Dear Kodak and Ilford Use the Fuji EZ Load system on 120

mshchem · Mar 24, 2018

I'm 61, I get so ticked off using Kodak 120. First to start I can't easily remove the paper band. I sometimes resort to taking a small knife to cut the band, Ilford is pretty much the same, maybe a little better.

Then there's Fujifilm, wonderful. Fuji leaves a small tab on the paper band, you pull on it the band peels off nicely, no little pieces of paper floating around. Next you simply insert the tab of the backing paper into an empty Fujifilm take up spool, the hole in the paper leader engages the little plastic tab in the spool, slick as a whistle.

Now I'm not going to stop using Kodak and Ilford film. But I loaded a roll of Acros tonight into one of my Fuji rangefinders, man that was slick.
I'm not saying Kodak and Ilford need to put bar codes on to set the film speed, just use the spool and backing paper design.

I can't believe that patents would be an issue at this stage of the game.

MHO Mike

MattKing · Mar 24, 2018

For me, I load the film roll with band intact into the camera. I then use my fingernail to cut the band slightly near the fold in the backing paper, and then I peel the break in the band right across until the break is complete. Both halves of the now broken band pull off easily.

lantau · Mar 24, 2018

Have you come to the end of the roll, yet? It'll get even better! Foma, at least, has a self adhesive band at the end. Not as as well thought out as Fuji but not bad.

RattyMouse · Mar 24, 2018

mshchem said:
I'm 61, I get so ticked off using Kodak 120. First to start I can't easily remove the paper band. I sometimes resort to taking a small knife to cut the band, Ilford is pretty much the same, maybe a little better.

Then there's Fujifilm, wonderful. Fuji leaves a small tab on the paper band, you pull on it the band peels off nicely, no little pieces of paper floating around. Next you simply insert the tab of the backing paper into an empty Fujifilm take up spool, the hole in the paper leader engages the little plastic tab in the spool, slick as a whistle.

Now I'm not going to stop using Kodak and Ilford film. But I loaded a roll of Acros tonight into one of my Fuji rangefinders, man that was slick.
I'm not saying Kodak and Ilford need to put bar codes on to set the film speed, just use the spool and backing paper design.

I can't believe that patents would be an issue at this stage of the game.

MHO Mike

I adore Fuji's 120 sticker to close up the rolls. It's phenomenally simple and brilliantly thought out. Like you I have great difficulty opening up a roll of Kodak 120 film. At least 80% of the time or more I end up ripping the paper of the roll film, it's so hard and difficult. Having the paper ripped badly makes loading it even harder onto the take up reel. Worse, several times when closing a shot roll, the adhesive tab fails by coming off completely! This happened so many times that I took to carrying small rubber bands in my bag to be ready when the adhesive tab fails. I do NOT pull hard on them when sealing a roll. In fact, because this happened so many times I go out of my way to be ultra gentle. Two times I had to search for rubber bands in non english speaking countries because I was unprepared for this type of failure. That was a lot of fun.

Ed Sawyer · Mar 24, 2018

I am just happy to have kodak in 120 so I will put up with those issues, I guess.

mshchem · Mar 24, 2018

MattKing said:
For me, I load the film roll with band intact into the camera. I then use my fingernail to cut the band slightly near the fold in the backing paper, and then I peel the break in the band right across until the break is complete. Both halves of the now broken band pull off easily.

I will try this. I think it's fumble fingers on my part. I have tried using my finger nail without success. I love Kodak Portra 160 and 400. Best color negative film I've ever used. Tmax 400 is my standard 120 film.
The Fujifilm system is so simple and elegant .

PittP · Mar 24, 2018

RattyMouse said:
I adore Fuji's 120 sticker to close up the rolls. It's phenomenally simple and brilliantly thought out. Like you I have great difficulty opening up a roll of Kodak 120 film. At least 80% of the time or more I end up ripping the paper of the roll film, it's so hard and difficult. Having the paper ripped badly makes loading it even harder onto the take up reel. Worse, several times when closing a shot roll, the adhesive tab fails by coming off completely! ...

