The 220 can produce up to 24 square images while a 120 can only produce 12 on a 6×6 format, though it would really depend on the size of image the photographer takes.Īnother alternative to the 120 is the 620 format which is essentially the same film except it’s wrapped on a metal spool that is a lot thinner. When compared to a 220 film which is another medium format film, the 220 offers more frames than the 120. Today, there is a wide range of medium format films from 120 to 220 sizes. The 120, along with other medium format films, has been widely used by professionals and amateur enthusiasts alike and it has become a lot more popular than larger format films. There are also special panoramic cameras that could produce a frame of 6 x 12cm or wider. nameĪbove are only the typical frame sizes and the actual sizes may vary slightly depending on the cameras used. Kenrockwell has a guide here but we breakdown the data through table for better understanding. There are also rectangular formats or full-frame formats, the sizes of which will be displayed on the table below. The most common format used with a 120 is the 6 x 6 or a 56 x 56mm square. You can come up with several image formats using a 120 film. It was originally intended for amateurs and hobbyists and as it grew in popularity, it became the main format for box cameras.
This type of film requires some special care because it needs to be processed and printed with some professional equipment. It used to have a red window that you can see from the camera back for exposure counting in the previous designs. This paper backing is blackened on one side so that it’s completely opaque. The film is always lightly wrapped in paper before you insert it into a camera or film back. A spool of 120 film can yield up to 16 images, depending on the type of camera and film masks that you use. Later, manufacturers made spools out of metal and finally, plastic. It comes wrapped around a spool which was originally made of wood. But do not confuse the 120 film with being 120mm in size. It was called 120 because it is bigger than the 35mm film but smaller than a sheet film so the term medium format is often used interchangeably. Epson Perfection V800 Photo Color ScannerĪ 120 film is a typical roll film format.