Question about camera film?

vishvanaar · Feb 21, 2014

This might sound like a really dumb question, but I don't know ANYTHING about cameras or film so... my dad bought me a Diana F+, and it requires 120 film. I was looking up all these different types of film I could use that give really cool effects.
My questions is, when I'm using film #1, and let's say I wanted to use film #2, can I just simply remove film #1, or do I have to completely finish film #1 and get it developed before using film #2?

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 21, 2014

You have to finish one roll, or at least wind it to the end for processing, before putting in a new roll. Once it's wound up and taped, you can't put it back in the camera, at least not easily. The Diana F+ only shoots 12 exposures per roll, so it's not such a long wait between film changes.

BrianShaw · Feb 21, 2014

120 film goes from the new roll onto the spool from the last roll. Only one direction, as David indicates.

Jeff Kubach · Feb 21, 2014

Hello Ken, take your time you will love film.

Jeff

trythis · Feb 22, 2014

I am going to recommend that you start with a color print film that uses C-41 process so that you can have it developed at a local or mail order lab for the lowest cost. Just for your first couple of rolls. I would also recommend going to Youtube and watching a 120 film loading tutorial or two. It couldnt hurt.

Dr Croubie · Feb 22, 2014

trythis said:
I am going to recommend that you start with a color print film that uses C-41 process so that you can have it developed at a local or mail order lab for the lowest cost. Just for your first couple of rolls. I would also recommend going to Youtube and watching a 120 film loading tutorial or two. It couldnt hurt.

+1

The first thing to learn about 120 film (especially compared to 35mm cartridges) is that IT WILL UNROLL ITSELF UNLESS YOU HOLD IT PROPERLY when loading. Once you've dropped the spool and you've got one end of the paper in your hand, it's kinda dead.

summicron1 · Feb 22, 2014

get yourself some asa 400 color print film and shoot the whole roll. No you can't take it out halfway and put it back in. Make sure you wind until you can see number 1 in the red window on the back of the camera ... it takes a bit, be patient.

If you can, ask at the local college or even a high school where they teach photography -- or here's a great idea-- go down to the local senior center -- and find someone who is familiar with film cameras that use 120 film who can give you a primer on using the camera -- it's VERY simple, but if you've never done film you can use a run-through.

I bet you anything you'll find someone at the senior center who used cameras like the holga/Diana when he/she was a kid and will be happy to show you how to use yours in exchange for a cup of coffee and some patient listening.

if ur anywhere near Ogden, Utah, look me up, I'll give you a roll of film and half an hour at Sadie's coffee shop on two-bit street and all you have to do is buy the coffee.--charlie trentelman. I'm in the book.

vdonovan · Feb 22, 2014

I have thousands of dollars worth of cameras, but the only picture I have in a museum collection was taken with a Diana F+! Everyone here has good tips. Here's a video showing how to load the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OispKRvjMys

A nice thing about the Diana F+ is that there are many creative things you can do with it. Multiple exposures, panoramas, pinhole, light painting, you can really do a lot. Have fun!

Dr Croubie · Feb 22, 2014

vdonovan said:
I have thousands of dollars worth of cameras, but the only picture I have in a museum collection was taken with a Diana F+! Everyone here has good tips. Here's a video showing how to load the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OispKRvjMys

A nice thing about the Diana F+ is that there are many creative things you can do with it. Multiple exposures, panoramas, pinhole, light painting, you can really do a lot. Have fun!

You're beating me, I've got thousands in equipment and 0 prints in a museum...

Xmas · Feb 22, 2014

there should have been an instruction booklet with the camera.

try this site after you read it

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/aboutus/page.asp?n=31

Start saving money for equipment...

fotch · Feb 22, 2014

Hello Ken and welcome to APUG.

pen s · Feb 24, 2014

If you want to use two types of film just buy a second camera.

No, it is not a crazy idea. The cost of film and processing (especially if you have to do mail order processing) will far exceed the price of an extra camera by the time you have used up five to ten rolls of film.

edcculus · Feb 24, 2014

I thought I'd clarify a bit too since you dont say how old you are. I'm young (28), but I did grow up through most of my youth with my parents owning film cameras. If you are younger you may not have ever experienced it. The first time I learned how film works on a very basic level was when I was a kid and opened the back of the family camera. Needless to say, I got yelled at because I ruined most of the roll.

Sorry if this is elementary, but the reason you can't remove the film before its finished is that light exposes film. When exposed in the camera, you are setting very specific parameters so an image will show up on the film. If you just open up the film to daylight, it will essentially make your film useless. On 120 film, there is paper at the beginning and end of the roll that protect the film from being exposed when loading and unloading film.

trythis · Feb 24, 2014

edcculus said:
On 120 film, there is paper at the beginning and end of the roll that protect the film from being exposed when loading and unloading film.

Just to clarify, the paper runs the whole length of the 120 roll, but on 220 film (same as 120 just twice the film length) the paper is only beginning and end of the roll to keep the roll diameter small enough.
Your Diana isnt designed for 220, which is fine because their is so little available and it costs 3x as much as 120.

Question about camera film?

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