How many film backs do you have?

[GLS]

I have two A12N backs for my Hassy. I have occasionally mused about buying a third, but doubt it would see much use, and my every day shoulder bag is already full to bursting when loaded with the current Hassy gear.

 

[pressureworld]

For the Hasselblad I own two. I'm on the fence about picking up another.

 

[guangong]

After one of the two Hassy 12 backs, survivors from my long ago dead 1000F, finally broke about 5 yrs ago (Later used on 2000 FCM and 500C...how’s that for longevity?), replaced with two A12 backs and two 645 backs. Still keep remaining working original 12 back as backup. Amazing how many decades this equipment cam continue working flawlessly roll after roll.
While not a bang, bang, bang shooter with 35 mm, I find that I am much more conservative with MF, mo matter which MF camera I use.

 

[Ariston]

I have two for my RB, but have never used more than one. On a similar notion, I have a hard time getting throuh 36 frames on a 35mm roll.

I have six 4x5 holders, but I don't really need that many. Four were bought in a pack.

 

[MattKing]

I have lots of them, plus some extra inserts as well.
I use the multiple backs for my Mamiya 645 more than I do for my Mamiya RB67 - just finished a couple of outings where I switched back and forth between Ektachrome and TMY-2 - but I do use both 6x7 and 6x4.5 backs for the RB67, because I prefer slides that can be projected in my maximum 6x6 slide projector.
I probably benefited more from having multiple 6x7 backs when I still had Plus-X in 120, because the difference between Plus-X and TMY-2 is much more pronounced than the difference between TMX and TMY-2.
And I hold on to my 220 backs and inserts in faint hope, and because I still have a couple of refrigerated 220 Portra rolls that I need to make use of.

 

[Arklatexian]

I recently raided the stock of a company that thought A24 Hasselblad backs were essentially useless now so I am now in the somewhat enviable position of having 7 film backs. I've never had more than two before! And honestly, I've been more than happy on cameras without changeable backs. I'm not a wedding photographer so the main use for me would be changing speeds or from B&W to color. On a given expedition, I don't think there's room for more than one or two extra in my camera bag. So I'm wondering, to those who are frequent users of film backs: how many do you have?

Only 2 Hasselblad backs to use on my 1 body. If I had more money than I knew what to do with it, I might be tempted to buy another. Until then, these two are enough. Also have an M3 and an M2 Leica bodies in case I need two 35mm "backs"......Regards!

 

[LeftCoastKid]

Six A12s, loaded with either E100G, PanF+,TMax100, or Tri-X/HP5+, depending upon what I happen to be shooting at the moment.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

For the Hasselblad:

1. Portra 400
2. Portra 800
3. UltraColor
4. Tri-X 400
5. Delta 3200
6. Rollei Infrared 400

For the 4"x5": six Grafmatics, and over a dozen film holders.

must be nice to be rich.

 

[GLS]

must be nice to be rich.

Depends if they're nice ones or old beaters. The latter can be had for about €100.

 

[Sirius Glass]

must be nice to be rich.

Depends if they're nice ones or old beaters. The latter can be had for about €100.

And CLA'd for $50US

 

[Theo Sulphate]

must be nice to be rich.

Thanks to digital photography, old film equipment is inexpensive today. I bought a never-used 4x5 Grafmatic and never-used 4x5 film holder not long ago for about $100. See pics here :

what waS your last photography related purchase?

 

[benveniste]

No backs, but I have 2 120mm, 1 220mm, and 1 70mm insert for my Pentax 645n.

 

[waffles]

I recently raided the stock of a company that thought A24 Hasselblad backs were essentially useless.

I thought that too. Aren’t the A24 backs essentially paperweights? Or is there an adapter out there that lets you use 120 film in them?

 

[Sirius Glass]

I thought that too. Aren’t the A24 backs essentially paperweights? Or is there an adapter out there that lets you use 120 film in them?

Doorstops, paper weights, wheel chocks, and weights for pressing flowers.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Haha you guys are funny. You can load 120 film in them if you line up the arrows about 45 degrees counter clockwise from the red dot. Don't believe me? Burn a roll of film and load it like I say and mark each frame with a sharpie through the front of the camera with no lens on it. You will see you get 12 frames, spaced unevenly. If you are really lazy you can line up the arrows with the dot and it will get a guaranteed 11 frames.

