I am not carazy. But I, for a reason I don't remember any more, bought two rolls of 100 feet 46mm Portra 160NC (or VC) fresh in date and had since been in my freezer. They finally passed expiration a few months ago and are about to be wasted if I don't use them. I know these films are mainly for student photos when they are about to be out of one school and go to another. Well, I don't believe these films are only good for human skins. I am thinkg if a frame of this film has a (or more) person in it it must be OK to also have some background scene of plants, trees, rocks, water and mountain included. I think I bought them for this reason but I also made an assumption that I would be able to use them on my 67II. I still think so. I figure if I cut them into the length of a 220 and roll the piece onto a medium format film reel modified to have 46mm width for the film but same unmodified overall shape for the camera. I sure will need to attach paper leaders narrowed down to 46mm width to both ends of the film. If I modify some reels then I should be able to produce a few rolls a time for a one day trip of phtography. I process my own films so I will need to modify my Jobo developing reels to 46mm width as well. I should be able to shoot and process them like regular 220 films. My Jobo reels are adjustable. My question is am I crazy? Is such portrait film good for such application for snap shots of people say during a hike or a walk trough a park or garden something like that? The resulted format will be interesting as they look like moderate panorama. If the film is used on a 6x6 then the aspect ratio becomes 645. If it is used in a 645 the ratio becomes 6x6. I have the two rolls unopened. I am wondering if I should sell them for nothing (probably worth not much) or shoot them with some work just for fun. Has anyone ever heard of how this was done, if it was ever done, before?
Dave, Firstly the film should be ok for the uses you propose. The NC would be better for sunny weather and the VC for dull weather. Secondly you don't have to worry about the date. If the film was ok when you bought it and you have had it in a freezer at say -17 deg C or less, the film will be fine in 2010 or even 2015 - so you can think about it for a while longer! 46mm or 127 film is narrower than 120 or 220 film so, although your proposal will work mechanically I suppose the edges will curl and you will have sharpness problems. Perhaps you could make a mask? If I was you I would sell them or give them away or use them for experiments. Tony
Hi Tony, thanks a lot for your reply. Adding a mask probably will cause the focal plane to move out a little then I will need to adjust the focusing screen too. I think the film probably worth less than $10 each. If they don't go bad as long as been frozen since before expiration I will take the time to use them. Never had enough films so these may be something for fun.