I was scared to try this, but it works. For anyone who has watched this but is as scared to try as I was, this is surprisingly doable. My first roll turned out OK, my second perfect. Don't screw around trying to modify the spools as suggested on other videos, this is quicker and easier, leading to far better results. Thank you FPP!
Thank you so much for this video! My first time shooting film was on a brownie Hawkeye and the film got stuck and I had to watch this to get it out. I’m glad you went over the film separating because it happened to me and I got through it successfully. Thank you!
I'm so glad to have found a second 620 spool hidden in an old camera ! I was afraid to try the re-roll method but now that I have two of this lovelies this just sound so much more easy :). A big THANK YOU from France !
True. Many have tried modified 120 spools but real 620 spools work best! FYI, fresh 620 film now at The Film Photography Store. That's our shop. Google it!
I haven'T done this re-rolling for a long time. I made every mistake possible. Initially, I did it like this. Then I found it easier, i you are careful, to unspool (despool?) completely and roll it directly to the 620 spool. After (many??) years I just now did this again..with a lot of self doubt I redid it again with two spool method. I re--did this because it seemed to me I rolled it upside down and feared the numbers (6x9) would not be in the right spot. I hope I did it right now... I haven't shot the roll yet...waiting for better weather.
This trick will work...but with only select cameras. Since 620 camera were made to accept the 620 spools, the smoothest thing would be to use the "roll your own" method as described in the video.
Thanks Michael. Very helpful. I just got in a rare Rolleiflex original 612 and it uses 117 film (can't even get spools) which is like 120 but with the narrower spool of the 620. So I'm going to use this method on some 620 film spools converted to the keyslot style of the 120. I think I have that correct. Haha. Anyway, good to see your demo on the rolling method.
I do have a question for this very old video, I have an old Kodak Junior that I got handed down as a display piece along with some other 620 cameras. Was just wondering how do I know how far to advance the film? In the manual it says when the film says 1 and 2 etc that is each frame I'm assuming it won't say what frame it is on with 120 film.
There are numbers on the backing paper. If there is a red window on the back of your camera, load and slowly advance your film til you see the Number 1 in that window. - Mike (still shooting' film in 2021!)
Great information! I have a question though. If they are the same film essentially does this mean I can go to a place that processes 120 film and expect them to process 620 film?
Hi Candice! Sine the film is the same as 120 (except for the spool), yes, any lab that processes 120 can do 620. I always put a "post-it" on my film saying "620...Same as 120" - For that lab tech who's not up to speed on formats. Hope this helps!
beaut video, but when you made that "beginners mistake" with the spool you could of had one of those "AAAGH" moments (like you do with the medium format camera flashes) would have looked so cool.
skin oil will interfere with developer getting to the film emulsion until the developer fully dissolves the finger oil... And thus, you'll get a fingerprint in the form of under-developed lines conforming to the ridges of your finger tip.
Hi. I would try to avoid touching the film. Wash your hands first, this way there is less finger grease. I recently shot some roll film and when the film got processed my fingerprint is in the upper right hand corner of the neg!!
Interesting. There is a way to save a lot of time and effort. There is a product called FAK 616 ( green one) which is a adapter for being able to use 120mm film. I use it on my Brownie Target six-16.
In most (all?) 620 cameras, there's a "red window". As you wind the film, you'll see a few things go by, and eventually a 1. That's frame 1 and you're ready to take the first picture (before that you're just getting past parts that were exposed to light). Then you wind until you see 2, take another photo, and so on. Later 120 cameras have automatic stops between frames, but since 620 cameras were generally low-end I'd guess none of them had such fancy features.
If you ever find a drug store lab that does 120, then respooling the exposed film back onto the original 120 spool would be easier than explaining to the employee that it's the same film size but you need your spool back.
Just use scissors and cut the excess of the 120 spool around on both ends, easy. It’s gonna be tight when you gonna advance the film, so make sure the camera into which you’re shooting with is clean, particularly on the rolling blades so that you don’t end up with with markings on your negatives but there it is. On both ends of the 120 spool cut around et voilà, it’s gonna fit 100%. Don’t do this shown in the video, it’s a waste of time and there’s too much room for error, otherwise I believe there are some kits that allow for a direct transfer into a 620 spool but I would not advise doing this at all
Any problems with spool shavings getting onto the film or into the camera? My old Kodak's only like 620 spools, but that's why the gods created eBay. Still working on 616, but I'll find a way.
I'm just curious--Why did Kodak even produce 620 film? If it's practically the same as 120, then why change it? Was it because they wanted to save more space when their smaller bakelite Brownies cameras came out? Odd really.
