Complete Guide to 70mm Film

[MCB18]

Just thought I’d let you guys know, I’m selling 2465 microfilm for super cheap, $40/150 ft of 70mm. It’s not an amazing film, hence the price, but it does at least kinda work. Here’s the classifieds thread.

 

[pcameau]

My new Hasselblad A500 magazine by Nokton48, on Flickr

I bought this unit, had to return it. The frame counters did not work properly at all. I was lucky to get my money back, it was a big hassle!

Wow, was that back needing power as well? If I recall, it's for the EL series only and fits a whole 100m of film.

 

[pcameau]

Thanks for the quick reply. I found a complete one, but it'll probably end up costing me over $300. I'm thinking on it. Probably will go for it.

I am looking for one as well. Where did you find yours?

 

[pcameau]

Just thought I’d let you guys know, I’m selling 2465 microfilm for super cheap, $40/150 ft of 70mm. It’s not an amazing film, hence the price, but it does at least kinda work. Here’s the classifieds thread.

Can you define "kinda work" ? Is it lacking latitude ? If you have any examples... I could be interested for test rolls and experimenting.

 

[pcameau]

Funny story, I didn’t actually find this. Friend in Germany found it and shared it. $75 later, most of that from shipping, it is now mine.

How did it turn out? Have any scans you can share?

 

[pcameau]

Paterson Olde Tanks Converted to 70mm 24 Exposure Reels No Leaks by Nokton48, on Flickr


I converted these two 120 Paterson Reels, expanding the width, so they will each hold a 24 exposure roll of 70mm film. The large tank holds two rolls of 70mm film, with room for a 35mm roll on top. None of these tanks LEAK. I tested the big one extensively, rolling on a Unicolor Uniroller, and it dosen't drip at all. I've been using these tanks recently again, they are all working really well for me. And I built them from parts I already had around, so repurposed the reels to work easilly with 70mm film.

How did you convert the reels for 70mm? I have an old 5 reel like that doing nothing, I would love to give it a try.

 

[pcameau]

I've published a new website devoted to 70mm film: www.shoot70mm.com

It's been a massive undertaking, but a real labor of love, and includes a history of the format, information on all cameras/backs that take 70mm, information on most common 70mm film stocks, instructions for loading, developing, and modifying backs, and information on new products from Mercury Works to make shooting, developing, and scanning 70mm much easier and more accessible.

With the huge surge in the popularity of analog photography, an entire generation (plus many in previous generations) are missing out on this format because information about it is so scarce. No central source of information for folks wanting to start shooting 70mm has existed until now (though there are some very helpful 70mm shooters in these forums). If you are curious about or have been wanting to start shooting 70mm, but haven't known where to start, this site is for you. If you are just interested in the history of the format, this site is for you. If you are a 70mm shooter looking to optimize or upgrade your workflow, this site is for you.

Also, I'd appreciate any feedback, including corrections, comments, and suggested additions! This is basically the "official" thread for the site, and I welcome all feedback! I don't generally post much to forums, but will be watching and replying to this thread.

Hello,

I noticed the 3D printed dev tank supports 13-feet of film instead of the full 15-feet the cassettes can support. Is it because the reels produce too much friction? Wouldn't there be a way to do the whole 15-feet?

 

[Nokton48]

How did you convert the reels for 70mm? I have an old 5 reel like that doing nothing, I would love to give it a try.

You have to cut the end part of a scrap reel away (I used electric saw) remove all the outside, just the central spindle remains. Then you use a strip of 70mm to set the distances of both halves of the reel. Then I drilled small holes in the central core, and inserted pointy stainless steel metal screws to hold it together.

Study the pictures. There are more on my Flikr pages.

Step 5 Use a dummy 220 70mm roll to set reel spacing perfectly by Nokton48, on Flickr

Step 4 JB Weld Other Reel Tightly Squarely together Dry Overnight by Nokton48, on Flickr

Step 2 Remove Spiral Material From Rotating Core by Nokton48, on Flickr

Step 1 Parts Needed Paterson Single 70mm Reel by Nokton48, on Flickr

I shoot 24 exposure cassettes in my multiple Hasselblad A70 Film Backs. Works great. 24 is enough for me.

