Newbie tech advice needed !

[Adi]

Hi I'm new to medium format and have just bought a 500cm with 80mm lens -the camera comes with a 220 back and I'm not sure what that is or if I should use a 120 back? Also where can get my film (when i've taken it) processed and scanned for high quality computer images? any advice would be greatly appreciated -thanks

 

[terrydent]

Hello and welcome. Your 220 back is designed to take 220 film which allows 24 exposures. It should be labeled A24. A 120 or A12 back takes 120 film and gets 12 exposures. If you don't have an A12 back you can use 120 film in your 220 back but you will only get 11 exposures.

Not sure where you are but I would take my film to a professional processor for development and scanning to get the best results.

Terry

 

[Adi]

Newbie tech advice

Cheers Terry -I'm in Somerset UK -so any good film companies you recommend would be great -I'm more than happy to post film to get it scanned of course.
Thanks for your help regarding the different backs -I have noticed that people are always questioning on the worldwide web if a 220 back should be used on a camera designed for 120 film as it can give problems of spacing etc. Also I'm not sure where to get any 220 film! I also do't know if the back I have is light tight -and if it's not (having run a film through it) where I can get that sorted out. The camera appear well used but clean condition although the 220 back has paint missing and the dark slide seems to have some slight bends in it.
Many thanks for your advice -appreciate it -apologies for having so many questions !

 

[maarten m]

i'm using both A24 and 12 backs. occasionally i put a 120-film in my A24-back, but stop at the mark about 1/4 turn away.
it always gets me 12 exposures, none lost, though make sure you don't forget you put 120-film in it or you'll end up shooting 12 more blanks

the only B&W 220-film i know of is the 320-TXP by kodak, but it seems they stopped producing it

mm

 

[Adi]

220 back

I assume if I put a 120 film in the 220 back -line it up with the start line I can take 12 pics? are there problems with spacing at all? What happens after I have taken the 12?

 

[maarten m]

no, don't line it up with the start line! but stop about 1/4 turn before you reach it! otherwise you might loose a frame.
spacing becomes broader when going further on the film.
after you reached the 12th exposure, simple wind the film using the crank.
your back nor your counter will inform you you reached the end of the film, so DO remember you only put in 120-film, not 220!

grts,
mm

 

[Adi]

Processing?

--Now any ideas of a top quality 120 film processor/scanner who can scan my pics in high quality so I can view and manipulate them on the computer? Im trying to get a really good quality image so I can prove to my son -who has a Fuji Pro 3 that medium format film is better than his 12 million pixel digital !--no doubt once I have got my first film processed the bug will have bitten and I will be looking at getting some film enlargements done by the company-any ideas and recommendations gratefully received -thanks

 

[Victorh]

I assume if I put a 120 film in the 220 back -line it up with the start line I can take 12 pics? are there problems with spacing at all? What happens after I have taken the 12?

You probably won't get 12 frames.
The most you will get is 11 frames due to larger spacing between frames which means frame 12 is lost.

Vic.

 

[cs_foto]

--Now any ideas of a top quality 120 film processor/scanner who can scan my pics in high quality so I can view and manipulate them on the computer? Im trying to get a really good quality image so I can prove to my son -who has a Fuji Pro 3 that medium format film is better than his 12 million pixel digital !--no doubt once I have got my first film processed the bug will have bitten and I will be looking at getting some film enlargements done by the company-any ideas and recommendations gratefully received -thanks

I don't know what you mean by 'top quality' but METRO imaging in London should be as good (and as expensive) as it gets...

 

[maarten m]

i'm struggling with the same scanner-question, adi, and for my budget,
i come to canon 8800F or epson V600. i'll go for the latter (€300).
if you can spend more, go for the epson V750.


@ vic: i never lost any frame on my 120 in the A24 back.
do you line up or do you stop at 1/4 turn?

mm

 

[Victorh]

-- Im trying to get a really good quality image so I can prove to my son -who has a Fuji Pro 3 that medium format film is better than his 12 million pixel digital !-- -thanks

That will not be difficult to prove.
MF film is way better against any 35 mm Based DSLR.
It will easily beat even the 20 Mp Canons and Nikons of this world.

Keep in mind you are also comparing lenses!


Vic.

 

[Victorh]

@ vic: i never lost any frame on my 120 in the A24 back.
do you line up or do you stop at 1/4 turn?

mm

I do not like to take a gamble on missing an exposure.
I would line up film arrows against the marker of the insert if I use an A24 back with 120 film and accept the loss of 1 frame.

Not much chance that I use an A24 though.
I had my A24 backs converted to A12 years ago!

Vic.