Loading 120 Roll Film onto a Developing Reel

A quick update to the previous video on developing black and white film - in that video I showed you how to load 35mm film into the developing tank using a changing bag, in this video I just wanted to show you how to load a 120 roll film into the tank ready to develop.
Please note that I'm doing this in the light to show you the process - you need to carry out this process in total darkness using the changing bag as shown in the previous video.
The developing process for 120 roll film is exactly the same as for 35mm film, aside from this loading process and the amount of chemical you need.
To see the full developing process for black and white film, please take a look at this video: • How to Develop Black a...

[@cosievee]

Thank you or sacrificing a roll of not-very-cheap 120 film for our benefit! I've only just started playing with 120 film so this is very helpful to me. I also appreciate how-to's with tips/suggestions on how to do it better from things learned from experience (like removing all the backing paper first and why that is helpful, as well as what to do if the film slips off the guide tabs). Thank you!

[@rlevitta]

The center position is for 127 film - which is not as defunct as the below comment suggests. 127 film is roll film like 120, but is 46mm wide vs 60mm for 120. 220 film is the same as 120 but twice as long. You can buy 127 film from places like B&H who buy it from someone who cuts 120 down, or you can make it yourself from 120 film using a cigar cutter - search for that here on youtube to find a video. 127 film is used in many Kodak Brownie cameras, which are available very inexpensively on eBay. Aside from 127, there are many Brownies that use 620 film, which is 120 film on a slightly smaller spool, which you can also buy or re-spool it yourself onto 620 spools, available on eBay - as are 127 spools..

[@alexp8780]

I know your comment is 4 years old, but just to add a bit: Rollei still produces their crossbird film in both 120 and 127

[@edma22]

I've been wondering how it's done and just took the plunge and bought a medium format camera. Thanks for a straightforward and pleasant approach to what I was quite scared of!

[@catey62]

Thank you so much for this video. I just developed my second only roll of film I've done in my life today and it was an exercise in frustration that nearly reduced me to tears trying to load it in a dark bag and not having any experience whatsoever at doing it. though the film came out well after I developed it it's got lots of creases and some scratches where it got all caught up on itself and tangled...oh well..you live and learn...but knowing what I do now from this tutorial and giving myself more time I should get better at it now. :-)

[@PhotographyBloke]

That's no problem at all, I'm glad you found it useful! I'd be interested to see some of your results if you've published them anywhere

[@ReviveUK]

thank you, I have just acquired some vintage cameras and have decided to process my own B & W's so this is really helpful

[@Dangoldmedia]

Thank you, I did two rolls yesterday for the first time. Found not removing the paper first made it very difficult. Both hopped out of the holder. Thank you for the help.

[@nate_0723]

Thanks! Was not looking forward to doing this in a dark bag, but now I think I can do it.

[@frankbarrett2019]

In the 1960s I found Nikkor steel reels much easier to load than plastic reels. Practice makes perfect, so keep trying, and you will succeed. Follow the directions, with no shortcuts, especially regarding time and temperature, and your film will "come out" fine. Thanks for te video, which encourages and educates folks how to "do-it-themselves."

[@PhotographyBloke]

No problem, thank you - I have used the steel reels in the past and they were a lot easier to load I have to say, just a little more expensive but worth it if you're going to develop a lot of film. I'm planning on remaking this video to add the lessons learnt from the chats in the comments, so hopefully they'll be some more technique videos coming soon

[@rzxalbert]

I should have watched this before doing my first roll. Great video.

[@fepatton]

Thanks! Amazingly, that was exactly the video I needed - I have the same tank in front of me, along with a sacrificial roll of film and was trying to make sure I had the right technique. Perfect!

[@thebeautyofeternity]

Thank you so much! I've been home-developing 35mm since 2019 and just bought my first medium format camera and wasn't sure how it would look/feel like taking the film off the spool and onto the developing one. I did get a little confused while in the dark bag as to which was the negative and which was the backing paper and ended up checking by bringing one of the corners out, to find that it was the negative LOL so it has a light leak now but hopefully that just makes it look cool :P

[@xanthogirl]

Thank you for sacrificing your film! This was a BIG help! :)

[@johnward2964]

Great vid....but, of course, doing this in the dark adds a maddening degree of difficulty that can leave you tearing your hair out. It is a great exercise in being Zen like in the face of utter frustration. Stay calm and breathe is my advice!!!! ;-)

[@AndrzejC]

Appreciate the video, I`ve just wasted my roll too but learned quickly how to do it :)

[@Durtydave686]

Thank you for sharing. I liked the idea of removing the paper first. I have only attempted this once at home in a change bag and had a tough time. I'll try your method next time.

[@Cthulu583]

You deserve the like because of the sacrifice.

[@jerry680]

120 film and 220 film are the same width, so both would use the outer setting. I think (?) the middle width setting is for the pretty much defunct 127 film. nice video, thanks.