 

[MCB18]

Can you define "kinda work" ? Is it lacking latitude ? If you have any examples... I could be interested for test rolls and experimenting.

Pretty much all of it is gone at this point, sorry.

How did it turn out? Have any scans you can share?

It kinda works? Very fogged though.

 

[pcameau]

You have to cut the end part of a scrap reel away (I used electric saw) remove all the outside, just the central spindle remains. Then you use a strip of 70mm to set the distances of both halves of the reel. Then I drilled small holes in the central core, and inserted pointy stainless steel metal screws to hold it together.

Study the pictures. There are more on my Flikr pages.

Step 5 Use a dummy 220 70mm roll to set reel spacing perfectly by Nokton48, on Flickr

Step 4 JB Weld Other Reel Tightly Squarely together Dry Overnight by Nokton48, on Flickr

Step 2 Remove Spiral Material From Rotating Core by Nokton48, on Flickr

Step 1 Parts Needed Paterson Single 70mm Reel by Nokton48, on Flickr

I shoot 24 exposure cassettes in my multiple Hasselblad A70 Film Backs. Works great. 24 is enough for me.

Thanks. I can see when 24 shots are enough for me as well. Not as often, but still. Thank you.

 

[pcameau]

Pretty much all of it is gone at this point, sorry.


It kinda works? Very fogged though.

:-( that's sad, but not surprising.

 

[gorbas]

I shoot 24 exposure cassettes in my multiple Hasselblad A70 Film Backs. Works great. 24 is enough for me.

But is worth saying that you will need around 30cm (1') of film as leader for the A70 magazine.
Also, you don't need to cut Paterson reels. Here is another method

 

[Disconnekt]

How did you convert the reels for 70mm? I have an old 5 reel like that doing nothing, I would love to give it a try.

Heres a way to do it with the plastic wheels without doing any sawing/hacking/screws:

 

[Nokton48]

But is worth saying that you will need around 30cm (1') of film as leader for the A70 magazine.

Amazingly I have two of the Olde paterson big tanks, NEITHER LEAK. With a loaded big tank, I can run two rolls of 70mm 24 exposures, plus a roll of 35mm thrown in. That's pretty good production.

For a single roll your method looks OK as long as it dosen't fall apart in the dark. I can run a single roll of 24 exp 70mm in the little tank, good for when testing exotic developers that I don't have in half gallon sizes. The modded reels load OK in the dark for me. For example I have a 150 ft roll of High Speed Infared 2424 that I like to do in D19 for maximum Infared Effect. Same as the Olde 35mm version but bigger in square format.

Goran! Hello! Many projects for me keep me busy, as well as taking care of family.
I am mixing up 2 liters of ADOX BORAX MQ and liter of Replenisher. I thought of you Guys! A developer for making "Beefy" negatives that I like. I have a LOT of NP20 and NP22 (to use in 9x12cm Makiflexes), I bought all I could from Bulgaria. Olde stock. I like it so far. And a little bit of 9x12cm NP15. Olde Orwo seems to like Adox Borax MQ.

Paterson Olde Tanks Converted to 70mm 24 Exposure Reels No Leaks by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[pcameau]

But is worth saying that you will need around 30cm (1') of film as leader for the A70 magazine.
Also, you don't need to cut Paterson reels. Here is another method

Hvala Goran. I appreciate the tip. Since I started shooting and don't have any test film, I guess the wasted leader will come from the first rolls I will develop. That's fine I guess.
Do you also develop 24 frames at a time in a paterson thank vs a long roll in a 70mm specific tank?

 

[pcameau]

Amazingly I have two of the Olde paterson big tanks, NEITHER LEAK. With a loaded big tank, I can run two rolls of 70mm 24 exposures, plus a roll of 35mm thrown in. That's pretty good production.