The backing plate works just fine too, by the way.

But don't tell anyone. I like getting mint condition A24s for $20...

 

[Sirius Glass]

Haha you guys are funny. You can load 120 film in them if you line up the arrows about 45 degrees counter clockwise from the red dot. Don't believe me? Burn a roll of film and load it like I say and mark each frame with a sharpie through the front of the camera with no lens on it. You will see you get 12 frames, spaced unevenly. If you are really lazy you can line up the arrows with the dot and it will get a guaranteed 11 frames.

The backing plate works just fine too, by the way.

But don't tell anyone. I like getting mint condition A24s for $20...

What you said makes not sense about 45° counter clockwise. Maybe you are referring to a particular camera model?

My Hasselblad film backs are evenly spaced. You need to get your backs cleaned and adjusted.

The A24 backs will only get eleven frames on a 120 roll, so with the A24 backs film is a wasting.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Anyone have or use an A70 back? If so, which film?

 

[Grim Tuesday]

https://mraggett.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/120-film-in-hasselblad-220-magazine/


Here is a nice illustration of how to do it. I do not need to get my backs adjusted. My C12s are evenly spaced. My A24s would be evenly spaced... If I was using 220 film in them. But I'm not, I'm using 120 film. They are predictably unevenly spaced -- the spacing is not accurate but it is precise. They do not overlap, it just changes throughout the roll. The reason it changes is that the gearing was designed for the circumference of a roll of 220 film, but the 120 adds backing paper so it is thicker and a turn of the gear a given amount draws in more film.

As I said, you are welcome to try it yourself. I guarantee that it will work... If it doesn't I'll send you a free roll of film.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Anyone have or use an A70 back? If so, which film?

And there is the rub. I did not buy the A70 back because I could not find properly perforated film for it nor reels and tanks. I gave the idea up years ago.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Hmm. Roll holders.

For a 4x5 camera, 6x9 (2 1/4 x 3 1/4) Super Rollex, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Adapt-A-Roll 620, 6x12 Sinar Panorama (fixed format, not zoom).

For 2x3ers, 5 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 AAR 620, 4 Graflex 2x3 (various vintages, of which 1 is a Graflex/Subsea), 1 Graflex RH-12, and two odds and ends that don't work at all and never will.

 

[waffles]

But don't tell anyone. I like getting mint condition A24s for $20...

Houston Camera Exchange has one for $25 if you're looking for another. I think I'm going to stick with E12's for now

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I used to have 5 for my Bronica S2A, and I would use them for different film types such as B&W and color, fast and slow, or for zone system controls (-1, 0, +1, etc.). I sold off that system.

Now I have 3 backs for my 2x3” Linhof Tech V, but they are bulky, so I tend not to carry more than one, if I’m shooting rollfilm. If I want zone system control with that camera, I use 2x3” sheet film. Sometimes I’ve been traveling with that system with B&W in one back and color in another, but even for that now, I’m more likely to use color in one rollfilm back and 2x3” Grafmatics for B&W.

 

[johnha]

I have two backs each for my Mamiya 645 and Bronica SQ-B (in both cases I got them free when buying the cameras). I also have two for my Bronica S2a. I usually shoot mono in one and chrome or colour neg in the other.

I also have two 'backs' for my Pentax 6x7 - expensive and heavy but you get a free camera I usually carry one of these at a time.

 

[tbransco]

My Bronica SQ-Ai came with two 120 backs. I have yet to settle on any one fav film, so they both get loaded with a variety of stocks and usually come out with me together. i also picked up a 220 back so I can shoot 35mm film 'panoramas'.

 

[Stephen Prunier]

I have 3 RZ Pro II 120's. Most of the time I just go out with 1 with a couple of rolls of film. In the future, I plan on carrying all 3 with the same film and set them up for the +1, -1. 0 method and see how I like it. I may also try using 3 different films to try and take advantage of the situation. I know that the prices now for the RZ Pro II back's are all over the place. I've been lucky with both prices and condition. I might add a couple more if they start becoming harder to find.