120 Medium Format PHOTOGRAPHY | GETTING STARTED

That Kodak tourist looks like it could be fun to really fun to use.

Thank you for the video

Great video

Nah, I'll stick to 35mm, thanks.

It's called 120 film cuz it's the 120th film type. Just like how the AR-15 is called the AR-15 because it's the 15th automatic rifle ever invented.

Respect +100 for ruining a roll of 120

Just about take my very first shots with my mint mamiya rz67 pro ii.
Hope it goes well.

Thing you don't mention is that 6x6 and 6x9 are also nice formats for contact printing (onto proper paper). Works better with 6x9. My first camera was a Brownie Vectra 127 camera, for which my uncle (a pro film cameraman) bought me a contact frame along with the camera. It shot 6x4 (6cm long frame on 127 width, which I think was 4cm). The contact frame got lost! Having used a Mamiya C33 for which I usually managed to cadge time on a medium format enlarger (after blowing up 35mm 6x6 contacts seem small). I am now just putting an old Brownie 620 back into service thinking of contact printing. In this era of scanners and digital processing it will be good to get back to basics and concentrate on looking for good subjects and composition! (Would love to do 10x8 on a view camera with contact prints but I am not in that league, financially or photographically!)

You can get 220 on eBay. Named shanghai

I‘m fine with my Agfa Isolette L but a Hasselblad 500cm or a Rolleiflex would be darn cool.

KIEV = Russian Hasselblad

thank you so much for this. My Grandad's Leica contarex 35mm camera confused the hell out of me as it didn't have a take-up spool. I now have one and it seems to work. This medium format technology seems to work in a similar way.

Thanks for the video.

I have been shooting medium format since I was 5-years old.
Over the decades, I have shot 6x6cm, 6x7cm, 6x9cm, and 6x12cm medium format aspect ratios.
I have used medium format box cameras, folding cameras, TLR cameras, SLR cameras, rangefinder cameras, homemade pinhole cameras, and Diana and Holga "toy" cameras.
My personal favorite medium format camera was the Mamiya TLR with 55, 80, and 180mm lenses.

There are so many great 120 rangefinder cameras that you never mentioned and they're so cheap (under £75).

My camera is a yashica mat 124g. That I TLA’d an tuned, love it.

Is there a reason that 35mm film doesn't have a variety of frame sizes like medium format? Is it because there's no sprockets and you can wind it as much as you want?

In your opinion, is saving for a Hassleblad or Rolleiflex worth the investment ?

My Kodak Vigilant and Argoflex are just worth the time it takes to respool onto 620 spools. I do love my Bronicas and Lubitel 2, though.
Great video. Thanks.

Thank you so much. I love your channel!

You have some serious chromatic abboration going on around you bro

You can buy 620 film at b/h

I find myself bouncing all around your channel learning tons of new things about photography. You explain things so well, thank you so much for helping me & everyone else who watches your videos 🙏🏻

Can you suggest a website where I can send my 6×6 120 film to be developed

I think i should just getting a automated 120 camera like fuji ga645zi

Has anyone tried 120 Shanghai B&W film recently? I use their 4x5" film and like it.
The reason I am asking is I want to order some 120 Shanghai to try but not if they still are having trouble with the backing. If you are not aware, a few years ago Shanghai had a problem with the ink on the paper backing that would transfer to the emulsion of the film while it was all rolled up. The ink of the words and numbers would soak in and not come out during development! In the final B&W prints, you could faintly read those words and numbers.

Thank you.

Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Digging your channel 👍 just subbed.

This was highly unnatural and not something I would learn from a digital photographer. But that is to expected now a days. You are both extremely intelligent and bare a remarkable resemblance to the future late author Stephan King.

Having a soviet rip off of something is much cooler than having the original

Please do not overlook the Zeiss MF folders from the late 30’s.

My neighbor gave me an old Kodak pocket camera no.3-b and it is supposed to take 105 film but I've made adapters to shoot 120 through it and ill get 6cm×14cm negatives

WELL SORRY TO SAY THIS SINCE IT HAS BEEN A YEAR, My Kiev did arrive as I was excited, however when I open the box that the 2nd 120 camera was OK, as for the Kiev it was DAMAGE, as more than Damage that the package was tamper, and open as it was re taped again, the Mirror box was damage, and the mirror was crack. So I returned it got my refund, and the seller blamed it on the Russian Post office, so I got myself a Zeiss 1938 Ikonta, and as also I have a Graflex RF XL, and along with my Plaubel from Germany, but I also have my Bronica S2A in since that why I should get a Kiev? so All I have is my S2A with a 75mm Nikkor, so what I got is a 50mm 3.5. and 135mm 3.5 all Nikkors, and a Chimmy Focus Hood. Just wish that I would have a Polaroid Back. But also have a 105mm 3.5 Nikkor so now I have a Bronica System - as a bit Noisy when the shutter is fired, but my shots will be sharp on Nikkor Glass.

Kodak were the worst offenders for obsolete film types like the 620 film that only differed in the spool type solely to segment the markets. many vintage European medium film format cameras exist that can be had quite cheap. Agfa made oh so many 120 format cameras like the 6X9 Agfa Billy 1 (the post war version idealy) or the rangefinder equipped 6X6 Agfa Isolette ii or iii, while not the best will certainly get you in the door cheaply without having to re-spool a 620 Kodak

Super helpful video for me as a noob... thanks 😊

is there a way to use this film in a series 100 land camera?

What do you think of ultra cheap 120 cameras like the Holga?

Great video! Was wondering for my AGFA Ansco 120 camera, where can I purchase various Frame Masks (in 6x4.5, 6x6, and 6x7) for this 6x9 size cam I have?

Wow that’s very good education

Thanks for mentioning the Mamiya Press camera. This is a real gem, the weight of the camera is compensated with the great hand grip.

Thank you, clear and to the point. This helps a lot.

I used to use an old Rolleiflex that loads 117 film, that is the same as 120, but half the length. I had to adapt the spool to fit in there...

It hurts seeing him expose that film like that

Higher resolution? No. Resolution is a measure of the lens. You mean accutance.

Best medium format for the money. Mamiya Press Super 23 with the 6x9 back and 100mm lens. Sometimes can be picked up for less than $300.

The holga is the stupidest camera concept I've ever heard. The camera costs something like £30 and the film is freaking expensive. It would be a lot smarter to start on an old 35mm slr for the same price and MUCH better quality.

PSA- you can use a nail trimmer to cut the extra bits of spool that extend past the film from 120 and it will fit into 620 cameras. (Don’t but the film just the circular edge of the spool on both sides)

Very cool survey! thanks..!

Geez, did you lose weight or was it the beard?

I'm preparing myself for taking my first roll of 120 on a newly acquired TLR but for the life of me I could not find any instructional video that talked about what happens to the roll when it's done since it doesn't rewind back into a cannister (35mm). FINALLY, someone talks about this! Thank you so much! Minor thing, I know but just trying figure out was causing me frustration.