Eric Praetzel - Medium Format Cameras

Common Roll Film Types

"120"
This film is 6cm (2.25") wide, does not have sprocket holes and came from an early 1930's standard for the Rollei cameras. The film is rolled with a layer of paper and the paper has numbers on it so that you can see what frame you are on (thru a red circular hole in the back of the camera). Modern film still has these markings! The paper stops light from hitting the back of the negative and prevents scratches from the back of the camera case.
The film typically has 16" of leader, 32" of film and 9.5" of paper at the end. In comparison, 220 film has 21" of leader, 64.5" of film and 13" at the end.
Different cameras can take different sized negatives. The standard size is 6x6 or 6cm square. The Rollei cameras had adapter plates to also take pictures in 6x4 and 6x3 formats. Modern "pro" cameras are typically 6x9 cm.
Common 120 formats

negative size (cm) # pictures per roll

6x3 24

6x4 18

6x5

6x6 12

6x7

6x9 8?
"220"
The "220" film is like the 120 film but twice as long. It fits on the same size spool and this is done by not having the paper backing.

Kodak "116"


116   1899  - Apr 1984   2 1/2 x 4 1/4 

Date mfg, end of mfg, film, cost then

No. 1A Folding Pocket KODAK
Camera Model B (folding front) 1905 -> 1906 116 film  $12.00

Film Chemicals

Agfa photography course
Agfa Rodinal developer - This is diluted 50:1 and has a very long shelf life. It comes in bottles of 125ml, is less variable with temperature than other developers and builds image density slowly and consistently with little contrast change. It's a high PH solution so water acts as a stop bath.
Jobo and Paterson plastic tanks for 120 and 220 film - readily available
Ilford Universal or other liquid fixer.

Developing Films

Kodak Verichrome Pan film, 125 ASA(?)

Paterson plastic reels, I believe, can be adjusted for this format. If not, the old 'see-saw' thru a dish pan full of developer has always worked well. If you want to be careful, soak the film in water for two minutes before development [which will make the absorbsion of the solution more even, giving you a chance to get the hang of things. Compensate by adding a minute to the development time, for the developer to displace the water.

Cameras

Kodak No. 1A Series II Folding Pocket Camera Model B(?) (folding front)

History of Kodak Cameras

Mfg: 1905 to 1906
Film: 116 film
Cost: $12.00

Kodak A-116 Verichrome Pan film, 100 ASA (?), 8 pictures per roll (2.5" x 4.25" each)
The camera has patend dates inside upto 1923 so I'm guessing that it's a mid 20's camera.

Agfa Ansco "Shur-Flash" Camera

On my University of Waterloo web page you can see some pictures that I took with this camera.

The camera has 2 metal buttons on top for connecting to a flash. The shutter speed is fixed at 1/60 [my guess] and I've heard that the aperature is around F8 to F11. The lens is very easy to take appart. Simply take off the front cover plate and you will expose 3 tabs that, when straightened, allow the lens to be removed. At that point you can also see the entire shutter mechanism! It is very simple and easy to lubricate.

This camera has no date or model number of any type on it. The only text on the camera is "Ansco, Shur-Flash, Made by Ansco Binghamton, N.Y."

The viewfinder for the camera is on the side and the camera has about the same field of view as a 50mm lens on a standard 35mm camera.