120 film, exposed tab inside roll.

P1505 · Feb 25, 2024

Hi.

Please move if this isn’t the correct place.

I have a problem with 120 film once the roll is exposed, the little kick and stick tab ends up inside of the roll, meaning I have to unwrap a little to get at it. I think light leaks occur at this point, although maybe my film backs need a CLA.

I’m loading ok I think, everything develops fine, it’s just the paper tab is never poking out.

Is this normal? On a Hasselblad A12 back.

ags2mikon · Feb 25, 2024

I have had that happen more than once. Hasselbalds, Bronicas, Mamiyas you name it it happens now and then. In fact last week the tab broke off completely. I always carry a roll of scotch tape in my medium format bags to counter those failures.

BrianShaw · Feb 25, 2024

I carry rubber bands...

Which brand of film? It could be that the tab isn't rolled into the paper exactly in the best way from the factory.

Not normal, but sometimes happens, in my experience.

P1505 · Feb 25, 2024

BrianShaw said:
I carry rubber bands...

Which brand of film? It could be that the tab isn't rolled into the paper exactly in the best way from the factory.

Not normal, but sometimes happens, in my experience.

Kodak. Didn’t happen with Ilford. But all the Kodak does this. And right now I’m loving Gold 200 poorly scanned It is just magical.

P1505 · Feb 25, 2024

ags2mikon said:
I have had that happen more than once. Hasselbalds, Bronicas, Mamiyas you name it it happens now and then. In fact last week the tab broke off completely. I always carry a roll of scotch tape in my medium format bags to counter those failures.

Good idea on the tape. I’ll do that, although the tab isn’t broken off it’s just buried inside

Pieter12 · Feb 25, 2024

I usually have a roll of 1" gaffer's tape handy when out. Small enough to carry around. Overkill for taping a roll of 120 closed, but useful for so many other things like an improvised light seal or keeping something closed, even a quick repair to a rain jacket.

reddesert · Feb 25, 2024

I usually have a couple of rubberbands. Also, I like to carry an opaque metallized-foil bag - not one of those lead foil film bags, just the kind of foil bag that coffee beans and some kinds of food (like dried fruit) are packaged in. When a roll comes out, I wrap it and drop it in the bag, so it isn't seeing light every time the camera bag is opened.

mshchem · Feb 25, 2024

This is normal, though this may be a worse case. As long as you are not in the sun no problem.

Pieter12 · Feb 25, 2024

Once I had the sealing tape on a roll of Ilford 120 come detached from the backing while in the camera. Couldn't find it. It ended up being trapped inside the camera and ruining the next roll.

MattKing · Feb 25, 2024

Just roll it back (in subdued light) until you can fish out the tab, then roll it closed again, and stick the tab in place.
There is enough backing paper after the end of the film to be able to do this.

pentaxuser · Feb 25, 2024

MattKing said:
Just roll it back (in subdued light) until you can fish out the tab, then roll it closed again, and stick the tab in place.
There is enough backing paper after the end of the film to be able to do this.

This looks like the answer the OP needs, namely as you said Matt he should not be in trouble doing what you said when retrieving the tab

pentaxuser

Vaughn · Feb 25, 2024

It has happened to me a few times -- I have not noticed if one brand of film does it more often. Nervous as it makes me, I agree with Matt about unwinding until one can get to the tape. I had the tape of a 120 roll disappear on me in Japan last month -- found it next roll behind the pressure plate (Rolleicord). Hopefully not as bad as Pieter's experience.

The tape system on the original Acros 120 rolls was pretty nice.

darkroommike · Feb 25, 2024

One of the reasons I carry a bit of gaffer tape wherever I go. Not the whole roll just a bit stuck to the side of a 120 film can.

mshchem · Feb 25, 2024

Vaughn said:
It has happened to me a few times -- I have not noticed if one brand of film does it more often. Nervous as it makes me, I agree with Matt about unwinding until one can get to the tape. I had the tape of a 120 roll disappear on me in Japan last month -- found it next roll behind the pressure plate (Rolleicord). Hopefully not as bad as Pieter's experience.

The tape system on the original Acros 120 rolls was pretty nice.

Fuji has a great system for 120. So easy to hook the leader into the spent spool. I had a Fuji 645 that could even read the barcode to set film speed.
The solution that Kodak has to prevent ink transfer makes the tape difficult to stick. So far I've been lucky.

120 film, exposed tab inside roll.

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