Pleasant surprise with MF folder

[Alan9940]

For those of you owning old folders that have frame spacing issues with modern films, I have a tip for you. For years, I have taped short pieces of old backing paper to the start of modern 120 film rolls to resolve the frame spacing issue I had with my Zeiss Super Ikonta III. It worked just fine, but was always a bit of a pain in the field.

I had read that the backing paper on Shanghai GP3 film was thicker than other films and, in fact, it presented a bit of an issue (tight winding) in my Hassey backs. So, I tried a roll (no funny tricks to prepare the film) in my Zeiss folder, and... Perfectly spaced frames!! Man, am I a happy camper about that. Give it a try in yours.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I thought all folders had the red window, thereby eliminating any spacing issues.

 

[Alan9940]

I thought all folders had the red window, thereby eliminating any spacing issues.

Not the folders that eliminate the need for the red window; like my Zeiss Super Ikonta III.

 

[Kino]

For those of you owning old folders that have frame spacing issues with modern films, I have a tip for you. For years, I have taped short pieces of old backing paper to the start of modern 120 film rolls to resolve the frame spacing issue I had with my Zeiss Super Ikonta III. It worked just fine, but was always a bit of a pain in the field.

I had read that the backing paper on Shanghai GP3 film was thicker than other films and, in fact, it presented a bit of an issue (tight winding) in my Hassey backs. So, I tried a roll (no funny tricks to prepare the film) in my Zeiss folder, and... Perfectly spaced frames!! Man, am I a happy camper about that. Give it a try in yours.

I understand that the spacing issues are caused by using the smaller diameter hub film spools that modern filmstocks use. If you can find old large diameter wooden hub spools, I think your spacing issues will go away with film other than GP3.

 

[DWThomas]

I thought all folders had the red window, thereby eliminating any spacing issues.

View attachment 205021

With my Perkeo II you use the red window to set the first frame. You then flip a little lever and it auto indexes from there. The sensing is a roller the film runs over on its way to the film gate so it is (or should be) independent of film spool diameter. It seems to work pretty well (and can put 13 6x6 shots on a 120 roll!) (We're talking circa 1952 "Hi Tech" here!)

 

[Kino]

I also have a Perkeo II and tried it with a roll of backing paper (stripped from a roll I processed) and it appears to slowly go off numbers, which would account for the 13 exposures!

Thought it was the lack of thickness of the missing film, but it appears to be normal.

Hmmm, i could have sworn the manual said to only use large diameter 120 spools. Maybe I got that confused with another camera. Gotta check...

EDIT: Yep, remembered right. Wonder if you lose the 13th exposure if you use the large diameter spools? My experiment was with the very thin spool...

 

[xya]

A simple trick I use on those that have framing issues: When you open a new roll, it's held together by a paper strip around the roll. Open it cautiously and leave a part of this strip attached to the backing paper. Insert the paper strip into the take-up spool and wind. The beginnig of the backing paper will follow. Wind, until it's firmly engaged. Your spool core is now a little bit thicker than usual. This might solve your problem, just have a try.

 

[Alan9940]

A simple trick I use on those that have framing issues: When you open a new roll, it's held together by a paper strip around the roll. Open it cautiously and leave a part of this strip attached to the backing paper. Insert the paper strip into the take-up spool and wind. The beginnig of the backing paper will follow. Wind, until it's firmly engaged. Your spool core is now a little bit thicker than usual. This might solve your problem, just have a try.

I tried that with my Super Ikonta III and it didn't quite do it. The best solutions I found were 1) tape about a 3" length of old backing paper to the beginning of the roll and feed that onto the take-up spool along with the film paper, or 2) wrap a layer of masking tape around an empty spool and cut a slot for the film leader. The point in my original post is that with Shanghai GP3 film you may just be able to work normally. Of course, this doesn't help with other emulsion you may wish to use.

 

[anfenglin]

My Super Ikonta B gives 11 exposures on a roll of film, maybe that’s on purpose because of such issues.

 

[DWThomas]

I also have a Perkeo II and tried it with a roll of backing paper (stripped from a roll I processed) and it appears to slowly go off numbers, which would account for the 13 exposures!

Thought it was the lack of thickness of the missing film, but it appears to be normal.

Hmmm, i could have sworn the manual said to only use large diameter 120 spools. Maybe I got that confused with another camera. Gotta check...

EDIT: Yep, remembered right. Wonder if you lose the 13th exposure if you use the large diameter spools? My experiment was with the very thin spool...

View attachment 205037

My (untested) theory is the spool diameter doesn't matter because it's using a roller near the film gate to sense film travel; not some exotic cams and gears off the winding spool. I don't really try to get the 13th exposure, as that leaves one frame too many for one roll to fit in a standard Printfile page!

(Besides, 13 is an unlucky number. )

 

[xya]

there are 2 more old folders that count real film length: the welta perfekta, a folding tlr, and the iskra. the iskra even finds the first picture without a red window.