Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > Equipment > Cameras - medium format

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 22nd February 2016, 01:19 PM
KeithM KeithM is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 103
Default Fuji GW690 II - 220 Film Availability?

Am awaiting delivery from Aperture (London) of a Fuji GW690 II and whilst I have plenty of rolls of 120 film in the fridge & freezer, I wondered if 220 is still available. All I have turned up so far is a Portra 160 pack of five for £86.52(!!!) on AG Photo's website.

Main usage is b&w (developed in Rodinal) so if anyone can point to stockists of 220 it would be much appreciated.
__________________
Regards,
Keith (M)
Emulsion Mania
Flickr Site
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 22nd February 2016, 01:43 PM
DaveP DaveP is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 990
Default

Ilford don't make 220 and haven't done so for donkeys years, and have no intention of doing so in the future apparently.

I think Fuji still makes some for the domestic Japanese market it seems. I have a few rolls of Velvia 100F in 220 in the fridge, I last used some alpine climbing a couple of years back in my GA645Zi, as reloading every 16 shots is impractical.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 22nd February 2016, 08:00 PM
Collas Collas is online now
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 971
Default

It's rare new and very expensive, so not worth the extra shots on one strip of film. Using a couple, or more, 120 reels for the same price is easier on the wallet.

I've got a GW680 III, so very similar. I use it for scouting locations for old films, those shot in the Academy Ratio 3:4.

Nick
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 23rd February 2016, 11:08 AM
KeithM KeithM is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 103
Default

Thanks. It is not so much the potential cost-saving but more a case of the convenience of developing sixteen frames at a time rather than just eight. I do have two tanks so it would be a case of:-
film1 - dev/stop/fix/rinse then dash upstairs and hang in the shower
film2 - repeat as above

Or buy a Patterson 3-reel tank to take both of my 120 reels. Hmm, I see AG Photo are out of stock of that tank. Will look further afield.
__________________
Regards,
Keith (M)
Emulsion Mania
Flickr Site
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 23rd February 2016, 11:34 AM
Richard Gould Richard Gould is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jersey Channel Islands
Posts: 5,433
Default

AFIK there is no 220 film made, Ilford has not made 220 for many years, Kodak recently dropped their last 220, and I don't think that Fuji make any, certainly none is made in black and white, so it is 120 or nothing, I think that the demand was so little and cost of production was higher than 120, so it became not worth making, as far as developing, with Patterson and Jobo tanks you can develop 2 rolls of 120 at a time, just make sure that the first roll is wound to the center of the reel. then load the second roll until it is just to the end of the roll, I do this very often, and with rodinal at 1/50 it works fine the same amount of Rodinal, or any other developer, develops the 2 films as well as the one.
Richard

Last edited by Richard Gould; 23rd February 2016 at 11:38 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 23rd February 2016, 05:16 PM
KeithM KeithM is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 103
Default

The 'two films on one reel' is not something I had considered, so thanks for that and certainly would be worth trying if/when I have two identical films to dev. First two through the camera this afternoon were Acros 100 followed by Tri-X, so two tanks tomorrow for the dev session.
__________________
Regards,
Keith (M)
Emulsion Mania
Flickr Site
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 23rd February 2016, 06:58 PM
JOReynolds JOReynolds is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St Albans UK/Agde France
Posts: 1,074
Default 220 disadvantages

Two other reasons for not using 220:
- the base has to have a tint to prevent light piping along it, so is made of PET, so cannot be produced by just slitting and chopping
- it won't fit in a drying cabinet without looping
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 24th February 2016, 07:01 AM
DaveP DaveP is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 990
Default

I'm pretty sure all the Fuji datasheets say their 220 is all on cellulose triacetate, same as the other non-sheet film formats.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 24th February 2016, 09:19 AM
JOReynolds JOReynolds is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St Albans UK/Agde France
Posts: 1,074
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveP View Post
I'm pretty sure all the Fuji datasheets say their 220 is all on cellulose triacetate, same as the other non-sheet film formats.
You're probably right. I couldn't find 220 data online from Fuji.
A finished roll of 220 had to fit in a 120-size camera so the backing paper was attached only at the ends. Some manufacturers coated on grey-tinted polyester to prevent light piping down the length. But it could not be produced by simply slitting a triacetate parent to the same width as 120 (and 620) and chopping longer, which made it impractical to manufacture in decreasing volume. I wonder how Fuji overcame the light-piping problem.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 24th February 2016, 09:27 AM
DaveP DaveP is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 990
Default

Surely with 220 there should be no risk of light piping, since unlike 35mm film the actual acetate film part is never seen or exposed to light except for during exposure, barring some kind of winding or unwinding issue in camera (for instance if the exposed film wasn't wound tightly on the receiver reel).

Also, for E6 film they can't tint the base anyway, or you'd get highlights appearing fogged.

When asked about 220 on a recent factory tour I attended, Ilford said they still had the machine for it but the problem was it needed fixing, and the cost to do so would make 220 disproportionately expensive, and given the market for it is so small it would be an economic nonstarter. They didn't mention base material as a problem/obstacle at all.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
220, film
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Manual for Fuji GW690 Eriktheviking Camera Manuals 0 14th February 2014 09:38 AM
FS: FUJI GW690 11 Medium Format Camera dave shutter Sale or Wanted 19 27th July 2013 06:58 AM
Film (lack of) availability arcr1 Monochrome Film 3 22nd September 2011 09:40 PM
Fuji film AmericanMrs Colour film 4 11th July 2011 03:28 AM
Fuji film at Ag Photographic Matt5791 New products and offers 18 10th November 2009 11:30 AM


All times are GMT. The time now is 01:16 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.