For a single roll your method looks OK as long as it dosen't fall apart in the dark. I can run a single roll of 24 exp 70mm in the little tank, good for when testing exotic developers that I don't have in half gallon sizes. The modded reels load OK in the dark for me. For example I have a 150 ft roll of High Speed Infared 2424 that I like to do in D19 for maximum Infared Effect. Same as the Olde 35mm version but bigger in square format.

Goran! Hello! Many projects for me keep me busy, as well as taking care of family.
I am mixing up 2 liters of ADOX BORAX MQ and liter of Replenisher. I thought of you Guys! A developer for making "Beefy" negatives that I like. I have a LOT of NP20 and NP22 (to use in 9x12cm Makiflexes), I bought all I could from Bulgaria. Olde stock. I like it so far. And a little bit of 9x12cm NP15. Olde Orwo seems to like Adox Borax MQ.

Paterson Olde Tanks Converted to 70mm 24 Exposure Reels No Leaks by Nokton48, on Flickr

How do you find this film stocks?

 

[gorbas]

Hvala Goran. I appreciate the tip. Since I started shooting and don't have any test film, I guess the wasted leader will come from the first rolls I will develop. That's fine I guess.
Do you also develop 24 frames at a time in a paterson thank vs a long roll in a 70mm specific tank?

You are very welcome pcameau!
This Paterson set up I used to process #116-70mm wide films. You should be able to load in the same length of the film, ~165cm, as for 36exp 35mm. Use very good elastic bend to hold the top part. For "real" 70mm films I have ss Nikkor reel with capacity of 100"and that is around 42 - 6x6 frames. I had also to leave blank frame or two around 20-24 shots to accommodate cut in the middle of roll to hang film to dry.
Last night I was thinking about that leader and there is no need to waste it with every load. I had serious leaks with my 70mm cassettes so when I roll it and when I loaded magazine I did it all in total darkness, so maybe after winding a few frames (just in case) I can shoot the "leader" to?
Back in the day I found 70mm film on Ebay, when Montreal horse racetrack switched from film to digital photo finish cameras. They had a lots of 70mm rolls for sale.
What camera and magazines are you planning to use?

 

[Disconnekt]

For anyone thats interested, found a guy on Etsy (located in Utah) that sells a 3d printed reel (using PLA+ material) to develop 616 & 122 film:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4357797081/pa-616122-multi-format-film-dev-reel

He also has other 3d printed reels for 65/70mm, aps, 110, & disk film for both Jobo & Patterson tanks

 

[blee1996]

I have been using two Paterson reels and two small rubber bands (the other is blocked by the half reel on the right), to develop any film from 65mm, 70mm, to 122 size. I call it Flexi-Reel (TM): it is non-destructive, flexible in film width, and maintains the ratcheting action of Paterson reels.

 

[Cholentpot]

I have been using two Paterson reels and two small rubber bands (the other is blocked by the half reel on the right), to develop any film from 65mm, 70mm, to 122 size. I call it Flexi-Reel (TM): it is non-destructive, flexible in film width, and maintains the ratcheting action of Paterson reels.

View attachment 417179

My kind of solution over here.

 

[film4Me]

Great solutions in this thread for 70mm, but I was stuck for 122. My solution for that I found in a hardware store by way of a piece of PVC pipe which was a very neat push fit over the large end of one half of the Paterson reel. The other half with the smaller end needed building up to also be a neat push fit in the PVC pipe. I used one of the discolored reels that came with a tank from Ebay. I'd never let my original reels get into such a dirty state.



It's nice and solid and I made a cardboard guide about 3" long to slip into the reel first just shy of the steel balls. The cardboard thickness was such that the film still has room to move into the reel over the top of the guide. Once the film is started well past the "non-return" steel balls, the guide is pulled out.

A reel like this could be made for 70mm as well, but I already have a reel for that size.

