Waterproof canisters for 120 film.

Marco Gilardetti · Jul 2, 2019

I live in an area that can get extremely humid on occasion, and as I sometimes find spots on developed films, I persuaded myself that this may be due to mold growth on emulsion. I then decided to try and buy a little stock of film canisters in order to save 120 rolls from humidity while they're waiting to be developed.

What I had in mind were those plastic canisters, much close to the 135 format canisters, in which Rollei rollfilms are sold. These are very cheap. However, while looking for those, I bumped into another type which is 100% waterproof and has o-ring seals:

https://www.macodirect.de/en/film/f...aterproof-twin-film-case-120-roll-film-format

With these I would really be on the safe side, but the problem is that they are unreasonably expensive. As I've also seen that there are scouting waterproof match cases that are nearly identical but cost 10 times less (however, I don't think a 120 roll would fit them...), I was wondering if anyone perhaps spotted a cheap and effective solution for dry storing 120 rollfilms. Thanks for any hint!

https://www.cache-corner.de/waterproof-match-case-green.html

Peltigera · Jul 2, 2019

I use the tubes that Bestbeloved's vitamin C tablets come in. The diameter is ideal even if the length is a bit too long. The lid is very secure - they are designed to keep effervescent tablets in good nick.

Pentode · Jul 2, 2019

Plastic pill bottles for prescription medicine come in many different sizes and are reasonably watertight. You might try your local pharmacist or chemist and see if they would be willing to sell a few empty bottles. They are typically amber in the US (I'm not sure about Italy) but black tape could easily make them light tight as well.

Colin Corneau · Jul 2, 2019

I bought a set custom made for 120 film when I was in Tokyo -- they're made through Japan Camera Hunter, fairly inexpensive and just what you're looking for. If you google "120 film case Japan Camera Hunter" you'll find it.

Rick A · Jul 2, 2019

I bought several rolls of 120 Adox that came in reusable black flip top plastic tubes, been using them for years with my films. I'm sure there other current brands that come packaged in plastic flip top tubes.

macfred · Jul 2, 2019

I use these canisters for 120 film rolls https://www.fotoimpex.de/shop/filme/adox-rollfilmcontainerrollfilmdose.html

edit: I guess these are the same that Rick mentioned above

Alan Edward Klein · Jul 2, 2019

I use to use the desiccant that comes in a metal tin (see link below) that you could seal in a Ziplock plastic bag to hold a number of rolls. The desiccant is re-usable and will eliminate moisture in the bag that causes mold. They're also useful in cold weather for your camera or film. YOu put them in the sealed bag with the desiccant in the cold outside and then bring it indoors where it's humid outside the bag. YOu let the camera or film warm up before taking it out to prevent condensation on the cold surface of the camera or film. Frankly, I found this to be a pain in the neck so stopped doing it. But your locale my be more humid and problematic. Good luck.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Cameras/N/0/Ntt/Desiccant

tezzasmall · Jul 2, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
What I had in mind were those plastic canisters, much close to the 135 format canisters, in which Rollei rollfilms are sold.

These Rollei 120 sized cannisters are the first thing that came to my mind, as I've bought and used this film in the past and kept the containers for more recent purchases of differently branded 120 film.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to why these aren't good enough?

Terry S

Dan Daniel · Jul 2, 2019

I would use the Adox type cases, then store these in large sealed case with a silica desiccant block in the large case. I think you'll find it much more effective to pay for one well-sealed larger case than dozens of small individual roll cases?

Silica gel like this- https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/desiccant-silica-gel

Waterproof cases like this- https://www.pelican.com/us/en/products/cases

Marco Gilardetti · Jul 2, 2019

tezzasmall said:
These Rollei 120 sized cannisters are the first thing that came to my mind, as I've bought and used this film in the past and kept the containers for more recent purchases of differently branded 120 film.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to why these aren't good enough?

No real reason, it's just that the others are guaranteed to be airtight and watertigh, however the Rollei or Adox type might be sufficient just as well. What I was basically asking was if anyone knew where the airtight/watertight type could be found at a more reasonable price.

BrianShaw · Jul 2, 2019

I carry a piece of aluminum foil to wrap exposed film and put them in a zip-lock bag.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 2, 2019

If you want to keep a lot of film dry, you can use an air tight ammo can and silica gel packets. But the best practices for 120 film is not to unwrap the film until you're ready to use it. After the film is unwrapped and shot, you can use a ziplock back and silica gel to keep your film dry mentioned earlier posts.

AgX · Jul 2, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
https://www.macodirect.de/en/film/f...aterproof-twin-film-case-120-roll-film-format l

Never seen them before.
However they are a clone of those watertight canisters for type 135 that Minolta added to their underwater Weathermatic 35DL. Except that the type 120 version has longer screw caps.

Maybe the Minolta canisters were not even made by Minolta but are a customized version of an already existing type 135 generic version. And that manufacturer offers them now with longer caps.

binglebugbob · Jul 2, 2019

M&M used to package mini M&M candies in flip top plastic tubes that were perfect for 120 film. Not light tight, but the M&M candies were delicious! I still see them, but the tubes that I see more recently work but are now a little longer than a roll of 120 film. I don't know if they are air tight or not, but close. They even come in Fuji green, Kodak yellow, and Agfa orange.
--bob

abruzzi · Jul 2, 2019

huh, never tried them, but according to amazon, a 24 pack can be had for $17:

https://www.amazon.com/Milk-Chocolate-Minis-1-08-Ounce-Tubes/dp/B003N7T55I?th=1

plus you get M&Ms.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 2, 2019

abruzzi said:
huh, never tried them, but according to amazon, a 24 pack can be had for $17:

https://www.amazon.com/Milk-Chocolate-Minis-1-08-Ounce-Tubes/dp/B003N7T55I?th=1

plus you get M&Ms.

