rolling my own 120 film out of 70mm 126 Film

[kadir_kirisci]

<p>Hey, this is just a project that I would like to ask some questions before even trying.<br /><br />So,<br />I'm planning to design a some kind of "machine" that cuts 70mm in 120 film size and so I can roll it with backing paper.<br />To me, it doesn't sound stupid or crazy (yet) and maybe many of you know that 70mm film can be found dirt cheap (sometimes)<br>

For example, if i get 30 meters of Portra 160 in 70mm for 70 bucks, and 120 film is only only 72 cm long.<br>

So, with 30 meter bulk film of 70mm I would get 41.66 rolls of 120.<br />i Know i will lose some, so lets make it like 35.<br>

lets say i got 35 rolls out of 30m bulk, $70/35=2, so each portra will cost me 2 bucks.<br />It's cheap. </p>

<p>I tried to google some things but couldn't find anything about a project like this.<br>

If I'm not mistaken 70MM/126 film is just slightly taller than 120 film.<br>

So, If cut it in the proper size, it should work!<br>

I might be completely wrong, that is my Im posting my plan here.<br>

Any input/recommendations will be highly appreciated </p>

[Dustin McAmera]

<p>You might find some ideas in several of the posts on the Flickr 127 film group: since 127 became hard to get, quite a lot of people have reported ways to cut 120 film own to size (see <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/127/discuss/59155/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/127/discuss/72157633581781767/">here</a> , for example). I made one in the body of a dead folding camera (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/century_graphic/albums/72157594255549742">here</a>).</p>

<p>However, it seems a shame to cut 70 mm film to make it into the most common size of roll film, in which many types of film can be bought quite easily. If you roll the stuff up as 116 or 616, maybe you can sell it to owners of cameras for those sizes (1<em>2</em>6 is either square-format 35-mm film or 4¼-inch roll-film, much bigger than 70 mm: see <a href="http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Film_sizes_and_designations">Camera-wiki on film sizes</a>). Or you could cut out the middle-man and get yourself a 116-sized camera.</p>

<p>My experience of cutting 127 size was that it's hard to avoid some handling of the film; steps like taping the leading end of the film to backing paper are hard to do other than by hand; and you are likely to get some slight film damage from that. Since commercially-made 127 was for some time impossible to get, and it's still expensive, cutting down seems worthwhile. I'm not sure it seems so for 120 film.</p>

[rodeo_joe1]

<p>126 film is much smaller than 120 and comes in a welded plastic cartridge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/126_film</p>

<p>And where are you going to get the light-proof backing paper from?</p>

<p>Oh, and good luck with not guillotining your fingers off in the pitch dark!</p>

[kadir_kirisci]

<p>I actually saved so much backing paper in years, so I have a lot. I do my own developing and dont throw away the backing paper.</p>

<p>I never used 220 film but, heard it doesnt have backing paper like 120, so I might try to roll my own 220.<br>

<br />Problem with 70mm is, backs are really big and if something bad happens you lose so much. Also, scanning 70mm frame is harder than 6x6 and i personally like 6x6. Other problem is, many 70mm film that i can film today have no pre-holes. My hasselblad back requires holes. So, if i just convert the film for 120, it will be much easier to use. <br>

My design idea is placing a razor in some kind of a box and let the razor cut it. razor will stay still so there will be no danger at all (hopefully). I'm planning place the razor with 45 degree angle, so it will cut. <br />I just need to design a mechanism to roll the film in darkness. Hand-crank or something like that will do it.<br>

BTW, thanks for that 127 film suggestion, i will look to it and try to design something </p>

[Aoresteen]

<p>Good luck! You must 70mm unperf to make 120. 70mm perf film will be too narrow when you trim off the perorations.</p>

<p>Where are you getting your 70mm film? Kodak hasn't made 70mm film in years and your 70mm Portra will be out of date.</p>