[@mamiyapress]

To load your very first 120 roll of film on to a Paterson spiral can be difficult, to ease oneself into this process get an old roll somewhere and sacrifice it by opening it up and cutting off about 6" to 9" (not critical) of it. Then before you go into the dark room or changing bag put this strip of film on the spiral so that it passes the guides and ball bearings. This will give you a platform so that the film that you intend to develop will slide effortlessly on to the spiral, once it has past the ball bearings just pull out the aforementioned piece of film and continue to load as normal. I devised this method myself and it works.

[@Mynameister]

+mamiyapress can't this be done with som of the paper instead?

[@mamiyapress]

No, paper is not stiff and flexible enough, film has the correct width.

[@denkden100]

I cut such sheet for support from beer can and it's works perfect. Before this aluminum I've used paper (strong, glance one from flakes box) for long time but it was missed somewhere around.

[@Gary5557272]

Thank you very much! This is very helpful. I have done several rolls of 35mm but I will soon be doing my own medium format for the first time. Very useful video!

[@NorthernWildsBummer]

I just spent an hour trying to load paper

[@joshua.mulholland]

I know the feeling. Turned the light on after my first attempt after shooting my first roll .... bollox.

[@proudtobeautistic]

Same here, loading 120 film onto a reel is a pain in the ass.

[@nickfanzo]

It takes practice, bro

[@themadscientest]

that's way better than 35! I have a "fat roll" from a holga I had never sent to the lab back before I knew how to do anything to do with photography... going to bring it with me to the school darkroom and see how it came out!

[@lacey1948]

as stated prev I have developed 35mm for some years. This video has been very helpful for the 120

[@paulabullwinkel]

he makes it easy! worked the first time! thank you

[@adad-nerari4117]

very easy in the daylight, but to do that in a dark room is another story ...

[@STEMPEL74]

Thank you

[@chrisb583]

Very strait forward, good video thanks man.

[@TheDide]

Hi thanks for the video and sacrificing the film roll for this tutorial!

[@entity9742]

Ive done only 2 rolls so far and while it was 620 it was the same size but ive had difficulty with 120, 620, and 35mm film as it seems to come loose in the grooves when winding and damage part of the emulsion I haven't seen any damage to the grooves but maybe its the way im rolling it

[@RJN0607]

Normally, would you do it in a changing bag?

[@donkeypoo99]

My reel does not come apart so easily to adjust for the size of 120 film. It feels like the plastic is going to break

[@Sohail410_]

Thanks for the video I appreciate the sacrifice!

[@DANVIIL]

I'd like to see how you do it without getting fingerprints all over the film.

[@davefaulkner6302]

I use a new set of latex gloves, which works out well because you can then use them handling the chemistry.

[@user-wd3ot8kr4v]

This is great...thank you!

[@VarmaRatan]

Great video!

[@LongshanksSid]

Well explained cheers man. :)

[@SammySantiagoIrizarry]

Thanks a lot my friend!!!

[@antoniopastori5496]

Thank you so much !

[@Chincolipe]

Thanks pal!

[@blu0065]

trying to wrap my head around how big medium format is

[@EL3IMAGERY]

Thank you!

[@mag.anaradulovic4629]

thank yoyu very much!! the video really helped!

[@Happynostalgia]

Are the measurements and times for the chemicals the same as developing 35mm?

[@catey62]

as far as developing the film goes I've found that the times are basically the same for either film ,120 or 35mm on the Massive development chart on the net, and it makes sense I guess as its just the film is a bit wider, thats all.

[@christinabs5636]

Yes, but you need more chemicals for a 120mm film than for 35mm.

[@bailarin2b]

@@christinabs5636 Shouldn't do because according to Kodak spec sheets the 2 film sizes are both 80 sq in in area (36 exp. 35mm film)

[@stevek8829]

@@bailarin2b but you do. Think, the 120 is 56mm wide vs 24mm for 135. That is vertical when lying in the tank so you need a higher liquid level.

[@chrisfrochaux6245]

I'd suggest to sacrifice a roll anyway... This way you can practice in open light.

[@PhotographyBloke]

Absolutely, it's well worth sacrificing 1 roll to have a practice rather than damage your actual roll when you try loading it

[@kibernetik0]

Thanks for the video!

[@Toothmother]

ty

[@hzubovi1]

How can I do this in complete darkness

[@totopaguia1]

i did it in less than 30 second in one hand.dark room bag..waana bet..

[@nickfanzo]

I have 85 rolls of 120 film to develop that I shot with my sl66.

[@hyennussquatch4597]

o.o

[@Ciaran55]

it's fucking impossible! it's curly, it keeps popping out. and I thought 135 was a pain...

[@robin9339]

Ciaran55 practice more !! I just wasted two rolls of films trying to do it properly... I found a way to deal with curly film... putting both your thumb at the feeder when you turning the film into reel to prevent it from coming of out the feeler!! try it =D and all th best

[@spacerconrad]

seems like, having a smooth wooden dowel in the "loose" end would weight it somewhat and keep it from riding up on the reel while you're winding. Obviously you don't want it heavy enough to drag and scratch the film, but just enough to keep it relatively taut. Maybe even mounted in standards, like a toilet paper roll...

[@MichaelCobbs]

Great looks

[@jacovanlith5082]

The developing reel is incomplete !!!!!!!!. You will get in trouble. If you know so few, you had better use a correx ribbon.