120 Film ID Help

[eurekaiv]

I have this exposed roll of 120 film with no markings on it other than FILM 120 EXPOSED and it’s not like any film I’ve shot before. Anyone seen this style/font on their film? I assume it’s B&W but could use some clues on how to process it.

 

[gorbas]

Rewind it in dark to other 120 reel or load film in the developing reel and then check are there any other markings at beginning of the paper?

 

[cmacd123]

looks a bit like some of more recent the "shanghai" 120 film. if Gorbas suggestion does not work, that might be a starting point.

 

[eurekaiv]

I've just been scouring the internet for images of backing paper and I think this might be right. CatLabs or Shanghai both have this sorta black backing paper best I can tell, the look feels "off brand" to me.

Dev times appear to be the same in Rodinal for Catlabs 80 and Shanghai 100 also. I think this is enough info to take a stab at it.

 

[BrianShaw]

It’s been a long time since I used it, so my recollection of details is hazy… Bergger used backing paper like that.

 

[eurekaiv]

I'll never know for sure but I saved the paper after loading it into a tank and it looked exactly like the stuff below, with that same 4 with the curved angle. So I think it was CatLABS. There was also no brand/iso marking at the beginning of the roll or on the foil packaging, which is all I had of it. The base was also rather thin and very very curly, if that's any indication. Films like this make me quite grateful for Ilford products.

I processed per the CatLABS Massive Dev Chart time for Rodinal and the 10' at 1-25 is what I would consider overcooked so it's still a bit of a mystery. I can safely say it was not Bergger Pancro however, as the grain is very fine compared to that film.

 

[gorbas]

After using Rodinal for 40 years I'm using 1:25 just to process only near "graphic" black and white ultra high contrast films. 1:25 is like washing champagne glasses with rough sandpaper and sledgehammer. Of course, if you like it, no worry, keep doing it!
If you have unknown film to process: Rodinal 1:100, 20C, regular one minute agitation for 15-20min. You will get usable results

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have had that problem. The film type is only on the beginning of some rolls, so I have had to load the film in the tank or rewind the roll in the dark to find out what it is.

 

[eurekaiv]

If you have unknown film to process: Rodinal 1:100, 20C, regular one minute agitation for 15-20min. You will get usable results

I've used Rodinal off and on over the years and always remembered liking 1:25 more than the other dilutions but maybe I just got it backwards. Anyway, I shall heed this advice in the future. While some of the photos are pretty cool (IMO of course), overall it does look like they were developed with a sledghammer.

 

[AnselMortensen]

That looks like Shanghai GP3 to me.
I have some in 220 ...the paper and the font on the seal are identical.
BTW, I use Rodinal as my developer of choice.
It is highly economical as a one-shot developer, and easy to mix/versatile in varied dilutions.
I don't mind grain, as long as it is SHARP grain.
But then again, I consider 120/220 film "small format".

 

[Sirius Glass]

Rollei also uses black paper and some films do or did not have film type marked on the exposed end.

 

[Tel]

That looks like Shanghai GP3 to me.

Yes, I remember I had a batch of GP3 (the first and last I ever used) with their backing-paper print-through problem. I recall that font very clearly.