What happened to the 12exp 35mm film

[amellice]

I remember reading somewhere that at some point there were 12 exp 35mm roll, where did they go? Am I imagining this?

 

[NickLimegrove]

http://www.ultrafineonline.com/ulxtblwhfiis6.html

 

[DWThomas]

There were -- some of the consumer films from the big names -- I seem to recall one of their targets was the real estate business where a salesman might want just a few shots to peddle a house (needless to say, that niche has been filled by "other technology" these days). There used to be 20 exposure rolls and later 24, but I find not too many of those anymore either. I specifically looked for 24 exposure B&W film to use in my Argus C-3 on Argus Day because I often find 36 exposures is a lot of shooting in that machine! That answer turned out to be Ilford FP4 Plus, which is a nice match for that camera.

I suspect the market for very short rolls has largely dried up.

 

[AgX]

It grew up.

 

[Sirius Glass]

They became adults in a bigger size.
12 exposures disappeared
20 exposures became 24 exposures
36 exposures stayed the same.

 

[pentaxuser]

I haven't seen any in the U.K. for maybe 6 years. The last kind I recall being able to buy was 12 frame cassettes of Fuji Superia 200. I don't think I have ever seen any Ilford 12 frame cassettes since my interest in film began in about 2003.

As DaveT says, it would seem that the big players have all abandoned 12 frame cassettes. Pity in some ways. An afternoon out seemed to fit with 12 frames when the light conditions would remain the same, even in the U.K. - well nearly the same

pentaxuser

 

[Rick A]

The reason I roll my own, any more than 12 exposures sits in my camera forever.

 

[snapguy]

Am

Amazon has them from various makers -- Fuji, Kodak, etc.

 

[amellice]

I think 12 is good if you think about each frame (ex: landscape) and you have a chance to print all of them. I find myself tired to print 36 exp roll and sometimes unconsciously find myself rushing through prints just to get the roll done. That's why i switched to 24 exp and couple of weeks ago bought my first bulk loader planing to have around 15 exp or so, I don't know if there others feel the same. 36 exp is good for street and quick snap shooting because you "expect" that some shots will be off and won't be printed out

 

[mrred]

If you are a decent shooter, 12 can be more than enough for an afternoon. The people left shooting film are mostly in this category, but are too cheap for the inflated price that goes along with it.

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[Ko.Fe.]

My wife remembers it from nineties, but all of the film I have from this time is 36

 

[perkeleellinen]

I always thought they were a cheap way to try a new film but then I could never find cheap 12exp processing. Most places charged flat 36exp prices.

 

[trythis]

Lots on eBay. You can buy hundreds of rolls at a time.
I wouldn't want 12 exposures in C41 due to developing costs being 3x a 36 roll.
B&W word be OK since I do that at home but 24 is more suitable.


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[Ricardo Miranda]

I always thought they were a cheap way to try a new film but then I could never find cheap 12exp processing. Most places charged flat 36exp prices.

When I was young, 12 exp was all my parents would buy me. Processing was also accordingly cheaper in the place where I grew up.
Local labs had a structured price range.

Now, I am using bulk rolls for B&W and I roll at times 12-24 exp rolls. And I'm glad to find 24 exp rolls for colour.

 

[DWThomas]

Amazon has them from various makers -- Fuji, Kodak, etc.

One wonders if they are claimed to be current stuff? When I don't see any short rolls on a site like B&H I tend to be a bit skeptical.

 

[pentaxuser]

I always thought they were a cheap way to try a new film but then I could never find cheap 12exp processing. Most places charged flat 36exp prices.

Is this because it takes as much time and chemicals as processing a 36 frame film? I suspect it does even commercially. It certainly does in a 135 tank at home.

pentaxuser

 

[Prest_400]

24 exp is not very usual nowadays, forget about 12 exp. I think Ilford still carries 24exp for FP4 and HP5. Tri-X might as well. I recall seeing these being sold around quite recently. Then there are the superias and gold.
I think that since I got into film in 2008, I haven't shot 24 exp rolls. 36 was too much for me usually, but it is the main format.

12 exp I recall, for consumers back then. Nowadays I think no one aside of external finishers does them...
There's the usual anecdote of a roll beginning in christmas and ending in the next christmas.

I always thought they were a cheap way to try a new film but then I could never find cheap 12exp processing. Most places charged flat 36exp prices.

I find that most labs do nowadays. No advantage with shorter rolls.

 

[pukalo]

They used to be sold in 20 or 50 packs thru BH. Always assumed they were for portrait shooters, 1 roll per client. Don't think they were common with general consumers, 24 exp WA their thing.

 

[Moopheus]

Wasn't there also 20 exp. rolls before it was 24? I seem to remember that, but it has been a long time since I've seen one.

 

[SLVR]

I find if I want something with 10-12 exposures I just shoot 120! Even still I can go a couple weeks with a roll shooting meticulously.

 

[MartinP]

They are now sold in bulk -- you get two and a half (approximately) rolls of twelve exposures in each cassette marked "36".

Simple solution is to wind half a "36" roll in to an empty cassette, after trimming the original leader 'square' to make an end suitable for taping. This is easier if the second cassette is reloadable, so that you can guesstimate by feel when the core is half full before putting it in the outer-cassette. Needless to say, somewhere dark is required, whether that is a changing-bag or nighttime and a few blankets.

 

[Kirks518]

Wasn't there also 20 exp. rolls before it was 24? I seem to remember that, but it has been a long time since I've seen one.

Yes, why yes, there was.... This was in a Bolsey C2 I just picked up. Developed in it B&W, and there were only two images of a house on it, c. 1980 (judging by the cars in the driveway).

 

[Kirks518]

I find if I want something with 10-12 exposures I just shoot 120! Even still I can go a couple weeks with a roll shooting meticulously.

Ditto. I have about 100 rolls of 36 exp, and two 100' bulk rolls of 35mm. Takes forever to go through a roll. It's even worse when you load a roll of 36 into a half frame camera (72+ exposures).

That's why my carry around camera is my M645, or my Yashica 124. Still takes about 1-2 weeks before a roll is used up. (even longer if it's in the RB67).

 

[gzhuang]

Still have some expired Agfa HDC 12+3 lying around

I remember reading somewhere that at some point there were 12 exp 35mm roll, where did they go? Am I imagining this?

 

[amellice]

Still have some expired Agfa HDC 12+3 lying around

+1