Perhaps this will appeal to some out there. I recently answered an ad from the Pennsylvania Historical Society offering, for free, twelve 100 ft rolls of 35mm Kodak Imagelink HQ. I was lucky enough to get it. I tested it and was very pleased with the predictable results. First, for continuous tone results, I rate the film at an exposure index of 6. (Some will want to rate it at 12.) Admittedly the film has a rather poor latitude, meaning that taking continuous tone pictures of high contrast scenes (sunny day with shadows) will provide negatives having almost no shadow detail. That is a drawback. But for normal contrast, or, even better, for low contrast scenes, the film is superb. The resolution is astounding and the grain is non-existent. Figure on processing this film for about 60% of the time used to process Ilford's Pan F+. If the times are too short you can dilute the developer with an equal amount of water and do clip tests from that point.
Now for the bad part: the 35mm film is not perforated, meaning that the entire area (no printing is on the film) is available for image capture. But, also, that means that the film will not run in a 35mm camera normally because of the lack of sprocket holes. However, being curious and not wanting to NOT be able to use the film, I did the following. In the dark, I cut off a measured twenty inch length and gently wrapped it onto the take-up spool (attached to the film advance lever) in my Spotmatic. I did not use tape and started from the outer side of the spool (near the right edge of the camera). It took only a minute or two to do this. Then I drew the unspooled end of the film across, and over, the sprocket spool onto, and across, the film aperture area. To complete the process, with a bit of Scotch tape I taped the film onto the rewind spool; then I closed the camera back and turned on the lights. The fact that the film gently glides over the sprockets does not cause problems. The first exposure is already set up after you cock the shutter. To make each subsequent exposure you do two things: first you cock the shutter (which does not move the film a bit) then you 'rewind' one full revolution to get a nearly precise 38mm movement of the film (slightly more than the 36mm length of the negative). You get about twelve exposures this way. You can then load this standard width onto the reel of your choice for processing.
Alternatively, there might be even better possiblilties for the 2.25 square format. Again, remember that the entire 35mm width is available for image capture. I do not see why this film cannot be rolled (without paper backing) onto 120 spools (but, first build up the inner edges of the 120 spools with a flexible plastic or other material in order to allow a precise, central, 35mm width (to assure centering of the film onto the camera's larger film aperture). The film is very dimensionally stable as it is 5 mil thick. The format thus optained would be a very respectable 35mm X 56mm, yeilding a size appropriate to medium format capabilities.
I was so impressed with this capability that I decided to do some research into the purchase of additional rolls. I finally found someone who 1)does not think that microfilm is ridiculous in this digital age and 2) offers a combination of price and service that is above 'acceptable'. The firm is Inception Technologies, Inc (inceptiontech.com) and the salesman is Don Haddad: email is dhaddad@inceptiontech.com. The location is 1 Sundial Ave, Suite 214, Manchester, NH 03103. The phone is 603.222.2202 ext 212 or toll free: 877.475.2580. Yes, there is a drawback: although the Kodak Imagelink HQ film is only about $17 per 100 ft roll, it must be purchased in 20 roll quantities. BUT....there is another possiblilty here if you can buy quantity. He also sells a product called Kodak Professional Microfilm, Type One, which is simply repackaged Imagelink HQ (repackaged by Kodak, incidently) and is only $13.20 a roll (but a full fifty rolls must be purchased) for a total of $660, including UPS ground delivery within the continental US. I bought this fifty roll lot and I tested it against the Imagelink: It is the identical product and I am pleased with both the film and the service. Of course, all must be aware that film cannot be returned (as is the case everywhere) unless defective (as is everywhere).
Now for the bad part: the 35mm film is not perforated, meaning that the entire area (no printing is on the film) is available for image capture. But, also, that means that the film will not run in a 35mm camera normally because of the lack of sprocket holes. However, being curious and not wanting to NOT be able to use the film, I did the following. In the dark, I cut off a measured twenty inch length and gently wrapped it onto the take-up spool (attached to the film advance lever) in my Spotmatic. I did not use tape and started from the outer side of the spool (near the right edge of the camera). It took only a minute or two to do this. Then I drew the unspooled end of the film across, and over, the sprocket spool onto, and across, the film aperture area. To complete the process, with a bit of Scotch tape I taped the film onto the rewind spool; then I closed the camera back and turned on the lights. The fact that the film gently glides over the sprockets does not cause problems. The first exposure is already set up after you cock the shutter. To make each subsequent exposure you do two things: first you cock the shutter (which does not move the film a bit) then you 'rewind' one full revolution to get a nearly precise 38mm movement of the film (slightly more than the 36mm length of the negative). You get about twelve exposures this way. You can then load this standard width onto the reel of your choice for processing.
Alternatively, there might be even better possiblilties for the 2.25 square format. Again, remember that the entire 35mm width is available for image capture. I do not see why this film cannot be rolled (without paper backing) onto 120 spools (but, first build up the inner edges of the 120 spools with a flexible plastic or other material in order to allow a precise, central, 35mm width (to assure centering of the film onto the camera's larger film aperture). The film is very dimensionally stable as it is 5 mil thick. The format thus optained would be a very respectable 35mm X 56mm, yeilding a size appropriate to medium format capabilities.
I was so impressed with this capability that I decided to do some research into the purchase of additional rolls. I finally found someone who 1)does not think that microfilm is ridiculous in this digital age and 2) offers a combination of price and service that is above 'acceptable'. The firm is Inception Technologies, Inc (inceptiontech.com) and the salesman is Don Haddad: email is dhaddad@inceptiontech.com. The location is 1 Sundial Ave, Suite 214, Manchester, NH 03103. The phone is 603.222.2202 ext 212 or toll free: 877.475.2580. Yes, there is a drawback: although the Kodak Imagelink HQ film is only about $17 per 100 ft roll, it must be purchased in 20 roll quantities. BUT....there is another possiblilty here if you can buy quantity. He also sells a product called Kodak Professional Microfilm, Type One, which is simply repackaged Imagelink HQ (repackaged by Kodak, incidently) and is only $13.20 a roll (but a full fifty rolls must be purchased) for a total of $660, including UPS ground delivery within the continental US. I bought this fifty roll lot and I tested it against the Imagelink: It is the identical product and I am pleased with both the film and the service. Of course, all must be aware that film cannot be returned (as is the case everywhere) unless defective (as is everywhere).
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