127 film availablity

Christopher Walrath

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Does anyone sell black and white 127 roll film and processing reels for it anymore?
 

thebanana

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Patterson (plastic) reels adjust to take 127 film. I think the Patterson tanks also give the correct volume of developer/fix /etc. for 127 on the bottom as well.
 
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Christopher Walrath

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Yeah, saw one on Freestyle as well. Had a cart there already for some Arista.edu ISO 100 4x5 sheets, a changing bag and a cable. Just added 10 rolls of 127 and the tank to it.
 

srs5694

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FWIW, I've got a Russian film developing tank, like this one on eBay. It's unusual in that it doesn't have "reels" per se -- it's got grooved disks that fit onto a central rod and are spaced by plastic rings. By cutting custom rings to size (I'm sure you could find suitable material in a hardware store), you could make this design work with any size film you like, down to the limits of no spacers (which is good for 16mm film) or the top capacity of the tank (60mm definitely works, and simple math says that 70mm should be possible, but I've not tried that). I'm sure an investment of a few cents in a custom spacer would make the tank work for 127 film. Actually, you might need two spacers: One for between the reels and one to put on top, to give the tightening nut something to tighten. FWIW, I prefer this tank for my medium format developing -- I find it's easier to load than my AP or Paterson plastic reels or my cheap stainless steel reels. I prefer my stainless steel tank with Hewes reels for 35mm, though. Maybe if I were to invest in better MF stainless steel reels I'd prefer it for MF, but for the moment the Russian tank is what I use for MF.
 

Brac

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There is a Spanish made developing tank called AP that has reels which can be adjusted for 127. The reels are available separately and I've found them easier to load than the Paterson. These products are sometimes rebadged, eg I've seen them sold in the UK as "Regent".

These people stock a ISO 160 speed 127 colour neg film: http://www.frugalphotographer.com/index.htm
 

srs5694

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I've got an AP tank and reels, as well as one Paterson reel. The Paterson reel works in my AP tank. I suspect (but don't know for sure) that AP reels would work in a Paterson tank. Thus, if you've got a Paterson tank and reels that don't do 127 format, you could try an AP reel without buying an AP tank. (That said, I've not checked any of those reels for 127 compatibility, so I can't verify Brac's claim that the AP reels support 127 and I don't know whether or not the Paterson reels support 127.)
 

MattKing

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AP reels do work in Paterson tanks (in fact, that's how I use them).

I'll check when I get home tonight to see if they adjust to 127 width.

Matt
 

elekm

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A bad axis? Would that be an axis of evil

I think that I might have mentioned this, but GAF used to make a plastic developing tank with a reel that can take 35mm 127 and 120. These turn up on eBay often enough and can be had for less than $10. Or at least I wouldn't pay more than that for one.

You'll need an old toothbrush to twist the reel, if the agitator/thermometer is missing.
 
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