Kodak versus Fuji from Ken Rockwell

darkosaric · Jan 28, 2016

Interesting comparison of 120 films packaging from Ken:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/00-new-today.htm (entry from 21 January 2016).

Roger Cole · Jan 28, 2016

That's odd. I've never noticed the slightest difference in loading the films, and those Fuji stickers for a finished roll just confused me. I remember trying to lick the things originally.

Bottom line is that for me there's no significant difference at all in packaging quality or usability. Use whichever you like.

Daire Quinlan · Jan 28, 2016

... though that Fuji tab on their film spools & hole in the leader I find quite convenient. It's certainly not something that I NEED but it's a nice to have. I always toss my empty kodak spools but I have a big drawer of Fuji ones. Why I've kept more than one or two is a whole other question :-D

Darko Pozar · Jan 28, 2016

I have always found Kodak 120 films responsive to my quick reloading into my Hassy back, and easy to seal with a quick lick of the tab when finished. I found Fuji 120 somewhat stiffer to the response but the self adhesive tab is an added luxury. If I am correct, years ago Ilford had a peppermint flavoured adhesive tab.

Roger Cole · Jan 28, 2016

I have never even noticed that the Kodak and Fuji spools ARE different!

Of course I haven't shot that much Fuji, mostly Kodak color and Ilford black and white though I have shot a few rolls of Acros and one glorious roll of Astia I got in a bunch of film deal.

mooseontheloose · Jan 28, 2016

Much ado about nothing methinks.

Yes, the spools are different (although I do admit I like the self-locking Fuji ones) and so are the seals (again, prefer the Fuji ones) - but you have to lick Ilford's and every one else's - Fuji is the only one (I think) with the self-adhesive. I have a feeling that has more to do with Japanese sensibilities, since they don't seem to lick anything here (envelopes, stamps, etc. - god forbid you lick stamps at the post office - pure barbarism!). I will admit to tearing the Kodak backing paper when I'm trying to break the seal, but I've noticed also that recently Fuji (and only Fuji) films seem looser (or prone to loosen up) upon taking them out of whatever camera I'm shooting. So, you know, horses for courses. YMMV. Go with the flow.

Roger Cole · Jan 28, 2016

I haven't seen a lickable US stamp in a long time. They are all peel off self adhesive now. But I get it, even though I've never been to Japan. Some people are squeamish about things like that and others aren't.

R.Gould · Jan 28, 2016

Foma also use self adhesive seals,I must admit I prefer them, easier to use, and I remember some time ago some Kodak Tri x with self adhesive seals, but they dropped them pretty quickly

gone · Jan 28, 2016

You should give your Japanese neighbors a free screening of Pink Flamingos. Lots of licking going on in that. If they had any doubts about the gaijin being creatures from the muck (and they don't), that should settle the thing.

I like Ken. He's outspoken, and usually good for a laugh. But he seems to have just a little too much free time on his hands to write something like that.

mooseontheloose · Jan 28, 2016

Roger Cole said:
I haven't seen a lickable US stamp in a long time. They are all peel off self adhesive now. But I get it, even though I've never been to Japan. Some people are squeamish about things like that and others aren't.

Most stamps here are the lickable kind, but they use a wet-wheel (?) to wet the stamps. The only self-adhesive stamps ("seal") in Japan are usually seasonal cartoon stamps, like Hello Kitty. I know, because I use them a lot for the postcard exchange as they are often my only choice between that and this:

[video=youtube;2Pbywpi64Tg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pbywpi64Tg[/video]

I don't mind Ken, have taken his advice on occasion, but this post about backing paper and spools just seems like he had nothing better to do. Honestly, would anyone choose a film based on these factors alone?

trythis · Jan 28, 2016

I find that when using 220 film I get less jamming if I use the same spool on both side of the camera in my Fuji GA645 camera. I have had two rolls jam from using mixed spools. Small sample fallacy probably but that is the only thing I consider. Hey, why no comparison with Ilford?

Ko.Fe. · Jan 28, 2016

For 120 film, I'm with Ilford. Well, for 135 also.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 28, 2016

I love the Fuji tab and hole in the leader. What I really miss are the minty flavored Ilford seal strips!

aoresteen · Jan 28, 2016

mooseontheloose said:
Much ado about nothing methinks.

.....

+1,000,000

Film Smells Good · Jan 28, 2016

It's the little things that sometimes make an impression...

