127 users

2F/2F · Oct 28, 2008

Where do you get your films? What films have you been able to find? (I found a small selection at Freestyle, but has anyone found anything else?) What reels/tanks are you using to process your film? Is the plastic Paterson or something like it the only option?

I searched forums for 127 and 127 format, but surprisingly had not one hit.

Konical · Oct 28, 2008

Good Morning, 2F/2F,

I have a couple of 127 SS Kinderman reels; they work just the same as 120 reels. I don't know if they are still being made, but they should pop up on e-Bay occasionally.

Konical

delphine · Oct 28, 2008

Hi,

I was looking into 127 format myself and I found the following places for supplies, although respooling 120 is possible too.

Maco film:
http://macodirect.de/filme-maco-c-1_6_119.html

Efke film:
Dead Link Removed

Reel to fit Paterson & Jobo processing tanks:
Dead Link Removed

I hope that helps,

Regards

Delphine

bdial · Oct 28, 2008

I think Freestyle has the same 127 films that anyone else in the U.S. has. My local C-41 lab/camera store assured me that their machine can take it, at least for processing. For B&W I've planned to use my Jobo adjustable reel which has 127 size spacing. Stainless 127 reels show up on ebay occasionally.

2F/2F · Nov 8, 2008

Thank you. Good to know that there were SS reels made.

BradS · Nov 9, 2008

I shoot the Efke R-100 from Freestyle and process in the Paterson Super System 4...or whatever it is called. The Efke r-100 is a pretty nice film. Like D-76 and lots of exposure. I try to rate it at EI-50 or so....it's all kinda a swag because my camera has two shutter speeds settings (Color and B&W) and two aperture settings (Sunny, and kinda not sunny).

!!!WARNING!!! This stuff is a real BITCH to get started on the reel. It is wound so very tight. Prepare yourself to be very frustrated the first couple oftimes.

see also: http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk/

boyooso · Nov 9, 2008

no disrespect, but, why would you shoot 127?

I'm curious.

Corey

...maybe I'm remembering 126, what is the difference? thanks

oldlugs · Nov 9, 2008

It's a roll film that my "Baby" Rollei uses... Not the same as 126.

2F/2F · Nov 9, 2008

boyooso said:
no disrespect, but, why would you shoot 127?

I'm curious.

Corey

...maybe I'm remembering 126, what is the difference? thanks

127 fits certain point and shoots that are pretty fun and dirt cheap (like my Brownie Starflex), and also a couple of nicer cameras, like Rollei and Yashica TLRs. It's not Instamatic cartridge film like 126, although the film stock may be exactly the same size.

bdial · Nov 9, 2008

126 is the same width as 35mm, but only has sprocket holes on one side, 127 is wider.

railwayman3 · Nov 9, 2008

oldlugs said:
It's a roll film that my "Baby" Rollei uses... Not the same as 126.

Actually, 127 was quite a neat size, rather like a smaller version of 120. You could have 12 transparencies 4cm x 4cm on a reversal film, which could then be mounted in standard 2x2 mounts for projection (so-called "Super-slides", I believe?).

fschifano · Nov 10, 2008

railwayman3 said:
Actually, 127 was quite a neat size, rather like a smaller version of 120. You could have 12 transparencies 4cm x 4cm on a reversal film, which could then be mounted in standard 2x2 mounts for projection (so-called "Super-slides", I believe?).

That's exactly right. One of the nicest ways to put the 127 square format to use was for "super slides." Many years ago, the format was popular for low end snapshot cameras with characteristics similar to today's "disposable" cameras that come pre-loaded with film. Some cameras made 8 exposures in a rectangular format.

John Shriver · Nov 11, 2008

Full-frame 127 is really quite impressive, at 40 x 65mm. That's what the original Vest Pocket Kodaks shot. Get one with a focusing lens, and be impressed!

Nikor Products definitely made SS reels for 127 size. Used ones are out there, just keep your eyes open. Any of the cheap adjustable reels will do 127 size (46mm), and probably 116 size (70mm) as well. That's what I used for 127 and 116/616 until I found the right Nikor reels. (The only Nikor reel sizes that are really hard to find are 118 and 122.)

That you can still buy Portra 160NC in 46mm, in 100' rolls, means that there's some very fine color film available in 127 size.

michaelbsc · Nov 12, 2008

boyooso said:
... why would you shoot 127?

I'm curious.

For me there's a bit of nostalgia involved. My first camera was a 127, an old promotional Kodak Brownie marketed in conjunction with Nestle's Quick back when Moby Dick was still a guppy. And some years later my first developing and printing in the darkroom were all done with that same camera. So for me at least, 127 is in my veins.

All that is aside from the fact that I've got three excellent very handy and unobtrusive little TLRs that take 127, a baby Rollei, a Yashica-44, and a Sawyer (rebadged Topcon). All of them blow away my childhood 45 year old Brownie and it's fixed focus-shutter-aperture plastic lens for image quality, but I still keep the Brownie around anyway. Some people keep their teddy bear; I kept my camera.

MB

Alexander Ghaffari · Nov 12, 2008

Some people take 46mm bulk film and roll their own with spare backing paper and spools. Actually, I have a 46mm bulk roll just sitting in my freezer...I'd spools some 127 rolls if I had the paper and spools.

T Hoskinson · Nov 12, 2008

bdial said:
I think Freestyle has the same 127 films that anyone else in the U.S. has. My local C-41 lab/camera store assured me that their machine can take it, at least for processing. For B&W I've planned to use my Jobo adjustable reel which has 127 size spacing. Stainless 127 reels show up on ebay occasionally.

I mostly use EFKE 100 (from Freestyle) in my Baby Rollei.

I save the 127 spools and backing paper when I develop (on a SS reel).

I have two 30.5 meter long rolls of 46mm Agfa Portrait XPS 160 color neg film in my freezer (C 41 process). I occasionally respool some of it onto my 127 spools. Works fine.

JonPorter · Nov 12, 2008

Super slides are 120 film that's been cut to fit in 2x2 slide mounts with the 4x4cm aperture. Hasselblad had a super slide back at one time and Mamiya and others made a film cutter that would make a precise square cut to fit the mounts. I tried this a few times with slide film from my 645 but found it easier just to shoot 35mm if I wanted slides.

sionnac · Nov 12, 2008

I have a Falcon Miniature Deluxe (and it isn't deluxe at all that I use with Efke 127 R100. Freestyle Photographic Supplies is having a sale right now in 127 Efke IR820 infrared film ($4.99 ea). They also have Efke R100 in 127.

markw · Nov 12, 2008

try Frugal Photographer

Look for the Frugal Photographer in Alberta Canada. He sells colour 127 film under his own brand. A good guy to deal with...very pleasant.

I've not used that film though.

I use Macophot 127 in my VP Exaktas...gorgeous 6.5x4 cm negatives exposed with Zeiss Jena Tessar lens.

michaelbsc · Nov 13, 2008

markw said:
Look for the Frugal Photographer in Alberta Canada. He sells colour 127 film under his own brand. A good guy to deal with...very pleasant.

I've not used that film though.

I use Macophot 127 in my VP Exaktas...gorgeous 6.5x4 cm negatives exposed with Zeiss Jena Tessar lens.

I think someone confirmed that the Frugal Photographer 127 is respooled Porta 160 46mm. That's not shabby film coming from someone's basement. That's top shelf stuff, and they've already done the grunt work of getting it onto spools with backing paper for you.

What I can't figure out is where they get the spools and backing paper. Obviously if these guys and EFKE can buy them, they must be manufactured somewhere. I know that they don't come from little elves leaving a basket full in front of the door at night.

MB

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