Rollei SL66SE backs - 120 vs 220

Mike Evangelist · Nov 6, 2014

Silly me; I just accidentally bought a 220 back for my SL66SE that I thought was a 120 back. It's not returnable, so I'm glad to see there are still a couple films available in 220. At least I'll be able to use it for something.

Anyone know if there is any way to modify the 220 back to use 120 film?

john_s · Nov 7, 2014

I very nearly made the same error, buying a 220 version instead of a 120 one.

Just guessing here, I suppose the two differences would be that the 220 film is thinner than 120 film+paper backing, so the "pressure plate" might be tight. In the Mamiya 6, changing the setting from 120 to 220 is simply a small shift in the pressure plate's clearance to the film gate. And the other difference would be in frame counting, so maybe you could find a way to skip frames 13 to 24 if you were to give the 120 film a try.

At least with the SE backs, no longer does one rely on the film+backing+tape thickness to set the frame counter when loading, so that's one problem you wouldn't have.

Mike Evangelist · Nov 7, 2014

john_s said:
so maybe you could find a way to skip frames 13 to 24 if you were to give the 120 film a try.

Think I'll sacrifice a roll of Tri-X as a test. Also, at first glance, it looks like the pressure plate may be adjustable.

john_s · Nov 8, 2014

john_s said:
...., so maybe you could find a way to skip frames 13 to 24 if you were to give the 120 film a try....

I just realised that once you are aware of the end of the roll, opening the back would, I assume, reset the counter.

Mike Evangelist · Nov 8, 2014

john_s said:
once you are aware of the end of the roll

I think the trickier part will be making sure I'm aware I've used the 12 shots and don't continue shooting with no film in the gate!

artobest · Nov 10, 2014

Mike Evangelist said:
I think the trickier part will be making sure I'm aware I've used the 12 shots and don't continue shooting with no film in the gate!

You can usually feel and/or hear the end of the roll coming off as you wind.

john_s · Nov 11, 2014

artobest said:
You can usually feel and/or hear the end of the roll coming off as you wind.

But it would still feel like film is there after frame 12 when there is still leader to go through.

Bruce Cowan · Dec 4, 2014

Mike, I'd be happy to trade you a 120 back for your 220 back. I've got a freezer full of 220 films and only 120 backs for my SL66SE.

Mike Evangelist · Dec 5, 2014

Bruce Cowan said:
Mike, I'd be happy to trade you a 120 back for your 220 back.

Thanks for the nice offer, but I've decided I'm going to sell my SL66se, so will be selling the back as well. (I recently got a beautiful Rollei 6008i2 which has stolen my heart.)

itsdoable · Dec 5, 2014

Mike Evangelist said:
Bruce Cowan said:

Mike, I'd be happy to trade you a 120 back for your 220 back.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the nice offer, but I've decided I'm going to sell my SL66se, so will be selling the back as well. (I recently got a beautiful Rollei 6008i2 which has stolen my heart.)

My guess is that your SL66SE would sell better with a 120 back than a 220 back. I know I would be more likely to buy one with a 120 back - 220 film is hard to come by these days. And it's unlikely you will get a better offer than that!

Rollei SL66SE backs - 120 vs 220

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