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220 film

F

flashbulbman

Member
As you know, 220 black and white is history. Does anyone know if 220 color film is going to be discontinued as well? Kodak does not list the film anymore on its site. Any hearsay from anyone who would really know about this? I have a chance to buy three 220 magazines from a friend for $100 total. Would I be buying paperweights?
 
No paper weights

Do not count on continued supply of 220 roll film.

A24 backs can be used with 120 film although you will loose one exposure.

It is also possible to convert good low use A24 backs to A12 spec.



Vic.
 
220 color film are very hard to find in Europe these days ... they are on the way out I fear !
 
thanks for the info, but i am curious on how this works technically.
if you have no idea, fine, but i guess if it can be done someone must know how.
so please, if anybody has info on this?

maarten.
 
I have seen the amount of parts that need to be changed.
This is definately not a DIY job.
Only professionally trained repairmen can do this conversion.
It only pays to do this with recent A24 backs that are in as new condition.


Vic.
 
well thank you, this is info that helps me further on the issue.
i can imagine it has to do with some interior parts that have to be replaced to get the spacing smaller for 120-use.
but wouldn't it just be a lot more interesting (and cheaper) to just buy a used A12 then get a A24 transformed?

maarten.
 
Not if you are after a recent mint or near mint A12 film back.
Those backs are hard to find.

A24 backs in unused or low use condition are easier to find.
For those backs the conversion is economically interesting.



Vic.
 
I'm a very new 500cm owner so I may fail on terminology and Hasselblad part descriptions. But here in Hollywood, two major camera stores continue to stock a variety of color negative and transparency film in 220. And both have a smaller inventory of B&W 220. I visited one of those stores today, Sammy''s camera.

The agent there told me he thought B&W 220 was going to end soon. A lot of differnet stores here have a good supply of 220 backs. I even know of a camera store that has a new A-24 back. They want $400 for it. They are called Kimura photomart in downtown Los Angeles. I saw at least 6 or 7 A-24 backs during visits today to Sammy's and to a small camera repair shop.

I learned from the giant K.E.H. store in New York City that B&H Camera sells 220 film on their website. If anyone would like telephone numbers for these places, please end a message to me.

Gary Curtis
 
I still have a good amount of 220 Color film (Fuji NPH and NPZ) and I loaded-up on 220 TXP when I heard it was being discontinued. I have about 60 fresh TXP rolls in my deep freeze. So my six A24 magazines will be fed for the forseeable future.
 
If manufacturers commited to continue producing 120 film would be a great Success and a fabulous new for film hasselblad lovers.
 
I love shooting 220. I buy it either from Freestyle in LA or from B&H in New York. There is no volume discount - in fact I think it's more than twice the price for the 220. But I love the fact that I can carry half as much film, change my backs half as often and I have purchased 2 nearly new A-24 backs for a total of less than $200, and I totally overpaid for one. I shoot 160 NC and 400 NC and I buy it 20 rolls at a time. I'm guessing they'll keep making it - there isn't any R&D expense or any special manufacturing that has to go on - they just cut the film differently.
I heard a rumor that Kodak was going to issue TX in 220 again (NOT TXP - TX) but thusly I haven't seen any evidence of that.

Love my 220.
 
stever said:
Hasselblad A-24 and A-36 backs make excellent book ends.

Steve
Click to expand...

I would tend to disagree. I have six nice A24 backs and I've simply been loading up on a freezer full of film, so that I can continue to use them.

People say the same thing about the A70 backs, and I have five of those working and plenty of film to last a good long time.

Simply different perspective.
 
ivannoval said:
If manufacturers commited to continue producing 120 film would be a great Success and a fabulous new for film hasselblad lovers.
Click to expand...


120 film is here to stay at least till all movie theatres are convertied to digital projection.
With current high cost for powerful digital beamers this is not likely to happen anywhere soon.
Most movie theatres have trouble paying their bills let alone invest in expensive new gear.
 
Daniel Unkefer said:
I would tend to disagree. I have six nice A24 backs and I've simply been loading up on a freezer full of film, so that I can continue to use them.

People say the same thing about the A70 backs, and I have five of those working and plenty of film to last a good long time.

Simply different perspective.
Click to expand...

No, not a different perspective; a different supply situation. If I had or could get the films I use in 220, I would feel differently.
 
Here's What I Found Today at B&H.

I was curious to see what is still available in 220, so I checked today. B&W seems to be completely gone. Found Ektachrome E100VS, Velvia 100, Provia 100F, and Astia 100 for trannies. Color Neg choices available include Fuji Pro 160S, Portra 160NC, Portra 400VC, and Portra 400NC.

I have been stocking up on PXP220, TXP220, Ilford HP5+, and Ektachrome 100, and still have alot of Fuji NPH and NPZ color neg. I'm all set in 220 for quite a while. I think the color neg will continue to be available for a good while, but that's just my guess.
 
I called Kodak in New York. Spoke to 2 different individuals there to be sure I was getting the correct info. Both said that Kodak has no plans to stop making Portra 100 and Portra 400 in 220. There is still a demand from wedding photographers for that format. One told me that some digital wedding photographers are going back to film.
 
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