Inserting 120 film: do Fuji films leak less light than Kodak?

Poisson Du Jour · Sep 7, 2018

Nothing to do with either Fuji or Kodak film. The fault is with the photographer in loading and unloading.
The correct technique is firstly to load and unload the camera away from direct, strong light. Sadly, the number of photographers who actually observe this singularly important precaution is very, very low.

Next, insert the 120 roll and using index and second finger, apply pressure to both ends of the spool as you draw out the leader and secure it in the take-up spool.
Wind to tension and close the back.

All rolls can be affected by light piping if sloppy technique is not observed.

GLS · Sep 8, 2018

I have never had an issue with this on any brand or type of film in either of my MF cameras.

As has been said, assuming your cameras don't have a faulty tension spring then one must asume it is down to user error if it happens.

Only load and unload the film in subdued light, and make sure the roll remains tightly wound during takeup, unloading, and before sealing. If these principles are always observed it shouldn't happen.

bdial · Sep 8, 2018

One thing that may help is to wind the camera (or back) several revolutions when you finish the roll to help make sure it's wound snugly before opening things up.
It's pretty quick to do on crank wind cameras like Rolleis and Hasselblads, can be a bit of a pain with things like Graflex roll backs where you need to push a release each time. But it's doable on pretty much anything.

abruzzi · Sep 8, 2018

on the other hand, some film brands have a peel off adhesive strip to hold the tail tight that works well, and other brands have a lick and stick adhesive that doesn't hold very well.

DWThomas · Sep 8, 2018

Another thought -- how are the exposed films stored? I acquired a bunch of the black plastic tubular containers similar to what Rollei/Maco delivers their 120 films in which I use to keep the rolls in after shooting. (Freestyle sells them.) Leaving a few exposed rolls standing uncovered under a lamp on the desk for a day or three "until I get to the darkroom" is likely not a wise idea. I regularly put 120 through four different cameras -- two folders, an SLR, and a TLR -- and have had no particular problem. Un/Re-loading outdoors in dazzling sun is the most dangerous condition, but even then one can hunch down and create ones own "person shade" for the operation.

I was always a bit dubious about the way 35mm cassettes went from delivery in screw top metal cans to black plastic to translucent plastic over the years -- why invite light piping?!

abruzzi · Sep 8, 2018

DWThomas said:
Another thought -- how are the exposed films stored? I acquired a bunch of the black plastic tubular containers similar to what Rollei/Maco delivers their 120 films in which I use to keep the rolls in after shooting. (Freestyle sells them.)

These things are nice too:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Rolls-5-...608837?hash=item4675980945:g:NRgAAOSwJ0xab2Z4

Most fresh rolls fit without opening the sealed bag, so I start with 5 fresh rolls, and gradually replace the fresh with exposed. I’m sure they’re not perfectly light tight, but they’re safer than not.

MattKing · Sep 8, 2018

abruzzi said:
These things are nice too:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Rolls-5-...608837?hash=item4675980945:g:NRgAAOSwJ0xab2Z4

Most fresh rolls fit without opening the sealed bag, so I start with 5 fresh rolls, and gradually replace the fresh with exposed. I’m sure they’re not perfectly light tight, but they’re safer than not.

Thanks for this - they look really interesting.
The listing doesn't show how thick they are. How does that measurement compare with the thickness of the box that holds a ProPack of 5 films - which is what I currently use in my camera bags?

GLS · Sep 8, 2018

MattKing said:
Thanks for this - they look really interesting.
The listing doesn't show how thick they are. How does that measurement compare with the thickness of the box that holds a ProPack of 5 films - which is what I currently use in my camera bags?

I use these exact ones. I disagree that they are not light-tight. The two halves fit together quite snugly, and the plastic is fairly thick; no way any light is getting through. The only slight annoyance is that the spools rattle inside a bit as you move.

MattKing · Sep 8, 2018

For clarity, I was wondering about the depth of the holders (18mm?) rather than the thickness of the materials. I want to know whether they will fit into the same space as the ProPack boxes I currently use.

GLS · Sep 8, 2018

MattKing said:
For clarity, I was wondering about the depth of the holders (18mm?) rather than the thickness of the materials. I want to know whether they will fit into the same space as the ProPack boxes I currently use.

I've just measured it and they are about 28.5mm thick. I'm not sure where you get 18mm from? The diameter of a 120 spool is 25mm.

abruzzi · Sep 8, 2018

MattKing said:
Thanks for this - they look really interesting.
The listing doesn't show how thick they are. How does that measurement compare with the thickness of the box that holds a ProPack of 5 films - which is what I currently use in my camera bags?

Here are some photos:

EDIT: and, yeah, they’re probably light tight, my comment was also about the fact that you’ll be opening and closing it to retrieve fresh film and add finished rolls, which could allow fogging if the roll has come loose in the container. The single cans you can leave closed until your ready to develop.

MattKing · Sep 8, 2018

GLS said:
I'm not sure where you get 18mm from?

Sorry, I was just being lazy with an off-the-cuff guess instead of taking the time to measure the individual roll holders I have. I did, however, want to differentiate from the thickness of the material it is made from.
Thanks for the photos - they are perfect for what I need!

abruzzi · Sep 8, 2018

Sure. If you search around on eBay they have them in different colors as well as 10 roll cases.

Poisson Du Jour · Sep 8, 2018

Exposed or unexposed 120 film rolls can be stored individual in the plastic flip-top containers that contain M&Ms. Red for exposed, green for unexposed.

MattKing · Sep 8, 2018

Poisson Du Jour said:
Exposed or unexposed 120 film rolls can be stored individual in the plastic flip-top containers that contain M&Ms. Red for exposed, green for unexposed.

Which intriguingly are not available in the Canadian market.

abruzzi · Sep 8, 2018

interesting. I've never seen them in the US market either. I had to search to find out what they looked like:

(did you know to go the M&Ms website in Australia, you have to put in your date of birth?)

Poisson Du Jour · Sep 8, 2018

abruzzi said:
interesting. I've never seen them in the US market either. I had to search to find out what they looked like:

(did you know to go the M&Ms website in Australia, you have to put in your date of birth?)

They want to make sure you are of such an age to put empty containers to good creative use...OTOH, plenty of the damn things litter the streets: black, yellow, pink, green, orange, white, yellow...

Psssst: Though it is a good idea for the containers, it does take up space in the pack if you've got say 5+ rolls. I solved this by packing pre-cut sheets of foil to wrap exposed 120 rolls in -- cuts down bulk while still protecting the rolls.

scapevision · Sep 8, 2018

This mostly has nothing to do with storage as this happens the moment you take the roll out of the film camera. Right before you lick and stick. Or rubber band. Ok, starting to get weird...

Inserting 120 film: do Fuji films leak less light than Kodak?

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