How many 120 rolls would you carry?

[Palantiri7]

I couldn't imagine processing 40-50 rolls myself. Most of the film will be slide film and I am now seriously looking at a 220 back for the Rollei which I will probably source from eBay.

 

[jeroldharter]

220 is great for traveling if available. Chile is a beautiful country and very photogenic. I would not try to buy film there. Even if available, it will be expensive. I would be pretty trigger happy for a month in Chile. Hard to imagine not averaging at least 2 rolls of 120 per day which would be 60 rolls plus another 15 just to be sure. That is 75, or 15 Pro-Packs. That is pretty bulky but 8 x 220 Pro-Packs would be much more manageable. Too bad that 220 is going obsolete.

Several years ago, in my 35 mm days, I spent 6 months wandering around South America with a bushel of film and a large Pelican/Tundra type case. although heavy, I never regretted having the case with a separate bag for day-to-day use. I assume you will be covering some ground in a month so you could see all sorts of weather/climate in a country like Chile so the indestructible and dustproof case is worth considering. Might be a good place to keep your film if it would fit.

You have probably already agonized about 4x5 gear. If you are doing static, landscape work, consider taking a lightweight 4x5 and a couple of lenses. If you don't use Readiloads, the sheet film will take up less space than the roll film. A Canham with a 135 mm, 210 mm, +/- a 300 mm Nikkor M will probably weigh less than the medium format gear. 3-4 boxes of 50-sheet film should suffice along with one spare box. With a carbon fiber tripod and an Acratech ballhead you would be reasonably portable. I put my camera gear in a Pelican case with rollers that fits in overhead and I can also check it with no damage. I use a TSA lock also. I check one bag for clothes and stick my tripod in that luggage along with a changing bag. Then I wear a photobackpack temporarily filled with misc stuff until I get to my destination. That way, I can work out of a car with the Pelican case, or switch everything to the backpack for walking. Just some thoughts. Have a great trip.

 

[Palantiri7]

Jerold!!!!! Stop sticking large format back in my head!!!! Argh! Now you've done it. 8-(

But seriously, yes, you are right about the 4x5 kit being lighter, although less weight may not make up for some of the inconveniences of LF. I'm not as gung-ho as I used to be about photography, so I think the 4x5/8x10 will sit this one out.

 

[Tom Stanworth]

100 rolls of 120 is a pretty significant amount of film to carry and process. Does your camera shoot 220, and is there a film you like that comes that way? I've occasionally come back from a trip with around 40-50 rolls of 120, and it's a bit of a slog, even with my largest tank, which holds 6 MF reels. Even if it means having to buy another back, I think it would be worth it to cut your film processing time in half.

The big paterson tanks hold 5 x 120 reels and if you double up (which is easy with most films, but for some reason jams with Neopan 400 on my paterson reels) you get 10 rolls per tank. I agree 220 would be great for space saving - shame so little is available.

Carry on regs are so tight now, getting your cameras on plus film is the challenge....

 

[2F/2F]

However many pix you think you would take with your 8x10, multiply that by 12. One roll of film per each sheet of 8x10 that you would normally shoot. A bit silly to do it so mathematically, but it would probably work just fine for you, if you really are used to making your shots "count".

I second the suggestion of Valparaiso/Vina del Mar. The ascensores are amazing.

 

[Schlapp]

Don't forget to visit Chez Henry restaurant. They [used to] do the best peach melba anywhere.

 

[mrtoml]

I am also going to Chile in December for 3 weeks. I have been having the same problem as to what to take/what to buy there. I am going for a combination I think. I will take some 120 with me (I am shooting 6x7) and plan to buy at the store Ian suggested. The rolls I take will tide me over if there are any delays in getting film. My wife is Chilean and I am staying with her relatives in Santiago so I think it might be easier for me to navigate camera stores and so on when I am there with a native Spanish speaker. I am also going to develop some of the film while I am there. If I can get XP2 I might let a lab do some of the work.

I would also recommend Valparaiso at least for a day trip if not longer.

 

[Ian Grant]

Photonew do stock XP2 in 120, and they can process it. You could also pre-order in advance so it's ready waiting for you, I didn't think the prices were too bad either.