This is brilliant! It better than me using wine bladders for photo chems. I buy it for the bladder and get FREE wine.

mgb74 · Jul 2, 2019

Pentode said:
Plastic pill bottles for prescription medicine come in many different sizes and are reasonably watertight. You might try your local pharmacist or chemist and see if they would be willing to sell a few empty bottles. They are typically amber in the US (I'm not sure about Italy) but black tape could easily make them light tight as well.

I use these pill containers. They are more than watertight for any environment I'm likely to take my MF cameras. As I recall, the newer 120 rolls with thinner foil will fit in the ones I have.

Arklatexian · Jul 2, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
I live in an area that can get extremely humid on occasion, and as I sometimes find spots on developed films, I persuaded myself that this may be due to mold growth on emulsion. I then decided to try and buy a little stock of film canisters in order to save 120 rolls from humidity while they're waiting to be developed.

What I had in mind were those plastic canisters, much close to the 135 format canisters, in which Rollei rollfilms are sold. These are very cheap. However, while looking for those, I bumped into another type which is 100% waterproof and has o-ring seals:

https://www.macodirect.de/en/film/f...aterproof-twin-film-case-120-roll-film-format

With these I would really be on the safe side, but the problem is that they are unreasonably expensive. As I've also seen that there are scouting waterproof match cases that are nearly identical but cost 10 times less (however, I don't think a 120 roll would fit them...), I was wondering if anyone perhaps spotted a cheap and effective solution for dry storing 120 rollfilms. Thanks for any hint!

https://www.cache-corner.de/waterproof-match-case-green.html

I also live in an area that is always humid and like to use film canisters to keep the film in after being exposed. However, I don't think your problem has been "mold". unless you are keeping your film for a long period of time before development, Mold takes time to grow. Could you be having problems with condensation from storing film shot in a humid area, in a cold area (refrigerator) before development. Better to let it stay warm..........Regards!

Marco Gilardetti · Jul 3, 2019

Arklatexian said:
I also live in an area that is always humid and like to use film canisters to keep the film in after being exposed. However, I don't think your problem has been "mold". unless you are keeping your film for a long period of time before development, Mold takes time to grow. Could you be having problems with condensation from storing film shot in a humid area, in a cold area (refrigerator) before development. Better to let it stay warm..........Regards!

Indeed recently my mother died, so I had to skip all hobbies for a prolonged time and in the past weeks I developed exposed film rolls that were stored for many months.

I'm not 100% sure that mold is the issue, I remember discussing the problem of these spots years ago with Simon Galley of Ilford and we basically came out with nothing. However although I don't remember anything similar ever happening in my childhood and youth, recently perhaps due to climate change humidity frequently (at least once per year) rises over 95% and I see traces of mold basically everywhere in the house: on books, on furniture doors, etc. which pointed my attention towards mold growth. I've never had the same problem on 135 film as far as I remember, and as 135 film is usually always stored in plastic canisters, I just thought to try and do the same with 120 rollfilm and see if it helps.

Thanks everyone for your opinion. Drug canisters are not an option as drugs are sold in commercial blisters and boxes here. M&M's canisters look peculiarly similar to 120 film canisters by Rollei etc, I'd say impressively similar which is quite amazing, I wonder if some marketing genius actually proposed them to the M&M company in order to expand the business in a completely different sector.

I think I'll buy the Rollei canisters for now as they are cheap and might do the trick, and leave the super-expensive waterproof gizmo for the next time.

jim10219 · Jul 3, 2019

BrianShaw said:
I carry a piece of aluminum foil to wrap exposed film and put them in a zip-lock bag.

Ditto.

MattKing · Jul 3, 2019

If you use a sealed container to store your film, you need to make sure that you aren't sealing humidity in with the film.
A larger, Tupperware style container with both film and some sort of dessicant that gets switched out regularly (preferably when the humidity is low) works better.
I use the single roll clip top film holders that I bought several years ago from/ Glazers in Seattle to keep my exposed film while it awaits development. There main purpose isto keep the film protected from light anddamage due to handling mishap, but I expect that they would protect from spills as well. They may keep out humidity, but I'm not counting on that.

mshchem · Jul 3, 2019

It's not rocket science. Clean peanut butter jar in the fridge. Auto defrost refrigerators have -20C dew point. Shouldn't be mold on black and white, or color if they are using stabilizer.

Sirius Glass · Jul 3, 2019

BrianShaw said:
I carry a piece of aluminum foil to wrap exposed film and put them in a zip-lock bag.

Even better if you can seal the Zip Lok bag in an air conditioned room.

mklw1954 · Jul 4, 2019

If you have 35mm film canisters you can use two of them to make a 120 film canister, using black electrical tape to join them and to wrap the entire canister to help keep out light.

BAC1967 · Jul 4, 2019

mklw1954 said:
If you have 35mm film canisters you can use two of them to make a 120 film canister, using black electrical tape to join them and to wrap the entire canister to help keep out light.

After you cut the bottom off the top one heat the bottom one up with a heat gun and shove the top one into it. You can seal the connection with silicone or electrical tape.

Waterproof canisters for 120 film.

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency