Make sure when buying adapters for the ends of the 120 film reels that you buy strong ones- like literally ones with “strong” in their description- the reason being that you (like me) will get halfway through shooting your roll of film, having a great time, pleased with the subjects you chose to shoot- and the film will stop reeling with the winding reel. What’s happening is the resistance is building on the reels and suddenly the cheap, soft, wax-like plastic on those adapters gives way and won’t reel any further. Now you’re in a position where if you have a darkroom, I guess you can salvage your roll of film, but if not, you’ve gotta pull open the camera (ruining your film) and start over. The cameras are inexpensive and available, cleaning and fixing them isn’t too hard, but there’s a bunch of grifters out there (because of course) who want to try and cash in on your interest in trying out an antique camera, while selling you garbage. Be careful buying those adapters- it’ll save you film and money.
Yup! I wound up going through different adaptors and not having a pleasant experience. I wound up respooling 120 film onto 616 spools in a darkroom bag. That worked well in other cameras as well :)!
So I advance the film till I see the 3 and then 5.5, 8 , 10.5, 13 15.5? are those the numbers I look out for? and before that you said go by 1 and a half, could you help me understand
Honestly I don't recall, I don't think they did. It might have came with a 120 empty spool. I managed to get a few 616 spools with other cameras, but havent used them. (I have respooled 620 though)
Make sure when buying adapters for the ends of the 120 film reels that you buy strong ones- like literally ones with “strong” in their description- the reason being that you (like me) will get halfway through shooting your roll of film, having a great time, pleased with the subjects you chose to shoot- and the film will stop reeling with the winding reel. What’s happening is the resistance is building on the reels and suddenly the cheap, soft, wax-like plastic on those adapters gives way and won’t reel any further. Now you’re in a position where if you have a darkroom, I guess you can salvage your roll of film, but if not, you’ve gotta pull open the camera (ruining your film) and start over.
The cameras are inexpensive and available, cleaning and fixing them isn’t too hard, but there’s a bunch of grifters out there (because of course) who want to try and cash in on your interest in trying out an antique camera, while selling you garbage. Be careful buying those adapters- it’ll save you film and money.
Yup! I wound up going through different adaptors and not having a pleasant experience. I wound up respooling 120 film onto 616 spools in a darkroom bag. That worked well in other cameras as well :)!
So I advance the film till I see the 3 and then 5.5, 8 , 10.5, 13 15.5? are those the numbers I look out for? and before that you said go by 1 and a half, could you help me understand
they send you the empty 616 spool as well ? I didnt get it for my purchase
Honestly I don't recall, I don't think they did. It might have came with a 120 empty spool. I managed to get a few 616 spools with other cameras, but havent used them. (I have respooled 620 though)