Topic: 620 to 120 Cheers Suzi !

[Miles]

"Chatting" to Ms Suzi the other day about not having to re-spool 120 to use in a 620 camera.  And sure enough it works, well ... it's loaded at least.

Simply trimming the edge of the spool, and then rubbing the flat ends of the spool (I'm using el cheapo Shanghai GP3) on pretty course glasspaper and woot !

I've loaded up my Kodak Duaflex MkI, that I used for TtV when still a bit digi biased 

As I was preping the film I did think, "Why don't I just load the 120 in one of the many £3 120 cameras I already have ...?""Nah ... I'm a Filmwaster !"

And the foolish practical thoughts were at once banished in a trice.

[original_ann]

Hooray!  And so another film camera gets to relive its glory days! 

[Ed Wenn]

Way to go, Miles. Using 120 in a 620 usually works, but not always. Depends on the camera. Just about my fave camera ever from the "Click!" perspective (i.e. it has the best sound/feel shutter release combo) is my Kodak Brownie Reflex 20:



It's a 620 format Brownie which takes trimmed down 120 spools like a pro...something I'm very glad about.

* Image courtesy of Pete Ashton on Flickr.

[Francois]

I must admit that some of these old Kodak shutters are incredibly reliable and have a nice click to them. I have an old Kodak FlashMite which I'll have to take out of the box some day and give it a spin...

[sapata]

I must admit that some of these old Kodak shutters are incredibly reliable and have a nice click to them. I have an old Kodak FlashMite which I'll have to take out of the box some day and give it a spin...

Indeed Francois.
I don't think I've ever bought any old Kodak camera with a faulty shutter.

Way to go, Miles. Using 120 in a 620 usually works, but not always. Depends on the camera. Just about my fave camera ever from the "Click!" perspective (i.e. it has the best sound/feel shutter release combo) is my Kodak Brownie Reflex 20:

It's a 620 format Brownie which takes trimmed down 120 spools like a pro...something I'm very glad about.

I think I had a problem once trimming the 120 spool and still not able to fit in the camera (which I can't remember now...), but most of the time is ok.

My pretty Brownie box fits perfectly and I love the results!

[Miles]

Nice shots.

One of the reasons I wanted to do this was the satisfying shutter on the Duaflex, much more robust that the Ensign.

I "wasted" the roll on Sat so hope to dev this week, will post whatever comes out 

[Suzi Livingstone]

"Chatting" to Ms Suzi the other day about not having to re-spool 120 to use in a 620 camera.  And sure enough it works, well ... it's loaded at least.

Simply trimming the edge of the spool, and then rubbing the flat ends of the spool (I'm using el cheapo Shanghai GP3) on pretty course glasspaper and woot !

I've loaded up my Kodak Duaflex MkI, that I used for TtV when still a bit digi biased  

As I was preping the film I did think, "Why don't I just load the 120 in one of the many £3 120 cameras I already have ...?""Nah ... I'm a Filmwaster !"

And the foolish practical thoughts were at once banished in a trice.

Hurrah! I haven't had time to try it myself but its on my list of things to do with my 2 weeks off over Xmas/New Year..  

[Nigel]

I've avoided picking up 620 cameras I've seen in charity shops because I didn't want to get into the whole respooling thing. If I understand correctly I would need to clip a bit of the diameter of a 120 spool ends, is that correct?

[Suzi Livingstone]

I've avoided picking up 620 cameras I've seen in charity shops because I didn't want to get into the whole respooling thing. If I understand correctly I would need to clip a bit of the diameter of a 120 spool ends, is that correct?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/3057193327/

This is where I got the idea from..

[Ed Wenn]

I've avoided picking up 620 cameras I've seen in charity shops because I didn't want to get into the whole respooling thing. If I understand correctly I would need to clip a bit of the diameter of a 120 spool ends, is that correct?

Correct, re-spooling is (for the most part) not necessary. It may be my toycamera.com background, but I thought the "trimming the ends of a 120 roll" technique was common knowledge by now. Add to the fact that you often get at least one 620 spool with each camera anyway and suddenly you've got no reason not to buy a shedload more cameras.

 

[Nigel]

Suzi / Ed, thank you. I often see some great 620 cameras very cheap in charity shops, I'm now going to be looking with renewed vigour. 

[moominsean]

i respool. i find that the shaving doesn't work with the 620s i use, like the panda. but it only takes me like 3 minutes to respool a roll.

i started a 620 group on flickr a long time ago

http://www.flickr.com/groups/620/

[sapata]

i respool. i find that the shaving doesn't work with the 620s i use, like the panda. but it only takes me like 3 minutes to respool a roll.

i started a 620 group on flickr a long time ago

http://www.flickr.com/groups/620/

Correct, not all 620 camera will fits trimmed spools.

[Francois]

But some have enough space inside that they could accommodate a permanent conversion. I'm planning on modifying a broken Kodak Pony when I have some time free (I should say when I feel like it)

[Diane Peterson]

just wanted to mention that some of the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye's take this modification of the 120 spool quite well ...some don't...I was told that the ones that have "B" etched into the left hand side of the camera when you pull up the little lever for bulb exposure do work well and the others don't...I have (at last count) 14 of these lovely little jems..some take the modified spool (regardless of the  "B")others don't..never figured out what makes the difference...just saying....

[Miles]

First lot ... Shanghai GP3 in Infosol 3

[Ed Wenn]

I'm now going to be looking with renewed vigour. 

Nigel, can I just take a second to say how much I enjoyed reading the sentence quoted above. 'Renewed vigour' is a top phrase which makes me come over all Evelyn Waugh. Good on ya.

[Dan D.]

Dear lord, this is what I've been looking for.  I just ordered a 620 camera on eBay, and now I don't have to pay $10 for a spool.  Well, at least there's a chance I won't have to.

[Suzi Livingstone]

Excellent Miles!