the group. The pics I posted to the pool are from my Original Diana. I have a bunch of 620 Film cameras on the shelf and never knew what to do with them. Well, thanks to this thread and my nail clippers my Argus Seventy-Five now has a roll of B/W 120 in it. It took me some time but I think we've got success. I'll try to shoot it this week and get it processed. Thanks for the Instructable!
Posted 38 months ago.
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'\> [deleted] says:
hi, i recently got myself a kodak duaflex 2, and i started off by trimming the diameter of the 120 film spool for it to fit into the camera, but no luck at all, it still doesnt fit into the camera smoothly as i read. so i tried to file down the thickness of the spool ends, and still no luck. so i then read up about taking one of the ends of the spool off for it to then fit into the camera. is this a good idea? also how exactly to do it? which end is most appropriate to pull off? etc.
PLEASE HELP! having terrible luck so far!!!
Posted 33 months ago.
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@pedgeman: respooling was so easy, that that's what I'm going to do from now on, I think. Here's a shot I got from an ansco ready flash with respooled film. ALl I used for the operation was a dark bathroom.
Posted 33 months ago.
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'\> [deleted] says:
i read that i would need two 620 spools in order for this method to be a success? is that necessary? also, i'm keen on the method of taking off one end of the spool, would you reccoment this easier method or should i really go for the respooling?
Posted 33 months ago.
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Pedgeman- I really would recommend respooling. The best is a film changing bag - but a duvet in a darking room will do. You'll need 2 620 spools for the Duaflex. (Normally you get one with each 2nd hand 620 camera, so buy a Brownie Hawkeye Flash, say). Wind on to the 620 film, and then back onto another. I'd try first with some exposed film spool (Take an exposed 120 film, tape the beginning to a strip of backing paper and practice respooling with that, in the light, until you can do it with your eyes shut. )
If you get a changing bag you'll find it useful for all kinds of film-related situations.
Good luck.
Originally posted 33 months ago.
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seriykotik1970 edited this topic 33 months ago.
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Yep I've done it. You'll need some nail clippers to take the outer edge off the spool and a file to make it smooth. You need 1 620 spool because the inner key fitting will be smaller, I use the 620 spool as the take-up and then get the lab to return it to me after processing.
Portra VC 400 work beatifully in box cameras. Go for it. Re-spooling 120 would be a total nightmate, give it a miss.
Posted 33 months ago.
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'\> [deleted] says:
yet i tried the whole nail clippers and filing method and the film still didnt fit due to the length. i used a kodak 160 iso natural colour 120 film, and had no luck. would it help using a different 120 film?!
i would rather miss the whole respooling method...
Posted 33 months ago.
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Personally for outdoors in bright/ sunny weather I use ASA 160 film in box cameras - including the duaflex- and it works fine. I would consider ASA 400 film a bit too fast- probably better for heavy cloud/ overcast weather. The shutter speed of the duaflex is approximately 1/40s .
Posted 33 months ago.
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'\> [deleted] says:
i'm just having trouble fitting 120 film inside the camera, i did the whole nail clipper method how i was told and it wouldnt fit. what could you advise to help fit the film, the thickness of the ends of the spool seem to be too big. how exactly did you do the method and am i going wrong anywhere. i started off by cutting off the edges with the nail clippes and i then filed it down, i then tried fitting it in and like i said the film spool was too long to fit, i then tried filing it down the make the thickness smaller and didnt succeed, any reccomendations other than terrible respooling. my multi-tasking is too horrible for words!
Posted 33 months ago.
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'\> [deleted] says:
and thank you for the film info! has fully helped infact! got my iso's rather wrong. but i think i would have to use 400 iso due to living in england!
Posted 33 months ago.
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@pedgeman:
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, after you respool and shoot your roll you will need to reverse the operation and respool back onto 120, because, unless youa re doing your own develoiping, the leab will never give you back your hard to find 620 spool. you don;t have to buy a camera to get one though, the 620 spools come up on ebay all the time for a few bucks.
don't be a chicken, get out there and respool! It's actually kinda therapeutic, like making redscale film.
Originally posted 33 months ago.
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Meleager edited this topic 33 months ago.
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'\> [deleted] says:
yeah ive bought myself a spare spool for £5 on ebay, alot, but it'll be worth it i reckon, cheapest one ive found too! but im contacting a local photography shop/lab that i always go to with my 120 film and i'll discuss with them about 620 film etc. also im a college student (junior/senior not sure high school student) and im doing a national diploma in fine art along with photography! so i will then be learning how to develope my own film and i might persuade my teacher to give me private lesson based on 120/620 as from next week! so hopefully i can start learning that much more. but i'll look into respooling, i have tried it but not the full process. ive only respooled it onto one spool so far, i just need to wait for my spare spool to arrive.
i just need that good luck with this camera! i see a long process ahead of me but an achieving process!
Posted 33 months ago.
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If you have a friend with,or otherwise access to, a lathe it becomes real easy. Stuff a 5mm drillbit backwards into the 120 spool so you can clamp it in the chuck and put the revolving center on the other side. Turn down the spool flush with the backing paper and for good measure take 0.25mm off the ends of the spool. If you do a few films at a time it is just a minutes work.
The lab will return your 620 take up spool with the processed film, no problem.
Posted 33 months ago.
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'\> [deleted] says:
this may sound silly but how exactly do you load a kodak duaflex 2?
the online kodak manual is terrible and rather mis-leading! can anyone explain in full detail?
thanks!
Posted 33 months ago.
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I just bought a dualflex and experienced the width of 120 spool issue first hand. It took some doing but we got there in the end. I used sandpaper on the spool ends to make the plastic 120 spool fit. you gotta take off quite a bit to get it close. anyway it worked and the camera is ace. I can't wait to have the roll developed.
Posted 32 months ago.
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i made this video long ago to show (in boring detail) how do spool 620 film properly so you don't have to jam 120 spools into 620 cameras.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF2ODqdpgGg
Posted 32 months ago.
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see here for trimming down. I find this the fastest method, takes 3-5 mins..
Originally posted 28 months ago.
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heritagefutures edited this topic 28 months ago.
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sadly trimming a 120 spool did not work so well for my Kodak 620 camera... but it was easy enough to re-spool in a dark closet with no windows.
Posted 28 months ago.
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The ends need to be thinned out as well as the diameter. Should work fine once done.
Posted 28 months ago.
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i send my Kodak Medalists to '' photography on bald mountain''. Ken Ruth adapts the camera to 120 film. no spools to worry about. i also get a CLA and Ken even adds a hot shoe.
Posted 28 months ago.
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Slick. What does the conversion run?
Posted 28 months ago.
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As I have used up 620 film I've bought over the last year, I've some empty spools for sale at eBay if anyone is interested...
TWO 620 METAL FILM SPOOLS
Posted 4 weeks ago.
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Posted 4 weeks ago.
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