TOTALLY AGREE!!
And with short, thick nails ... well, as RattyMouse, more often than not I just have to "rough it" hoping the film doesn't get damaged.
While it was always bad, it got worse with Kodak's backing paper leaving marks on the film. You certainly remember.
Not funny. We deal with it as long as the films are good enough to warrant the hassle.

mshchem · Mar 24, 2018

PittP said:
TOTALLY AGREE!!
And with short, thick nails ... well, as RattyMouse, more often than not I just have to "rough it" hoping the film doesn't get damaged.
While it was always bad, it got worse with Kodak's backing paper leaving marks on the film. You certainly remember.
Not funny. We deal with it as long as the films are good enough to warrant the hassle.

You would think that the company that blew the world away with Instamatics, drop in Kodapak film cartridges and flashcubes would love this idea .

Sirius Glass · Mar 24, 2018

I like a challenge so I use my fingernail to break the seal on 120 film.

mshchem · Mar 24, 2018

Sirius Glass said:
I like a challenge so I use my fingernail to break the seal on 120 film.

You Hasselblad/Zeiss lens guys probably get a manicure once a week. I got nothing fingernail wise. Maybe I should get a carbon fiber implant on my right hand pinky fingernail. I'm going to file a Americans with Disabilities Act suit! If they can make buses that kneel, Kodak can, by God make labels that peel. It's just as bad in the darkroom, shabby, just down right embarrassing.
I think it's a cultural thing, Fuji does it out of a sense of obligation to their customers, Kodak still has the not invented here, can't be any good mindset. If it was good enough for George Eastman, it's good enough for today!
I can't type any longer, I need to apply creme to my dry chapped hands
Mike

Sirius Glass · Mar 24, 2018

mshchem said:
You Hasselblad/Zeiss lens guys probably get a manicure once a week. I got nothing fingernail wise. Maybe I should get a carbon fiber implant on my right hand pinky fingernail. I'm going to file a Americans with Disabilities Act suit! If they can make buses that kneel, Kodak can, by God make labels that peel. It's just as bad in the darkroom, shabby, just down right embarrassing.
I think it's a cultural thing, Fuji does it out of a sense of obligation to their customers, Kodak still has the not invented here, can't be any good mindset. If it was good enough for George Eastman, it's good enough for today!
I can't type any longer, I need to apply creme to my dry chapped hands
Mike

I fail to see your need for a change.

E. von Hoegh · Mar 25, 2018

mshchem said:
I will try this. I think it's fumble fingers on my part. I have tried using my finger nail without success. I love Kodak Portra 160 and 400. Best color negative film I've ever used. Tmax 400 is my standard 120 film.
The Fujifilm system is so simple and elegant .

You could sharpen one nail for just this purpose.
Or, carry a Ralph Bone Bowie, like I do. You won't be kibitzed while changing rolls

mshchem · Mar 25, 2018

I will just keep on doing what I have for the last few years. Keep my little Gerber LST knife handy. I can't get by without a pocket knife. Clearly there's the I love Fuji camp, and the pro-fingernail camp. That's Life!
Mike

E. von Hoegh · Mar 25, 2018

I'm in the "I love T-max" camp.

RattyMouse · Mar 25, 2018

Sirius Glass said:
I fail to see your need for a change.

Said many Rochester executives.

RattyMouse · Mar 25, 2018

mshchem said:
You Hasselblad/Zeiss lens guys probably get a manicure once a week. I got nothing fingernail wise. Maybe I should get a carbon fiber implant on my right hand pinky fingernail. I'm going to file a Americans with Disabilities Act suit! If they can make buses that kneel, Kodak can, by God make labels that peel. It's just as bad in the darkroom, shabby, just down right embarrassing.
I think it's a cultural thing, Fuji does it out of a sense of obligation to their customers, Kodak still has the not invented here, can't be any good mindset. If it was good enough for George Eastman, it's good enough for today!
I can't type any longer, I need to apply creme to my dry chapped hands
Mike

Well said.

RattyMouse · Mar 25, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
You could sharpen one nail for just this purpose.
Or, carry a Ralph Bone Bowie, like I do. You won't be kibitzed while changing rolls

No need. I just switched film brands.

mshchem · Mar 25, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
I'm in the "I love T-max" camp.

Oh me too . TMY and Xtol, amazing combination. I'm a dedicated Portra man too. I will say I've been a convert to Fujichrome since Provia-F came along. I recently fell into a horde of fresh Acros 120. Loading a camera reminded me how easy it is with the Fuji spools.
I'm not walking away from Kodak or Ilford. I'm very fond of Ilford's long standing commitment to black and white films and paper.
I recently found a really nice Fuji G617, I'm looking forward to slapping on a red 25A this summer. That beast will eat up my Acros
Mike

guangong · Mar 25, 2018

As a Zeiss & Hasselblad guy ( and, heavens!, Leica and Nikon too ) who saw 61 summers pass long ago, I really don’t understand the OP’s complaining about a little piece of paper. If unable to tear a little paper band with finger use a pocket knife. I have been carrying a pocket knife since at least 4th grade. Our clodhoppers were equipped with a little pocket for a knife so boys would always have a knife at hand.

E. von Hoegh · Mar 25, 2018

RattyMouse said:
No need. I just switched film brands.

Unfortunately, as nice as the Fuji arrangement is, they do not make T-max.

mshchem · Mar 25, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
Unfortunately, as nice as the Fuji arrangement is, they do not make T-max.

And since 60% of what I shoot is TMY 2. I will adapt. I do like Fuji's arrangement, but not enough to give up my Tmax and Portra. Maybe this is some sort of cosmic nudge to tell me to start shooting more sheet film .
Best Mike

Sirius Glass · Mar 25, 2018

mshchem said:
I will try this. I think it's fumble fingers on my part. I have tried using my finger nail without success. I love Kodak Portra 160 and 400. Best color negative film I've ever used. Tmax 400 is my standard 120 film.
The Fujifilm system is so simple and elegant .

Send your address to me and I will ship to you a nail clipper so that you can use its file to snap the flimsy paper strap. Your problem just makes me want to cry!

mshchem · Mar 25, 2018

guangong said:
As a Zeiss & Hasselblad guy ( and, heavens!, Leica and Nikon too ) who saw 61 summers pass long ago, I really don’t understand the OP’s complaining about a little piece of paper. If unable to tear a little paper band with finger use a pocket knife. I have been carrying a pocket knife since at least 4th grade. Our clodhoppers were equipped with a little pocket for a knife so boys would always have a knife at hand.

I'm not complaining , it's just seems that Kodak could do better . I had Hasselblad, loved it. Now I have 4 Bronica SQ-AI bodies with motors, prisms, every lens, TTL flash etc. Fuji 690s, 617, 645, I use the GW690III AND GSW690III a lot. The only Zeiss lens I have left is a really nice Cosina made 35mm ZM for my M6ttl 0.85.

mshchem · Mar 25, 2018

Sirius Glass said:
Send your address to me and I will ship to you a nail clipper so that you can use its file to snap the flimsy paper strap. Your problem just makes me want to cry!

I got it covered, I briefly tried using a paper punch to put a hole in the leader . . This is all part of the analog experience, right? I should embrace the suffering! Forget everything I've said!

RattyMouse · Mar 25, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
Unfortunately, as nice as the Fuji arrangement is, they do not make T-max.

No, they don't. I used TMAX400 for 6 years shooting hundreds of rolls. The horrific paper issue burned me so many times that I dropped TMAX completely. I bought 75 rolls of expired Neopan 400. At my current rate, that will last me quite a long time. I'll move on to Delta 400 next once I need more film.

Dear Kodak and Ilford Use the Fuji EZ Load system on 120

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency