kurt_wyberanec Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 I am new to medium format, and I am just about ready to be done with my first roll, but I am curious, what do I put this in. I know it says that it can be sensitive to light and I should develop it quickly. How can I store this stuff? How dark does it need to be when I am loading and unloading? And of course, what do I put it in? Thanks very much for entertaining a novice question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_medeiros Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 I generally am careful with it. When shooting, I put exposed rolls in my camera bag. I am careful not to expose it to bright sun. I transport it in a paper bag when I am taking it to be developed. While I am overly cautious, it is important to make sure the film is being pulled tightly on the take-up roll. If you do have a roll that is loose, be very careful with it as there is a real risk of light leaks. Out of around 80 rolls, I have had one with light leak issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 I try to be careful but sometimes get to working in an environment where there isn't time to be as careful. With some loosely wound rolls, I have had light bleeds on the edges but never into the image. So you just have to be as careful as you can without interfering with shooting. Music and Portraits Blog: Life in Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vijay_nebhrajani Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 Aluminium foil. You'd be surprised how effective it is. Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_whitman Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 If it's wound reasonably snugly, you don't have much to worry about. I keep my exposed 120 film in clear ziploc bags for weeks while I'm traveling and I've never had problems (except when the roll wasn't tightly wound, and in those cases it would have exhibited light leaks no matter HOW quickly I got it to the lab). While loading and unloading I try to shade the camera from direct sun and hot lights, but other than that I take no special precautions. As a poster noted above, what's ideal and what's realistic in the field aren't always the same: you should protect the film as much as possible, but in my experience there's no need to be anal about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
q.g._de_bakker Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 Do you do your own printwork? If so, those black plastic bags paper is kept in are perfect for storing rollfilm. But, as has been mentioned several times now, there is no great danger, just roll them up tight and keep themn out of direct sunlight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_cook Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 Kurt - since this is your first roll, I thought I'd mention that after you have wound the film completely on to the take up reel, you'll find that there is paper backing that winds around the exposed film to keep it light-tight. And there is a small paper tab with adhesive that you lick and stick around the roll to hold the paper backing in place until you process. Please disregard if you already knew this; thought it might clarify. I have never kept my 120 in anything but a Ziplock bag; never had a problem. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nehril Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 I also just went through my first roll of 120 (a throwaway roll to learn steel reel loading). Thank you, Mr. Cook, I knew that little strip of paper at the end was supposed to be useful, but I never thought to lick it! in a sort of tangential question, is the last frame right up against the edge of the film end? I'm worried about scratching a valid frame when I clip it onto the reel. Or do people normally peel the whole roll off and insert from the other (taped) end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_ung Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 I am quite a careless person ( my girlfriend regards me so) but I have never encoutered any problem with loading/unloading of 120 films. After finishing each roll, I lick and stick, then reload another into the chamber. I never try hard to shield myself from sunlight ( as suggested) or keep the finished roll in any special container/bag, there hasn't been any problem. Although sometimes it is a pain to handle the film ( troublesome ), overall it is quite forgiving at least to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel whitaker Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 For use in the field, I bought a Lowe Pro 'film drow AW' poch. This has a virtually light tight opening at the top, formed by four crossover flaps, so you push the film through the overlap. It stores about 15 rolls of 120 and isn't too expensive. I don't do MF at the moment, and I don't feel it's needed for 35mm, but it's a nice item, have a look at Lowe Pro's website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 <i>I knew that little strip of paper at the end was supposed to be useful, but I never thought to lick it!</i><p> Not only should you lick it, some of them taste good. Agfa films have mint flavor on the lick-it side.<p><i> is the last frame right up against the edge of the film end? </i><p> It shouldn't be, and I haven't seen it in the cameras I've used (you should hear it winding for a while after you finish the roll), so it shouldn't be a problem. Music and Portraits Blog: Life in Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter walker Posted September 1, 2001 Share Posted September 1, 2001 Shouldn't be a problem. Just bring it out of the camera carefully so that you don't drop it (it might unravel) before, tightening the backing paper and sealing down the sticky paper. In bright sunlight, if there is no shade around, I lean over the camera to create a shadow so that it does too much bright light on the roll. Once you have licked it and stuck it down tight, you should be able just to drop it into your camera bag pocket. Later, I transfer them to ziplock bags and then, whilst travelling, put these in large lead-lined anti-X-ray bags. The only problem I have ever had is with some Kodak film getting a slight fogging along the film edge near the last 1 or 2 frames. But it didn't come anywhere near the actual image area. I have never had this problem with Fuji or Agfa film and I suspect that it is because they use backing paper that is more lightproof. An amusing sidebar, Fuji, Kodak and Agfa all have slightly different flavours on their sticky-paper. Kodak tastes the worst - a bit "chemically". Fuji tastes like a postage stamp. But the best flavour is Agfa, which has a minty taste. RegardsPeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brit Posted September 1, 2001 Share Posted September 1, 2001 Something not yet stated..if you look at the exposed roll as retrieved from camera it does say on the backing paper something along the lines of 'fold under before sealing'. I've never quite known how much is supposed to be folded under ( I normally fold about an inch in ) but I think this gives a little tension to the film's winding and thus guards against any loosening. That's what I think...any more suggestions about this folding of backing paper? Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel whitaker Posted September 1, 2001 Share Posted September 1, 2001 As for folding the end of the paper under, it seems common across all brands. It does however, make it easier if you process your own, to get a thumbnail under the edge to break the aforementioned licked strip. I don't know if it improves the light seal though. I suppose (wild guess), that in the dim light of a darkroom, the exposed film, with the folded under end, could be differentiated from new, unexposed film with it's leader unmolested, on this alone. If working on feel alone this may be a factor????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn_kroeger Posted September 1, 2001 Share Posted September 1, 2001 Although you can buy plastic cannisters at camera stores to hold 120 rolls, they are the same as the plastic containers of m&m's minis candy. So eat a couple of tubes(the candy) and save them(the cannisters). Not only protects them from light, but also impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_watkins1 Posted September 4, 2001 Share Posted September 4, 2001 <b>Finally, a thread I can sink my teeth into :)</b><p>Ilford roll end adhesive tastes far better than Kodak, slightly minty, smells more minty than it tastes.<p>Unfortunately for roll end adhesive enthusiasts, the limited selection of 'vintages' prevents development of a full scale obsession.<p>--Michael, roll-end adhesive sommelier <p><p>ps: I put my 120 film in a black plastic bag leftover from B&W paper storage, as I have had the occasional issue with Ilford rolls and edge fogging. My camera and backs wind the film up nice and tight, it seems to be an issue with Ilford rolls themselves but since the bag solves the problem, I've not looked deeper into the subject. <p> The minty, fresh taste with a hint of lemon keeps me coming back to Ilford for more.... LOL<p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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