Roll your own 70mm film?

Shelley-Ann · Nov 15, 2008

Hey

I might have an oppurtunity to buy some b&w 70mm film; however, I did some research and there are no 70mm film backs for my Mamiya. I'm wondering if it is possible to roll your own film into the equivalent of 120 or 220 sizes for ease of use.

Thanks.

Claire Senft · Nov 15, 2008

I am guessing that you are talking about 70mm perforated film. To use the film as 120, would require that both edges be trimmed off. The film should not be fogged or contaminated with dust. If the film is really inexpensive then perhaps a film slitting service would trim and package it as 120 or 220 for you. There is also a 70mm unperforated film. This would only require the one edge be trimmed off but I do not believe that this is a good venture for a home darkroom.

eli griggs · Nov 15, 2008

Shelly, I bought a 70mm bulk loader with 70 mm b&w and also some 64mm color film to likewise roll my own 120 and 127, especially the 127. If you look at 'the subclub' forum, in the darkroom section, for splitters, you'll see some ideas how you can make a simple tool for cutting your film to the proper width.http://www.subclub.org/darkroom/splitter.htm Save your 120/127 spindles and paper or do as some do and buy special paper to cut to size. I wish I could remember what it's called but there is an illustrators or animators black backed paper that used for this. Someone else here should be able to help you better with finding it.

There are a number of folks that alter all kinds of film to fit their needs and there is no reason for you not to try and see if it's something you can do for yourself. However, I would not go so far as to call it easy. It makes more sense for me to roll 127 than you to roll 120. Unless you get a good deal on Techpan or some such, 120 is easy enough to come by and you may find the bother not to be cost effective enough to carry on with.

What sort of film were you looking at getting for your camera and why do you like it?

Cheers

Phillip P. Dimor · Nov 16, 2008

I've done this. Although I used ortho film (kodak aerographic 70mm). I did know a man who shot only color film this way.. he would save his 120 spools and backing paper and just cut a section of film, slice the perfs off, tape it on and roll it up. It's doable, and if you have the time and patience it can work.
I used a yardstick and an xacto knife to cut the film, I don't think i'd do that in the dark though.. or atleast be very careful. Perhaps a crank and some adjustable blades.. people who shoot minoxes and have to trim movie film have some good ideas on how to trim film.

I've read of devices with rails and adjustable blades with a hand crank that are homemade.

Larry Bullis · Nov 16, 2008

I have the bulk loader and cassettes, the backs to shoot 70mm. Is anyone making the stuff?

I have a fair amount left. Some of my favorite films, such as Kodak's aerial version of their infrared film -- but will we ever be able to get ANY 70mm again? Do you know?

eli griggs · Nov 16, 2008

I think a crank set-up that feed the film through the lifted arm of an small, fixed in place, inexpensive paper trimmer, like scrapbook crafters use would do for cutting. The 'knife' on these is just a small point in a removable plastic slide and is quite safe. All you'd have to do is lower the arm when the right amount of film was rolled onto the crank/spindle and slide the cutter in its track to cut the film free. Those little cutters can slice through a lot of heavy card stock so thick film base should not be any sort of bother.

Cheers

eli griggs · Nov 16, 2008

bwzart, a quick check of ebay show some guy in Israel with some 20 ft. tech pan in 70mm (he's also got 150 ft rolls of 35mm), there's some color stuff and some old Tri-X thats been stored in the freezer. I'm sure you can find it elsewhere as a regular or surplus item. What users are left for 70mm stuff, movie production, aerial photography; who uses it nowadays?

Shelley-Ann · Nov 16, 2008

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I was looking at the Tri-x film, but I think that I'll pass on the 70mm, and just stick to your standard 120 rolls.

jamie young · Nov 16, 2008

Far as I know, kodak still makes 70mm long rolls in 160 NC and 400 NC. Hopefully they will continue for a while. I use it in my 70mm roundshot pan camera. The big market for it was in the school student portrait market and it's pretty much gone digital, so it's anyones guess how much longer. As 120 film is easily available I wouldn't try to resize 70mm, due to the problems involved.