I believe it was to lock in Kodak camera shooters two use Kodak only film. In doing so, Kodak believed that they would build a sort of camera ecosystem in which the film, the camera, and possibly even the development processes were kodak only. Kodachrome was like this until the 50s, when the supreme Court forced Kodak to no longer monopolize Kodachrome developing techniques It backfired in that once 620 and 616 fell out of favor due to 35mm gaining favor, and Kodak losing its dominance in the camera industry, those formats stopped being produced, and rerolling or using conversion reels were the only way to press these cameras back into service.
An easier method to use 120 in your 620 camera; try this, though I can't guarantee it work, as I have yet to try it. I will explain the theory first. I recently finished converting a 616 / 816 to 120. 816 size film is the same as 116 film, only like 620 is to 120, the spool is smaller in diameter. 120 and 116 have the same spool diameter, thus, 816 and 620 film spools also have the same diameter. When, after following the directions, and making the spacers needed to use 120 spools in the larger 816 camera, the 120 spool with the film and spacers is trimmed to fit in the camera. The trimming of the spool with the film is done with an large sized pair of nail clippers. The modern 120 film is spooled on plastic so it just a matter of going around the spool and trimming the 'bold' edge from the spool. The spool is not going to be round, with the clipping, so using the finger nail file that is usually with the nail clippers, the edges can be smoothed and further rounded. The film is now to the edge of the spool. If this works (?) you can now shoot 120 conveniently in your 620 camera. The trimming of the spool will dull the clippers so do not use the 'good' clippers. I found a pair of industrial wire cutters that work like nail clippers; these can be found at a hardware store. I suggest taking an old roll of outdated film - not sure if is going work, and make sure the spool is plastic, trim the roll and practice winding it through the 620 camera to be used. 616 film is the original film size and later the name type was changed to 816 since the film produced 8 exposures.
To wind the film you will need to figure out how to make the winding catch larger on the 620 film winder or smaller on the 120 with an insert of some sort.
Seriously? A two minute, no-skip ad, followed by another two minute no-skip ad? On an *nine year old, 8 minute video*?? Is this just TH-cam taking advantage of people being shut in? Or does the channel have a say in this?
Perhaps to you but The Film Photography Project has served many customers with their mold-injected 620 spools who want to shoot with their vintage 620 cameras. Freedom of choice.
I was scared to try this, but it works. For anyone who has watched this but is as scared to try as I was, this is surprisingly doable. My first roll turned out OK, my second perfect. Don't screw around trying to modify the spools as suggested on other videos, this is quicker and easier, leading to far better results.
Thank you FPP!
Thanks for this! I found an old Kodak 6-20 camera in the box with manual today for $5. It had one 620 spool inside too.
620 film at The FPP - filmphotographystore.com/collections/all/620-film
Thank you so much for this video! My first time shooting film was on a brownie Hawkeye and the film got stuck and I had to watch this to get it out. I’m glad you went over the film separating because it happened to me and I got through it successfully. Thank you!
620 Spool and film -filmphotographystore.com/collections/all/620-film
I'm so glad to have found a second 620 spool hidden in an old camera ! I was afraid to try the re-roll method but now that I have two of this lovelies this just sound so much more easy :).
A big THANK YOU from France !
@hangmanneal Hello. Yes, when you re-spool using 120 film the counter numbers line up! How awesome!
ONLY if you didn't change the position of the tape inside, as this re-indexes the film start point!!!
True. Many have tried modified 120 spools but real 620 spools work best! FYI, fresh 620 film now at The Film Photography Store. That's our shop. Google it!
Thanks so much. I have 0 or 30 older medium frame cameras inxluding box, Agfa, etc, and I shoot all the time. Awesome unique pics.
I haven'T done this re-rolling for a long time. I made every mistake possible. Initially, I did it like this. Then I found it easier, i you are careful, to unspool (despool?) completely and roll it directly to the 620 spool. After (many??) years I just now did this again..with a lot of self doubt I redid it again with two spool method. I re--did this because it seemed to me I rolled it upside down and feared the numbers (6x9) would not be in the right spot. I hope I did it right now... I haven't shot the roll yet...waiting for better weather.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Updated 2023 video here: th-cam.com/video/E-AA3xn-8Sw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7_wcbSzHMZNbPmv-
I just got Kodak brownie starlet camera 127mm film camera..
Looking forward to use it with retrospective time shot.
Or, you can gust take a nail clipper to the outside rims of the 120 spool. It has an indent the same diameter as the 620 spool to make it easier.
Or doing so will jam your camera.
Just tried this with a 116 spool. Thanks for the help.
I was at a garage sale and saw 10 rolls of film from the 90's I bought it thinking it was 120 but when i got home i realised it was 620.
Zach Mueller are you selling them?
