620 film

kewri

kewri

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Kate
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hi everyone,

Apologies if a similar thread already exists. I've just been gifted a Six-20 Brownie E from my sister in law. It belonged to her grandad and I'd really love to take some photos on it and send them to her and her family as a thank you. Only problem is I can't seem to find 620mm film. I presume they've stopped making it, is this correct or is there somewhere anyone knows of that still sells it? I've read online that you can adapt 120mm film for it but there's a lot of talk of it getting jammed, anyone got any experience of loading/got any tips?

Thanks
 
According to Wiki, 620 was discontinued in 1995, so if you do find any (not impossible) it will be out of date. It's the same as 120 except for the spool diameter, so you need two empty 620 spools (one to wind 120 film onto to use in the camera, and one to use in the camera to wind the film on to after exposure). Hopefully, you have one already in the camera.

I have an old Brownie that takes 620 film, but haven't used it for years (last use say c1963); if you get stuck for a second spool, I'll take a look to see if there's one in it I can send you (if you want it) - but no promises that there is one in the camera.
 
kewri said:
hi everyone,

Apologies if a similar thread already exists. I've just been gifted a Six-20 Brownie E from my sister in law. It belonged to her grandad and I'd really love to take some photos on it and send them to her and her family as a thank you. Only problem is I can't seem to find 620mm film. I presume they've stopped making it, is this correct or is there somewhere anyone knows of that still sells it? I've read online that you can adapt 120mm film for it but there's a lot of talk of it getting jammed, anyone got any experience of loading/got any tips?

Thanks
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You need 620 film (no 'mm') which you can find on eBay - it will be quite fresh film as there are people respooling 120 film specially for people using old cameras. You also need an empty 620 spool for the film take-up spool.
 
Nik and Trick will re-spool any 120 onto a 620 for you if you send them a 620 spool. They have HP5 ready to go.

I'm surprised nobody has been off to a 3d printing and scanning place to remake some 620 spool or some adapter thingy so that 620 cameras can just take 120 film without any messing about.
 
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StephenM said:
According to Wiki, 620 was discontinued in 1995, so if you do find any (not impossible) it will be out of date. It's the same as 120 except for the spool diameter, so you need two empty 620 spools (one to wind 120 film onto to use in the camera, and one to use in the camera to wind the film on to after exposure). Hopefully, you have one already in the camera.

I have an old Brownie that takes 620 film, but haven't used it for years (last use say c1963); if you get stuck for a second spool, I'll take a look to see if there's one in it I can send you (if you want it) - but no promises that there is one in the camera.
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Thanks so much - I've taken a look inside the camera and I already have the second 620 spool for taking the film onto, unfortunately just can't seem to find any film, not even adapted 120 and not sure I'd be able to do it myself!
 
kewri said:
Thanks so much - I've taken a look inside the camera and I already have the second 620 spool for taking the film onto, unfortunately just can't seem to find any film, not even adapted 120 and not sure I'd be able to do it myself!
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See http://ntphotoworks.com/shop/product/ilford-hp5-freshly-rolled-620-film/

...but note

Fresh stock Ilford film 120 re-spooled and ready to use in any 620 camera.

As you know 620 spools are scarce so item will be posted on receipt of a used spool hence these are supplied to Special Order Only (modified 120 films will be loaded and returned)

This film ready prepared but we can spool any 120 film from stock to 620.
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I may be able to help.

I have 3 rolls of 120 film that I respooled onto 620 spools some time ago and never used them.

The film is ood 2015 i think but as with all my film, they've been fridge stored since purchase.

There is :

1 roll of Acros 100

1 roll of Tri X 400

1 roll of T Max 400


The only bummer is that I live in France so I'm not sure what it will cost to send 'em to you.

I dunno if I can say this in here outside of classifieds ( which I'll make an advert if you want to take them)......but here goes......If you are happy to pay £15 for the 3 rolls plus postage at cost , payment by PPG then they are yours and just think, so long as you ask the lab to return the spools ( unless you develop yourself), then you end up with 3 spare 620 spools which seem to sell for stupid money on fleabay.
 
The Film Photography Project in the US sell a huge range of respooled 120 film onto 620 spools.

http://filmphotographyproject.com/store/film/620-film

They even sell spare spools at a not unreasonable price. You may well get stung for import tax but it's worth considering if you're going to make a habit of shooting old cameras.
 
Asha said:
I dunno if I can say this in here outside of classifieds ( which I'll make an advert if you want to take them)......but here goes......If you are happy to pay £15 for the 3 rolls plus postage at cost , payment by PPG then they are yours and just think, so long as you ask the lab to return the spools ( unless you develop yourself), then you end up with 3 spare 620 spools which seem to sell for stupid money on fleabay.
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of course you can say it mate, if the OP takes you up on the offer, just put the deal into the Classifieds as per the usual manner.

To the OP - this sounds like a good offer, providing you're wanting to shoot "proper" black and white film - which, frankly, is probably the most age-appropriate use for the camera...
 
Asha said:
I may be able to help.

I have 3 rolls of 120 film that I respooled onto 620 spools some time ago and never used them.

The film is ood 2015 i think but as with all my film, they've been fridge stored since purchase.

There is :

1 roll of Acros 100

1 roll of Tri X 400

1 roll of T Max 400


The only bummer is that I live in France so I'm not sure what it will cost to send 'em to you.

I dunno if I can say this in here outside of classifieds ( which I'll make an advert if you want to take them)......but here goes......If you are happy to pay £15 for the 3 rolls plus postage at cost , payment by PPG then they are yours and just think, so long as you ask the lab to return the spools ( unless you develop yourself), then you end up with 3 spare 620 spools which seem to sell for stupid money on fleabay.
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Would love to take them off your hands if the offer is still there please! Thank you so much.
 
kewri said:
Would love to take them off your hands if the offer is still there please! Thank you so much.
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Hi Kate,

OK they are yours.

I'll sort out a classifieds but before i do, I'm wondering if you have access to that side of TP as you only have 18 posts
 
Asha said:
Hi Kate,

OK they are yours.

I'll sort out a classifieds but before i do, I'm wondering if you have access to that side of TP as you only have 18 posts
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Ah, looks like I don't I'm afraid :( anycway of working around this?
 
Asha said:
Is there a way around this within TP ??
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yep - let the op make 6 more posts and she'll get access - time's served... just needs the 25 posts

@kewri - Kate - find half a dozen pictures in the sharing areas and comment upon them - access criteria is 60 days and 25 posts.

(normally I'd not advocate a "run" for the classifieds, but as you've got the time served in the bank and it's only a few posts... you could even start by replying to me and to Asha in this thread in 2 seperate posts ;) )
 
@kewri I'll pack and take the film to the P.O tomorrow morning to request the postal cost so that I can let you know the total and be sure that you want to continue with the purchase.

That gives you ample time to gain your classifieds access;)
 
TheBigYin said:
yep - let the op make 6 more posts and she'll get access - time's served... just needs the 25 posts

@kewri - Kate - find half a dozen pictures in the sharing areas and comment upon them - access criteria is 60 days and 25 posts.

(normally I'd not advocate a "run" for the classifieds, but as you've got the time served in the bank and it's only a few posts... you could even start by replying to me and to Asha in this thread in 2 seperate posts ;) )
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I'm on it - thanks for your help!
 
simon ess said:
Don't forget to share some results Kate

And you obviously need to reply to this post too.

;)
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Will definitely share results - hopefully will get something worthwhile. Any subject suggestions are always welcome ;)
 
Asha said:
@kewri I'll pack and take the film to the P.O tomorrow morning to request the postal cost so that I can let you know the total and be sure that you want to continue with the purchase.

That gives you ample time to gain your classifieds access;)
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Perfect, thank you!
 
Kevin Allan said:
Another method is to clip the edges of a 120 spool to reduce the diameter, as described by me here:

https://kevinthephotographer.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/using-a-vintage-kodak-folder/
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Thanks Kevin, I did try this last week with another brownie camera and unfortunately it was still too tight a squeeze to fit in, and on top of that I accidentally exposed the film whilst trying to fit it, d'oh. I read online that this particular camera I've been given has been known to jam up if you try and put 120 in so I didn't want to take the risk this time, although I'm determined to one day master the technique with other cameras!
 
The difference between 120 and 620 film is not just the spool flange size. A roll of 120 film is thicker than a roll of 620 film - not just at the flange, but all the way between the flanges. Also the key slots in the ends are different - the 620 slot is smaller and the 620 winding key may not work in a modified 120 spool.
 
john.margetts said:
The difference between 120 and 620 film is not just the spool flange size. A roll of 120 film is thicker than a roll of 620 film - not just at the flange, but all the way between the flanges. Also the key slots in the ends are different - the 620 slot is smaller and the 620 winding key may not work in a modified 120 spool.
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If the 120 film is thicker than 620, does that mean that the frames of 120 will appear at increased separation? Or possibly, if it's wind-on until next frame number visible though a red window, overlap?
 
It is the roll that is thicker, not the film. The film is identical in 120 and 620. There are two types of frame control in roll film cameras. The old fashioned method is to use the printed frame numbers in the red window. This will be fine. The more modern method is to measure the amount of film that has moved over a roller. This method will also be fine.
 
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