Phillip P. Dimor · Nov 16, 2008

Well, if you have 1000ft of something nice in 70mm and some patience and time. You can 'make' a lot of 120 rolls, and possibly very cheaply too.
Ask a local pro lab if you have one, or even a regular lab that does 120. Ask them if they can set aside their 120 spools and paper. That's a pretty good source if they do a fair amount of 120 work.

I'm not sure about new film, those camerz long roll cameras have succumbed to digital and I always figured that was a major user of 70mm film.

There's one 70mm back out there, be it hasselblad or mamiya or even graflex that doesn't care if it's perfed or not.. but I can't remember which.
the graflex one might fit on your mamiya (? not my area of specialty)

Eli, we think alike!

jamie young · Nov 16, 2008

By the time you cut the film, then spool it up into 120 rolls,which is very time consuming and somewhat challenging even with jigs, you could buy the 120 film and be out shooting. If you found a 70mm back to work with, that's a different story. I've done some cutting and spooling of larger roll sizes, and would avoid it when possible- that is when premade sizes aren't available.

Larry Bullis · Nov 16, 2008

Phillip P. Dimor said:
...There's one 70mm back out there, be it hasselblad or mamiya or even graflex that doesn't care if it's perfed or not.. but I can't remember which.
the graflex one might fit on your mamiya ...

It is the graflex. They use gummy rollers rather than sprockets to drive the film.

Greg_E · Nov 16, 2008

But it is good info for the 127 size films, though even these are slightly easier to get than a few years ago, isn't Efke making films in 127 again?

Alexander Ghaffari · Nov 16, 2008

Greg_E said:
But it is good info for the 127 size films, though even these are slightly easier to get than a few years ago, isn't Efke making films in 127 again?

Since 127 film is 46mm wide, you can simply spool 46mm bulk film onto 127 paper backings and spools. I have a 100 foot roll of 46mm AGFA-Portrait 160 just sitting in my freezer, but no 127 spools or paper backing.

Greg_E · Nov 16, 2008

For anyone who owns a metal lathe, it wouldn't take much to make the spools. I was thinking more along the lines of buying 120 film and cutting it down to 127... Maybe one of these days

Tourmie Green · Dec 4, 2008

Shelley-Ann said:
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I was looking at the Tri-x film, but I think that I'll pass on the 70mm, and just stick to your standard 120 rolls.

Hi Shelley-Ann. I'm UK based and there have been some 70mm Mamiya backs
on the UK ebay site recently. I've just bought a 70mm dev tank and I'm keen
to buy some some 70mm film to go in my a70 hasselblad back.
Can you point me in the direction of the film supply you were offered?
All the best from Sunny Bangor,County Down,N.I.

Shelley-Ann · Dec 4, 2008

Tourmie:

The best source is Ebay. I saw a listing on Ebay.co.uk for duplicating film. I'm not sure if it will be of any use, but here is the link:

Dead Link Removed

k_jupiter · Dec 5, 2008

Greg_E said:
For anyone who owns a metal lathe, it wouldn't take much to make the spools. I was thinking more along the lines of buying 120 film and cutting it down to 127... Maybe one of these days

I have done both. I have a fair amount of 160 portrait film in 46mm x 100 feet in the fridge, I also have cut 120 film down on my wood lathe and rewind that.

Too much trouble.

tim in san jose

AgX · Dec 5, 2008

70mm double perforated film split in halves could be interesting for people with a 35mm camera which has a sprocket wheel with only one sprocket rim (or one rim machined down...).

StoneNYC · Jul 24, 2013

Signal boosting old threads... sorry guys but it's a rush situation ... FYI get 70mm film for one day only .... seriously .. today...!!

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Bill Walker · Jul 23, 2015

I have a 70 mm back that takes bulk canister film.... would be interested in your source

Roll your own 70mm film?

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