 

[film4Me]

Two pics from my first 122 film using that DIY reel. Mind you it took a little while to get the film fully wound into the reel, it buckled a few times and required a bit of playing around with to keep it going. The film was Verichrome Pan expired in 1971. The camera was an early Kodak 3A folder.

 

[gorbas]

it buckled a few times and required a bit of playing around with to keep it going.

Good thinking film4Me! Excellent problem solution!
Are you clipping corners of the film before loading it?
Very old wide rolls are a bit different beasts than fresh film and will pose more issues while loading.
Are you regularly using #122 film? Verichrome was wonderful film emulsion.

 

[Cholentpot]

Great solutions in this thread for 70mm, but I was stuck for 122. My solution for that I found in a hardware store by way of a piece of PVC pipe which was a very neat push fit over the large end of one half of the Paterson reel. The other half with the smaller end needed building up to also be a neat push fit in the PVC pipe. I used one of the discolored reels that came with a tank from Ebay. I'd never let my original reels get into such a dirty state.

View attachment 417186View attachment 417187

It's nice and solid and I made a cardboard guide about 3" long to slip into the reel first just shy of the steel balls. The cardboard thickness was such that the film still has room to move into the reel over the top of the guide. Once the film is started well past the "non-return" steel balls, the guide is pulled out.

A reel like this could be made for 70mm as well, but I already have a reel for that size.

Another creative idea. What's stopping me from shooting 70mm in my cameras at this point is getting backing paper for 70mm.

 

[film4Me]

Good thinking film4Me! Excellent problem solution!

I considered it a pure fluke to discover PVC pipe with just the exact internal diameter to fit on the reel. I took the reel with me to the store (Bunnings) hoping that one of their pipes would be a close size and I could work on it at home to make it fit.

Much to my delight, one of the pipes fitted over the reel needing only my elderly bicep pressure to get it on. No gluing or anything was needed to hold it there, and it can be removed later if need be. The other half of the reel required packing around the reel to bring it to size. Anything at all can be used for the packing except tape. Also, it can't be a sloppy job because the reel halves must be concentric to one another, and without any wobbling, by the time the job is finished.

The pipe itself, it needs to be the exact length for the film size of the reel. I cut the pipe a little longer, about 10-20thou, and trimmed it with a file. This was done before packing the second half of the reel so that it could be slipped in and out of the pipe easily while taking measurements using a dummy piece of film to check how things are going.

Are you clipping corners of the film before loading it?

I clip the corners only a slight amount, and at more than 45degrees. I found that 45 can still get stuck, catch somewhere, so I make the angle acute, downwards along the edge of the film. All done in the dark of course, just in case there are beginners reading this.

Very old wide rolls are a bit different beasts than fresh film and will pose more issues while loading.

Curling, for sure, particularly the ends of old film curling downwards making it more difficult to start the film in the reel. It's why I make cardboard guides to ease the pain. The curled end of the film can be pushed down flat against the guide and slid into the reel, then grabbed with fingers to get it past the steel balls.

This is an acquired skill I've developed for genuine Paterson plastic reels (aftermarket "Paterson" plastic reels are terrible, they have burrs and are somewhat sharp-edged, the quality is just not there)

Are you regularly using #122 film? Verichrome was wonderful film emulsion.

I have only 5 rolls of 122 film, all Verichrome, and they're satisfying my current fetish of trying out very old 3A Kodak folders, what an experience! But that's why I'm out there exposing film in them, to get the feel of what it was like using them when they were new technology way back then. I was only ever going to use the film size that was meant for these old 3As, for that purpose. It's been a load of fun so far, and I'm quite impressed with the quality of the images. Yes, Verichrome emulsion stands up very well, it only falls down if subjected to heat summer after summer. I found out the hard way with two rolls of 120 left in a garage, having no knowledge of freezing film many years ago. Now I have a large dedicated freezer just for film.

When I finish the rolls of 122 film I have, I probably won't carry on any further with 3As, I have so many other old cameras to try out. Old No3s will be next. I have both roll film and sheet film for those. It'll be a pleasure to post results from them in the future also.