Ilford 5 inch, 10 inch, and 9cm roll film special order? what format are these for?

StoneNYC · May 25, 2014

Hey guys, I was perusing the Ilford ULF special order section (still using up that delicious 127 film from last year) when I noticed that there were these formats, not in HP5+ where most of the other roll films are, but in the FP4+ section.

So I was wondering ... what formats are these for? I know that 122 format was a very popular request last year but IIR that was the one film that wasn't made and people were sad about, but that's 3¼" × 5½" so 5 inch would be a little small to fit that, so what film formats are these sizes for? Anyone know?

5 inch

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/1164767-Ilford-FP4+-125-ISO-5-in.-x-50-ft.-Roll-EI

10 inch

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/1173918-Ilford-FP4+-125-ISO-10-in.-x-100-ft.-UP-EI

9cm

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/1164756-Ilford-FP4+-125-ISO-9cm-x-50-ft.-Roll-EI

Dr Croubie · May 25, 2014

Could the 5" and 10" be just for 4x5/5x7 and 8x10/10x12 shooters to cut their own and save money on sheets? (presuming it does save money vs sheets).
Either that, or more likely Aerial cameras that run on rolls.

Ian Grant · May 25, 2014

The 10" is most likely for Cirkut and similar cameras needing long rolls of film. The 5" and 9cm could also be used to make up rolls of 122 etc.

Ian

pgomena · May 25, 2014

Aerial cameras commonly used 5 or 10 inch film.

StoneNYC · May 25, 2014

Ian Grant said:
The 10" is most likely for Cirkut and similar cameras needing long rolls of film. The 5" and 9cm could also be used to make up rolls of 122 etc.

Ian

9cm is only 3.5 inches... But I guess 5" COULD work, but that still means some slip-n-slide with the 1/2 inch difference.

JW PHOTO · May 25, 2014

If I remember correctly 122 film is slightly wider and the distance between spool flanges is about 3 5/8 inches. 9cm is 3.54 inches and would probably be for spooling 122 film on your own backing paper. Just my guess of course? I'm now in the process of shooting a 1971 roll of Kodak Verichrome Pan 122 film in my Kodak 3A with RR lens. I'll develop it when I get home tomorrow and will then measure the exact film width. I have some shots at home, but I'm not there at the moment. I'm thinking of getting some of this film since a very dear friend wants some and we could go in together on the purchase. JW

StoneNYC · May 25, 2014

JW PHOTO said:
If I remember correctly 122 film is slightly wider and the distance between spool flanges is about 3 5/8 inches. 9cm is 3.54 inches and would probably be for spooling 122 film on your own backing paper. Just my guess of course? I'm now in the process of shooting a 1971 roll of Kodak Verichrome Pan 122 film in my Kodak 3A with RR lens. I'll develop it when I get home tomorrow and will then measure the exact film width. I have some shots at home, but I'm not there at the moment. I'm thinking of getting some of this film since a very dear friend wants some and we could go in together on the purchase. JW

Oh I feel foolish ... I was looking at the width and thinking the spool was 5.5 inches haha not 3 5/8ths!

Some guy just sold 15 rolls of Verichrome Pan in 120 and it only went for like $150, I would have bought in if I had the money, seemed like a steal, plus the new rolls means fresh un-damaged backing paper too!

JW PHOTO · May 25, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Oh I feel foolish ... I was looking at the width and thinking the spool was 5.5 inches haha not 3 5/8ths!

Some guy just sold 15 rolls of Verichrome Pan in 120 and it only went for like $150, I would have bought in if I had the money, seemed like a steal, plus the new rolls means fresh un-damaged backing paper too!

Stone, do you mean 15 rolls of VerichromePan in 122 size and not 120? $10.00 a roll for 122 Verichrome Pan wouldn't be bad especially if it wasn't real old and was stored half way decent. JW

StoneNYC · May 25, 2014

JW PHOTO said:
Stone, do you mean 15 rolls of VerichromePan in 122 size and not 120? $10.00 a roll for 122 Verichrome Pan wouldn't be bad especially if it wasn't real old and was stored half way decent. JW

Yes, 15 rolls of 122 VP

1970's or 1980's should have been fine, sounds like a steal to me, I would think it would be a lot more...

John Shriver · May 26, 2014

5 and 10 inch definitely for Cirkut cameras, those are two common sizes of them.