Ian

 

[Windscale]

I only shoot negative films on holidays. I normally carry a standard and a wide (both 6x6) and would allow for 4 rolls a day (3x160 + 1x400). I have never run out of film before.

 

[mrtoml]

Don't use Photonew

I just got back from my trip to Chile and had a horrendous time with buying and processing film with Photonew in Santiago.

1st off they are quite abrasive and rude and a lot of the 120 film they have on the shelves is out of date. They can get film within 24 hours, but it is expensive and they would only accept cash from me.

2nd they claim to be a professional lab, but they managed to screw up all my 120 XP2 film. I have started a thread about it here:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

They were completely unapologetic and claimed at first that it was my camera that was the problem. They eventually offered me one roll of 120 film in compensation, but all the XP2 they had was out of date. It transpired that it was not the camera as they showed me another roll that had just come off the machine from another client and I pointed out that (on closer inspection) it had the same issues as mine. They hadn't even noticed.

 

[Ian Grant]

Sounds like they have a few problems, and issues.

When I used them in November 2007 they were very helpful, all the film I bought (Ilford and Fuji) was fresh & well in date and I cleared their shelves of all 120 B&W except XP-2 but that was also in date. Exchange rates have changed very significantly in a year film wasn't expensive there then.

I've had similar problems with outdated film here in Turkey, in the third largest city - Izmir. All the B&W 120 film was out of date except the 4 rolls of Acros, the HP5 expired in 2002, some of the Fomapan last September.

The Importers & Dealers really need to get their act together to distribute film, there are film users but they don't try to help them so lose out on sales. Both in Chile & Turkey many photographers buy film via the internet from the US & Europe.

Ian

 

[Palantiri7]

That's terrible, Mark. I am sorry that this happened. Amazing a lab can screw up XP2!! I use a 3rd world lab situated on a country track, and they process 120 XP2 perfectly.

 

[mrtoml]

Hi Ian.

They had no problem getting film for the next day so long as you paid cash. This film was well in date, but they did not get all the film I asked for (it was a few rolls short, but not the end of the world). It was their processing and general attitude to their customers that was the main problem. After finally admitting that they were at fault with the processing of the film they said 'well that's just business' and pointed to a clause on their terms and conditions that only one roll of film could be offered in compensation per batch processed.

They strongly advertise themselves as an Ilford stockist and dealer (they have big Ilford signs posted everywhere in the lab), but they will be doing Ilford no favours in Chile.

Mark

 

[mrtoml]

That's terrible, Mark. I am sorry that this happened. Amazing a lab can screw up XP2!! I use a 3rd world lab situated on a country track, and they process 120 XP2 perfectly.

Glad to hear you didn't have the same problems as me! Hope you enjoyed the trip.

Best, Mark.

 

[Jersey Vic]

A hundred is a good start.

 

[keithwms]

A month?! In a really interesting place?! I don't even want to think about how many rolls I'd want to take :rolleyes: How 'bout a bulk loader.

 

[Chazzy]

Take 220 instead of 120 and double the number of rolls you can carry in the same space.

 

[scottmj]

Sounds like a nice trip Rory. I normally plan my travel with an average of 12 rolls of 120 a shooting day if the trip is with my RZ. (I do alot of in camera dupes). Then plan on whether I will be dedicating the trip to B/W or color. Then I will choose what speeds, my normal is 50/400/3200. It really all depends on what your objectives are with your trip and what you intend on doing with the images later. Have a great time and the best of shooting to you.

scott

 

[Paul Jenkin]

Hiya folks,

I'm in the process of planning a month-long trip to Chile. I haven't decided on which part of the country to concentrate on yet, though. Anyway, I will be using my Rollei MF system for this trip and I am a bit stumped as to how many rolls of 120 film to carry. I usually use an 8x10 camera so, thus, I have been sort of conditioned in making each picture count. I plan to, if possible, buy all my film before I set off. I was curious as to how many rolls of 120 film you would take on this trip, or a similar trip. Thank you all!

Depends on whether you're a 'sniper' or a 'machine gunner'. If you're used to large format, why change your shooting habits? Why not take a 'point and shoot' as an 'insurance policy' for any off the cuff moments?

Sounds like a great trip, so I hope you enjoy it and get all the shots you'd wish for.

PJ.