quick question about 120 film

[sc0ttie]

I hope this is not going to sound too stupid, total noob here with 120 film.
I will be loading my first roll of 120 film in a changing bag to keep light out. I am using a brownie, and rather than respool I sanded down the edges of the film spool so that it will fit in the camera.
My question is, because I opened the ends of the foil packet the film roll was in (but did not unwind the film or paper backing) to sand down the ends, will the film still be ok to use? I mean, does opening the foil packet mean the light will have got into the film?

 

[TheBigYin]

If that was the case, every roll of 120 I've ever loaded into a camera would have been ruined before I took the pictures... Don't think I've ever loaded 120 in a darkroom or changing bag in the 35 years I've been shooting it! It's ok to have 120 film out of it's foil in daylight for reasonably shot periods of time (not a couple of months....), provided you've not broken the sticky-paper that holds the backing paper tightly rolled.

I'd be more worried about the film being covered in dust from sanding the spool ends tbh!

 

[menthel]

Nope, it will be fine. I have loaded 120 into my lubitel without a bag before (once in pretty bright conditions) without any noticable effects. The only problem you may have is dust from the sanding down. Good luck!

Edit: TBY beat me to it!

 

[Alastair]

I never use a changing bag for loading 120 -I need to see what I'm doing, although subdued lighting is recommended (anything that's not full sun, i.e. your own shadow).. as long as the roll is tight on the spool there shouldn't be a problem. If the roll starts to unwind and become loose, then there is a problem. But if you watch the videos on Youtube you'll see that by leaving removing the retaining strip until the last minute and then keeping a gentle pressure on the film roll you can control it very easily. Usually there's a pressure pad to press against the paper back once you've got the the loaded spool into the camera that will keep the film tight for you.

When you unload the camera you also need to keep the film tight (subdued lighting, I doubt it's even possible with a changing bag) until you can get the gummed/adhesive strip secured.

Figure that the first roll is a test of the camera and your skills at this sort of thing.. don't shoot anything critical, and just enjoy seeing how it turns out.

 

[sc0ttie]

Thanks for your replies, that has cleared up my worry I think. I think because i have seen people suggesting film be re spooled in the changing bag that it had to be loaded into the camera in a changing bag too. My mistake so that has been cleared up too now.

Thanks, like I said, a noob

 

[sc0ttie]

I never use a changing bag for loading 120 -I need to see what I'm doing, although subdued lighting is recommended (anything that's not full sun, i.e. your own shadow).. as long as the roll is tight on the spool there shouldn't be a problem. If the roll starts to unwind and become loose, then there is a problem. But if you watch the videos on Youtube you'll see that by leaving removing the retaining strip until the last minute and then keeping a gentle pressure on the film roll you can control it very easily. Usually there's a pressure pad to press against the paper back once you've got the the loaded spool into the camera that will keep the film tight for you.

When you unload the camera you also need to keep the film tight (subdued lighting, I doubt it's even possible with a changing bag) until you can get the gummed/adhesive strip secured.

Figure that the first roll is a test of the camera and your skills at this sort of thing.. don't shoot anything critical, and just enjoy seeing how it turns out.

Thanks, yes I will be testing it out, I have made my brownie into a pinhole camera so will need to log my bracketed exposure times on my first roll so that I know roughly the kinds of times I will need in different light conditions.

 

[Disphotic]

I'd be more worried about the film being covered in dust from sanding the spool ends tbh!

I've done that before, dust isn't a problem, getting the spool ends sanded down far enough without exposing the film is however.

Good luck.

 

[Morinaka]

Don't worry i've done this a couple of times to fit 120 into 620 cameras (which is what you are doing i'm assuming), never had an issue with light leaks on the film; the first part of the film is just leader anyway so you would have to have been aggressive with the clippers to expose film. Best to use an original 620 spool on the take-up side though as it's much smoother to wind on this way, just remember to ask the lab for the 620 spool back.