@@navidpey194 I wouldn’t use the film, if it was just sitting out in the sunlight and not being cared for it’s very expired, and would be fuzzy
This trick will work...but with only select cameras. Since 620 camera were made to accept the 620 spools, the smoothest thing would be to use the "roll your own" method as described in the video.
Thanks Michael. Very helpful. I just got in a rare Rolleiflex original 612 and it uses 117 film (can't even get spools) which is like 120 but with the narrower spool of the 620. So I'm going to use this method on some 620 film spools converted to the keyslot style of the 120. I think I have that correct. Haha. Anyway, good to see your demo on the rolling method.
Good method to make finger prints on the film,professor ...
Been rolling since 2009 sans any finger prints, Michael. Practice makes perfect.
filmphotographystore.com/collections/all/620-film
@hangmanneal Yes, when you respool using 120 film the counter numbers line up. How great!
I do have a question for this very old video, I have an old Kodak Junior that I got handed down as a display piece along with some other 620 cameras. Was just wondering how do I know how far to advance the film? In the manual it says when the film says 1 and 2 etc that is each frame I'm assuming it won't say what frame it is on with 120 film.
There are numbers on the backing paper. If there is a red window on the back of your camera, load and slowly advance your film til you see the Number 1 in that window. - Mike (still shooting' film in 2021!)
@hangmanneal Hello. Yes, when you respool using 120 film the counter numbers line up. How great!
@hangmanneal Hello. Yes, when you respool using 120 film the counter numbers line up! How awesome!
Anybody know what this video was made with? Was this shot on film? Some technical details would be appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you, help me a lot , never stop shooting film!
I read online that if you take a fingernail clipper and trip that ege off of a 120 spool that that works as well. Could you confirm if this works?
I tried it but it didn’t work in my Brownie 620. I didn’t try again to see if I could improve the method though
Coming back to this ten years later is amusing. $12 a roll for 620 at B&H? It's now $22. Hell, 120 is barely cheaper than $12 a roll nowadays
FPP offers 620 film - filmphotographystore.com/collections/all/620-film
The best place to buy 620 spools now is from the Film Photography Store. ;) (which is also available on eBay)
This was so helpful! Thank you!
Great information! I have a question though. If they are the same film essentially does this mean I can go to a place that processes 120 film and expect them to process 620 film?
Hi Candice! Sine the film is the same as 120 (except for the spool), yes, any lab that processes 120 can do 620. I always put a "post-it" on my film saying "620...Same as 120" - For that lab tech who's not up to speed on formats. Hope this helps!
It does! Thank you!
Just purchased a Duaflex II, can't wait to shoot some real BnW's. Great video, I think I'll give it a try..
beaut video, but when you made that "beginners mistake" with the spool you could of had one of those "AAAGH" moments (like you do with the medium format camera flashes) would have looked so cool.
So what is the savings approx? How much more is 620 film vs 120?
skin oil will interfere with developer getting to the film emulsion until the developer fully dissolves the finger oil... And thus, you'll get a fingerprint in the form of under-developed lines conforming to the ridges of your finger tip.
I always wear lint free gloves when handling film and negatives, we did this in the old school photo labs.
Superb, thanks, question totally answered! Thanks for posting.
Hi. I would try to avoid touching the film. Wash your hands first, this way there is less finger grease. I recently shot some roll film and when the film got processed my fingerprint is in the upper right hand corner of the neg!!
Or wear cotton / lint-free gloves if possible.
if you respool the 620 from the 120 will the frame counter numbers line up in the 620 camera?
Roll back on the 120 spool when finished
Very helpful video. Thank you.
Interesting. There is a way to save a lot of time and effort. There is a product called FAK 616 ( green one) which is a adapter for being able to use 120mm film. I use it on my Brownie Target six-16.
Hello, Do you know if you can spool 70mm to 120/220
Also could I just remove and save the spool after shooting the film and send film to developer without spool?
That was easy, thanks for the video.
use a nail clipper to trim the hub on a 120 spool. no transfer needed.
Is it ok to touch the film? or would touching the film cause finger prints?
will this work with a kodak vollenda?
Will touching the film during the process damage it at all?
Best to not touch the emulsion side of the film but if you must, you must. Wash hands before beginning.
I love how 620 film costs the double I paid for my camera.
Very helpful. Thanks!
I have a collection of older No2 Brownies that use 120 film
What is the reason to roll it from 120 to 620 then on to another 620 spool. Why not just the once?
If you only do one direction, the film will be loaded backwards.
how do you actually take the picture tho
I have a silly question; after I load the film and take a picture, how do I know when to stop turning the film to the next frame or picture?
In most (all?) 620 cameras, there's a "red window". As you wind the film, you'll see a few things go by, and eventually a 1. That's frame 1 and you're ready to take the first picture (before that you're just getting past parts that were exposed to light). Then you wind until you see 2, take another photo, and so on.
