What happened to the 12exp 35mm film

One aspect not brought up yet is the time of emergence.
When was type 135-12 introduced?


In 1977 Agfa had none in b&w, but 20, 36. In CN they had 12, 20, 36. In CR 20, 36 and no short rolls in their higher speed film.


BUT in type Rapid, which only took 12 exp. (and was their answer to Kodaks's 126-12, -20), it was available in all tastes since 1963!

When I go out I stuff 36 exp rolls in every pocket, nook and cranny… I guess you would not call me someone who would be interested in a 12 exp roll.

Huss said:

When I go out I stuff 36 exp rolls in every pocket, nook and cranny… I guess you would not call me someone who would be interested in a 12 exp roll.

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Me neither except when I am shooting MF.

When I was growing up, KodaColor was available in 12,24, and 36 exposure rolls. KodaChrome was available in 20 and 36 exposure rolls.

I only bought a 12 exposure roll of FujiColor once (by mistake), and was surprised when my camera started rewinding halfway through the roll.

At the time, like many other amateurs of the time, a 24 exposure roll might last me several months. I didn't;t shoot 36 exposures often because that might take me 6 months to shoot.

I often use bulk-loaded film and roll short rolls for specific purposes. For color I generally shoot 36 exposure rolls since the lab I use charges the same price per roll without regard to length.

faberryman said:

I began photography in 1973 and do not remember ever seeing a 12 exposure rolls of 35mm film. But I have learned from this thread that they did exist at least for some time in some places. I think 126 cartridges were 12 exposure.

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I do remember the 12 exp 35mm rolls, although I could not imagine them being useful as a standard item. I am almost sure that the place I worked did have some at least in Kodacolor. I was more into trying to get the customer to shootthe biggest rolls we had to fit their camera, explaining the cost for picture would be lower, and never mentioning that I know that folks will Kids would shoot a 36 exposure roll as often as they would use a 24 exposure roll, but did not feel guilty as I imagined that they would appreciate having more shots of their kids.

I understand that there was a special "Police Identification" film of about 5 or 6 exposures. Only sold to Law enforcement, who had to track the film in processing to be able to swear in court that the pictures that were shown in court were the exact pictures that they took at the crime scene. they probably had to go directly to the place that processed the film and stare at the machine until the film popped out, and they checked the twin-check themselves. I also recall hearing about the short Real-estate rolls although again I never saw one in person.

110, 126 originally came in 12 or 20 exposure rolls. at the time 135 was in 20 or 36 shot rolls. The 20 exposure rolls on all three became 24. I vidily recall having to reassure at least one 126 customer that the NEW 24 exposure roll would indeed work in their existing 126 Camera, "the cartridge is the same size, there is just a bit more film inside"

I have heard that the early Kodachrome came in an 18 exposure roll.

UP until the Flash Bar, flash bulbs came in 12 shot packages. 12 bulbs or 3 cubes. even the M3 bulbs came in 12 packs.... (exception was the RED based flash cubes- for Polaroid, which came two in a package.) Flash Bar for the polaroid was 5 shots a side. Flip Flash started at 4 bulbs per end, but I also have seen some with 5 bulbs per end. arround tha time, electronic flash came to dominate.
european flash bulbs I don't recall seeing, (PF2 and so on) so I am not sure if they came in 10 or 12 shot packs.

12 shots would be a way to test a camera. Not much more.

Sirius Glass said:

12 shots would be a way to test a camera. Not much more.

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That sounds odd coming from someone who uses a Hasselblad.

Historically, commercial work, head shots, real estate, product shots for a catalog, even landscapes, shoot 12 in Plus X then 12 PanX developed the Plus X in D76 the PanX in DK 50. In the modern world, maybe to shoot a landscape with a couple of different films, shooting zone with 35mm. I short rolls when shooting Zone, the irony is that I will shoot more frames of the same scene than if I were to shoot a standard roll of 24 or 36.

Paul Howell said:

Historically, commercial work, head shots, real estate, product shots for a catalog, even landscapes, shoot 12 in Plus X then 12 PanX developed the Plus X in D76 the PanX in DK 50. In the modern world, maybe to shoot a landscape with a couple of different films, shooting zone with 35mm. I short rolls when shooting Zone, the irony is that I will shoot more frames of the same scene than if I were to shoot a standard roll of 24 or 36.

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Historically, most of those shots were recorded on medium format film. My memory only goes back to the late 1970's, but I don't remember "professional" 35mm being sold in rolls less than 36 shots.

In the 80s and 90s 35mm began to take over the commercial market, and true professional films were only sold in 36 or a few in 24, for a lot of work Kodacolor was good enough allowing the customer a less expensive option.

benveniste said:

Historically, most of those shots were recorded on medium format film. My memory only goes back to the late 1970's, but I don't remember "professional" 35mm being sold in rolls less than 36 shots.

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And I do not remember ever having seen a 135-12 cassette in a store. That something was listed at a manufacturer does not mean that it ever showed up locally.

I can recall I shoot in MF when I was in commercial photography. MF is needed since the photo might need to be printed on big posters. Mostly in 645,67 or 66 .

On the other side, filing or archive works would use 35mm Microfilm, such as old newspapers or documents. They are usually taken in a bulk roll on copying set.


I have seen 12-exp 35mm film as well. But the fact that the stores had very less chance to display them, since many people who just read the price and forgot it is a 12-exp.

During the early 2000s I also have seen a store just give a roll or two to the customers who brought any films from them. Later when the store was going to close they put 3 big cartons of these 12-exp films outside the door for free. But still, no one wants them.

AgX said:

And I do not remember ever having seen a 135-12 cassette in a store. That something was listed at a manufacturer does not mean that it ever showed up locally.

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Not sure if I ever saw the 12 exposure rolls in stores, but I certainly only ever bought them online.

Curiously, when it was cheap to burn through rolls of film (80s and 90s) I used to prefer 24 exposure films. Now I tend towards 36.

The 12 exposure rolls I've seen have been photo shops, mini labs, and on line, and in the old print ads found in the back of Popular Photography.