Dane.Kouttron

Using 120 Film in a 620 Camera [also on instructables]

What? 

I got a hold of a Kodak Tourist, a film camera made in the 40's. 

I wanted to use it to take some pictures; its an awesome camera that supposedly kicks out high-res shots. So after going to a camera store, i found out that the film it uses (620) hasnt been made for 30 years. Knockoff film is available, but its expensive (20$ for 1 roll of like 8-10 pictures, + the cost of developing = ridiculous)

I found a guide online for 're-spooling' 120 film onto 620 spools, although this looked like a quick alternative, i found out it was nearly impossible, as it involves moving things around in the dark, without touching the film. I attempted doing it in the daylight on exposed film, and i failed miserably. 

Then i realized, the only reason it was necessary to 're-spool' was that the spools were slightly larger than 620's . Thanks evil corporations. The camera's are pretty much useless without the film, so if you break something, chances are no one was going to use it again anyway.

So i came up with this workaround, which can be done in day light. Now you can use 4$ 120 film instead of 20$ 620 knockoff film, using only some sandpaper, a knife, and some brute force.

Really?

Yes, its that simple

Part 1: Get the goods

The images above is a roll of 120 Film, which goes for 4 bucks at a legitimate camera store. I used L&L camera, They rock

Part 2. Compare and Contrast

Here's the difference, 620 film is alot thicker and has an extra lip. The lip doesnt actually do anything though.

Here's a size comparison, for the folks whove never seen 120 film

Here's the thickness i mentioned, with the modification you can reduce the size dramatically

.

Part 3. The Modification

Literally all this involves is grabbing a knife and cutting off the extra plastic on the top of the spool, and then sanding down the lid so its about 1/16 of an inch in thickness. if it fits snuggly inside the camera and can spin, then chances are it works.

Final Product (after being developed )
taken with b/w film, scanned in and inverted: (psst, developing is easy to do on your own, but thats another article) -

Milleridge inn, LI NY, 2008	Whitestone bridge, 2009
	Soldering, 2009
Abandoned Factory, 2009	Riding the Skyline, 3.12.09	The Mad Professor, 3.12.09
	The Union, 09
Liz, 3.11.09	Taken by the starbucks lady, 1.12.09	YiaYia and the bridge 3.12.09
3.12.09, Structurally sound	New Paltz, 2009
3.12.09, NYC, String tied from foot to camera used as tripod		3.11.09 Heckshire Park, LI

Notes:
1. l&l camera (link)
2. how to re-spool film (link)

Dane.Kouttron
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 
Electrical & Electrical Power
631.978.1650