Later 120 cameras have automatic stops between frames, but since 620 cameras were generally low-end I'd guess none of them had such fancy features.
You can still buy 620 film. it is rare but out there.
kodak hasn’t produced it since the 90s and it’s their stock, unless you’re buying expired film it doesn’t exist and even then it’s limited supply
If you ever find a drug store lab that does 120, then respooling the exposed film back onto the original 120 spool would be easier than explaining to the employee that it's the same film size but you need your spool back.
Just use scissors and cut the excess of the 120 spool around on both ends, easy.
It’s gonna be tight when you gonna advance the film, so make sure the camera into which you’re shooting with is clean, particularly on the rolling blades so that you don’t end up with with markings on your negatives but there it is.
On both ends of the 120 spool cut around et voilà, it’s gonna fit 100%.
Don’t do this shown in the video, it’s a waste of time and there’s too much room for error, otherwise I believe there are some kits that allow for a direct transfer into a 620 spool but I would not advise doing this at all
just tap the other end i just did that and it worked fine
So can I just use any 120 film?
Yup, pretty much any 120 stock. Yo can even use 35mm film if you like that "sprocket hole exposure" effect.
Any problems with spool shavings getting onto the film or into the camera? My old Kodak's only like 620 spools, but that's why the gods created eBay. Still working on 616, but I'll find a way.
ghw7192 =
Why not tape that loose end of film down?
When I tried this it was too loose on the spool and I think my film got ruined. How can I avoid this?
uuuuhhh by rolling it tighter *DUUUUUUHHH!*
As you go, give the film a pull and wind to tighten up any looseness. You'll need to do this every six inches probably.
I'm just curious--Why did Kodak even produce 620 film? If it's practically the same as 120, then why change it? Was it because they wanted to save more space when their smaller bakelite Brownies cameras came out? Odd really.
I believe it was to lock in Kodak camera shooters two use Kodak only film. In doing so, Kodak believed that they would build a sort of camera ecosystem in which the film, the camera, and possibly even the development processes were kodak only. Kodachrome was like this until the 50s, when the supreme Court forced Kodak to no longer monopolize Kodachrome developing techniques
It backfired in that once 620 and 616 fell out of favor due to 35mm gaining favor, and Kodak losing its dominance in the camera industry, those formats stopped being produced, and rerolling or using conversion reels were the only way to press these cameras back into service.
What's with the voice canning
Chanign
Changing
very informative 1k tks
An easier method to use 120 in your 620 camera; try this, though I can't guarantee it work, as I have yet to try it. I will explain the theory first. I recently finished converting a 616 / 816 to 120. 816 size film is the same as 116 film, only like 620 is to 120, the spool is smaller in diameter. 120 and 116 have the same spool diameter, thus, 816 and 620 film spools also have the same diameter. When, after following the directions, and making the spacers needed to use 120 spools in the larger 816 camera, the 120 spool with the film and spacers is trimmed to fit in the camera. The trimming of the spool with the film is done with an large sized pair of nail clippers. The modern 120 film is spooled on plastic so it just a matter of going around the spool and trimming the 'bold' edge from the spool. The spool is not going to be round, with the clipping, so using the finger nail file that is usually with the nail clippers, the edges can be smoothed and further rounded. The film is now to the edge of the spool. If this works (?) you can now shoot 120 conveniently in your 620 camera. The trimming of the spool will dull the clippers so do not use the 'good' clippers. I found a pair of industrial wire cutters that work like nail clippers; these can be found at a hardware store. I suggest taking an old roll of outdated film - not sure if is going work, and make sure the spool is plastic, trim the roll and practice winding it through the 620 camera to be used. 616 film is the original film size and later the name type was changed to 816 since the film produced 8 exposures.
To wind the film you will need to figure out how to make the winding catch larger on the 620 film winder or smaller on the 120 with an insert of some sort.
Well if you know how to process film, you can always process it yourself.
70mm film is 70mm wide. 120/220/620 film are all 60mm wide.
isn't easier to just by the adapters for the 120 spool's ? HELLO !!!
The 120 spools are larger than the 620 spools. There is no "adapter" to somehow shrink a 120 spool.
lol Alex ..you are SOOO dumb !! lol
Seriously? A two minute, no-skip ad, followed by another two minute no-skip ad? On an *nine year old, 8 minute video*?? Is this just TH-cam taking advantage of people being shut in? Or does the channel have a say in this?
May I suggest Adblock plus. It's free and work quite well.
This film is absolute nonsense and complete wrong ... but the hat is nice :-)
Perhaps to you but The Film Photography Project has served many customers with their mold-injected 620 spools who want to shoot with their vintage 620 cameras. Freedom of choice.