Daire Quinlan said:
... though that Fuji tab on their film spools & hole in the leader I find quite convenient. It's certainly not something that I NEED but it's a nice to have. I always toss my empty kodak spools but I have a big drawer of Fuji ones. Why I've kept more than one or two is a whole other question :-D

I'm with you and Rockwell here, I LOVE the Fuji 120 film spools. Also the tape at the end of the roll instead of the licking tab on the Kodak 120 rolls, far nicer in my opinion. My 120 film experience actually started with Fuji, which led me to believe those little touches of theirs were standard across all rolls of 120. It was a bit of a rude surprise the first time I used a roll of Kodak 120 that these weren't, haha.

BrianShaw · Jan 28, 2016

Ken seems to be a very detail-oriented deep thinker. I've noticed the difference in stick-em and no-lick-em tabs (and just adapat accordingly without any thought or concern), but never noticed the spool differences. I must be shallow or stupid.

I always like the folksy way he writes. I assume it reflects how he speaks: "28 January 2016, Austrailia Day"

mooseontheloose · Jan 28, 2016

The other thing I like with the Fuji self-adhesive tabs is they don't fall off. I've had both Kodak and Ilford tabs fall off, usually in humid weather (pre-sealing the roll) which makes it difficult and awkward to find a way to seal it with what's at hand. Luckily I usually carry some gaffer's tape (thanks Holga!) or use my hairband to seal the roll up on the occasion it does happen.

kb3lms · Jan 28, 2016

I'm just glad a "sort-of mainstream" guy like Ken Rockwell talks about film every once in awhile. And he has always answered my emails!

fotch · Jan 28, 2016

I wonder if he gets payola from Fuji. Doesn't matter if he does. Old habits die hard, I always shoot Kodak or Ilford. And if worked for the last 100 years....

Prest_400 · Jan 28, 2016

kb3lms said:
I'm just glad a "sort-of mainstream" guy like Ken Rockwell talks about film every once in awhile. And he has always answered my emails!

It's good to raise awareness to other public. Infact I got into film out of curiousity because he was quite heavily praising Film through his love for Velvia, back in 2008. Lately he's been rather quiet about it plus his updates seem to be a list of deals and stuff rather than content.

To the topic Kodak's simpler packaging doesn't annoy me but I prefer the extra assurance that Fuji has with the adhesive and the notched easyload spool and leader.
The detail that the paper that is teared out to unroll has the name of the film and can be put into a film reminder is nice when having single rolls, whereas Kodak just have "Kodak 120"

<Beamed through Tapatalk relay>

Sirius Glass · Jan 28, 2016

What really frightens me is that for once Ken Rockwell actually made some accurate observations and he is correct. I read what he wrote and I had to grab a bottle of really good bourbon and have a stiff drink so that I could recover from the shock that Ken Rockwell wrote an accurate article without making an @$$ out of himself. I have to go out an take two rolls of film now!

alanrockwood · Jan 28, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
What really frightens me is that for once Ken Rockwell actually made some accurate observations and he is correct. I read what he wrote and I had to grab a bottle of really good bourbon and have a stiff drink so that I could recover from the shock that Ken Rockwell wrote an accurate article without making an @$$ out of himself. I have to go out an take two rolls of film now!

I was wondering how long it would be before the Rockwell bashing would start.

Poisson Du Jour · Jan 28, 2016

Film-End Stickers that KR is writing about — spot on!

I've got myself a bit confused unloading a roll of TMax from the Hassie — same thing happened last month too unloading my Zero Image. More accustomed to long use of Fuji emulsions, I thought it was a self-sticking end-of-roll marker on TMX, so I (impatiently!) scratched around for the end of it, pulled it and pressed down then put the roll in my pocket. Next thing I know the roll has unravelled! Emphatically not as good as Fuji (Acros) with it's clear, unambiguous and fidget free end-of-roll tapedown. I know now it is a lick-stick-'n-run thing. And a unpleasant taste on the tongue. A bit like licking postage stamps (and accidentally swallowing them...).

Sirius Glass · Jan 28, 2016

alanrockwood said:
I was wondering how long it would be before the Rockwell bashing would start.

Actually it never ends.

chromacomaphoto · Jan 29, 2016

Think I prefer the Fuji spools, but the Kodak films. Ah well.

Kodak versus Fuji from Ken Rockwell

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