3.625" is for 122 film.

No idea what 9 cm is for. Maybe it's the same as Kodak's 3.5 inch size, which was used in some sort of long-roll portrait cameras. But 3.5 inches is 8.89 cm, not 9 cm. I suppose you could wind it on 122 paper, but it wouldn't fit right on a 122 Nikor reel, making it a pain to process.

JW PHOTO · May 26, 2014

My actual measurements seem to come up a little different. I pulled the roll I just exposed in my Kodak No.3 and used a caliper to measure the distance between the film spool flange and it comes up with 9.4cm = 3.722 inches(close). That means the actual film is narrower than this figure. I then measured the actual film gate (area where light actually hits the film) in the Kodak No.3 and it measures 8.2cm(3.228") X 13.97cm(5.5"). I won't be able to measure the exact film width of the 122 I processed recently until I return home since that's where the film is at. All in all, I'd say this 9cm stuff must be for 122 or at least could be used for that. JW

StoneNYC · May 26, 2014

JW PHOTO said:
My actual measurements seem to come up a little different. I pulled the roll I just exposed in my Kodak No.3 and used a caliper to measure the distance between the film spool flange and it comes up with 9.4cm = 3.722 inches(close). That means the actual film is narrower than this figure. I then measured the actual film gate (area where light actually hits the film) in the Kodak No.3 and it measures 8.2cm(3.228") X 13.97cm(5.5"). I won't be able to measure the exact film width of the 122 I processed recently until I return home since that's where the film is at. All in all, I'd say this 9cm stuff must be for 122 or at least could be used for that. JW

Thanks! Good info.

I feel like I remember that last year there was some confusion over the exact film size of the 122 format films. But I thought it got sorted out properly, but I guess either one would probably work in theory at least good enough.

cmacd123 · May 26, 2014

The long roll sizes are either for CIRCUT or Banquet cameras, which use a rotating camera with a slit to make pictures, typically of a group arranged in a semi-circle. Like for example a high schools entire class.

Also perhaps some aero cameras. The extra cost of the hand made rolls probably would end up more expensive by far than just using regualr sheets if you need sheet film. Particularly as the rolls are proably on 35mm or roll film thickness base.

StoneNYC · May 26, 2014

Ilford 5 inch, 10 inch, and 9cm roll film special order? what format are thes...

Thank you

John Shriver · May 26, 2014

When I corresponded with Simon Galley about the 122 film width last year, he said they had done measurements, and that it would be the right width. I provided some measurements from my processed films. The film isn't quite as wide as the flange-to-flange distance on the film spool. They called it something like 93mm last year, this year they're using "English" measurements. I just set a vernier caliper at 3.625" and held it up to a 122 reel, that width looks perfect.

I've got my order in for a 50' roll this year, hoping enough people order the 122 width. I have a lot of good VP122, but it's not very fast, and never was vary "sharp" film. HP5+ would be a very different look.

I remain mystified by the 9cm film. Set my caliper there, and compared it to a 118 Nikor reel, about 3mm too wide for that.

John Shriver · Aug 9, 2019

I just enquired about the 2019 Ilford "9cm" size, and they say it is actually 88.5mm +/- 0.25mm. So it is meant to be that Kodak 3.5" width.

I'm sure it wouldn't fall into the film gate on a 122 (3A) camera. But it would be rather rattly loose in a 122 Nikor reel, if it would even stay in the spirals at all. Also, it's on sheet film base, so it very likely is too stiff to wrap around a 122 film spool.

There actually are Nikor reels for 3.5" size, but they're quite large, require a P52 (non-daylight) tank.

I'm TOTALLY mystified by what the application for the 9cm film is. Ilford says that they actually have a bit of stock left over from the 2019 ULF run.

koraks · Aug 9, 2019

European sheet size 9x12cm perhaps?

hired goon · Aug 14, 2019

I have been completely mystified since these sizes were added to the list. One of them - the 10" roll in fp4 was added per my request about 7-8 years ago for a 10" cirkut camera. That is on proper rollfilm base....HOWEVER the other sizes that approximate 122 film are on sheet film base and are entirely unusable for that application. I ordered it one year, thinking it would work, only to realize later that the base was wrong. I would love to see this on ROLL FILM BASE!!

Ilford 5 inch, 10 inch, and 9cm roll film special order? what format are these for?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency