Roll film

Last updated
A spool of Fujifilm-brand type 120 negative roll film 120 Film.jpg
A spool of Fujifilm-brand type 120 negative roll film

Roll film or rollfilm is any type of spool-wound photographic film protected from white light exposure by a paper backing. The term originated in contrast to sheet film. Confusingly, roll film was originally often referred to as "cartridge" film because of its resemblance to a shotgun cartridge.

Contents

The opaque backing paper allows roll film to be loaded in daylight. It is typically printed with frame number markings which can be viewed through a small red window at the rear of the camera. A spool of roll film is usually loaded on one side of the camera and pulled across to an identical take up spool on the other side of the shutter as exposures are made. When the roll is fully exposed, the take up spool is removed for processing and the empty spool on which the film was originally wound is moved to the other side, becoming the take up spool for the next roll of film.

History

Classic 120 negative roll film, manufactured by Agfa-Gevaert, with backing paper indicating total exposures available for 4.5x6, 6x6 and 6x9 cm camera film-frame sizes Rollfilm 120.jpg
Classic 120 negative roll film, manufactured by Agfa-Gevaert, with backing paper indicating total exposures available for 4.5×6, 6×6 and 6×9 cm camera film-frame sizes

In 1881 a farmer in Cambria, Wisconsin, Peter Houston, invented the first roll film camera. His younger brother David, filed the patents for various components of Peter's camera. [1] David Henderson Houston (born June 14, 1841; died May 6, 1906), [2] originally from Cambria, Wisconsin, patented the first holders for flexible roll film. [2] [3] Houston moved to Hunter in Dakota Territory in 1880. He was issued an 1881 patent for a roll film holder [4] [5] which he licensed to George Eastman (it was used in Eastman's Kodak 1888 box camera). Houston sold the patent (and an 1886 revision [6] ) outright to Eastman for $5000 in 1889. [2] [7] [8] Houston continued developing the camera, creating 21 patents for cameras or camera parts between 1881 and 1902. [2] [9] In 1912 his estate transferred the remainder of his patents to Eastman. [2]

Various brands of sealed 120 negative and transparency roll films Rollfilm Ilford FP4 HP5 und Fuji Velvia Astia Provia.jpg
Various brands of sealed 120 negative and transparency roll films

The most popular roll film format is 120 film, which is used in most medium format cameras and roll film magazines for large-format cameras. Until the 1950s, 120 roll film was, with the smaller 127 film, also used in the simplest of box cameras and other snapshot cameras. The use of roll film in consumer cameras was largely superseded by 135 and 126 cartridges, but 120 and 220 (double length) film are still commonly used in medium format cameras.

Automatic film speed sensing

In 1998, Fujifilm introduced a film identification system for 120 and 220 format roll film called Barcode System (with logo "|||B"). The barcode encoding the film format and length as well as the film speed and type is located on the sticker between the emulsion carrying film and the backing paper. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] This 13-bit barcode [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] is optically scanned by newer medium format cameras like the Fujifilm GA645i Professional, GA645Wi Professional, GA645Zi Professional, GX645AF Professional, GX680III Professional, GX680IIIS Professional, Hasselblad H1, H2, H2F and H3D Model I with HM 16-32 as well as by the Contax 645 AF. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

Film format Standardized set of characteristics for photographic film

A film format is a technical definition of a set of standard characteristics regarding image capture on photographic film, for either stills or filmmaking. It can also apply to projected film, either slides or movies. The primary characteristic of a film format is its size and shape.

8 mm film

8 mm film is a motion picture film format in which the film strip is eight millimeters wide. It exists in two main versions – the original standard 8 mm film, also known as regular 8 mm, and Super 8. Although both standard 8 mm and Super 8 are 8 mm wide, Super 8 has a larger image area because of its smaller and more widely spaced perforations.

Kodak American photographic and film company

The Eastman Kodak Company is an American public company that produces various products related to its historic basis in analogue photography. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and is incorporated in New Jersey. Kodak provides packaging, functional printing, graphic communications, and professional services for businesses around the world. Its main business segments are Print Systems, Enterprise Inkjet Systems, Micro 3D Printing and Packaging, Software and Solutions, and Consumer and Film. It is best known for photographic film products.

135 film Photographic film format

135 film, more popularly referred to as 35 mm film or 35 mm, is a format of photographic film used for still photography. It is a film with a film gauge of 35 mm (1.4 in) loaded into a standardized type of magazine – also referred to as a cassette or cartridge – for use in 135 film cameras. The engineering standard for this film is controlled by ISO 1007 titled '135-size film and magazine'.

120 film Medium format roll film

120 is a film format for still photography introduced by Kodak for their Brownie No. 2 in 1901. It was originally intended for amateur photography but was later superseded in this role by 135 film. 120 film and its close relative, 220 film, survive to this day as the only medium format films that are readily available to both professionals and amateur enthusiasts.

Advanced Photo System

Advanced Photo System (APS) is a discontinued film format for still photography first produced in 1996. It was marketed by Eastman Kodak under the brand name Advantix, by FujiFilm under the name Nexia, by Agfa under the name Futura and by Konica as Centuria.

DX encoding

DX encoding is an ANSI and I3A standard, originally introduced by Kodak in March 1983, for marking 135 and APS photographic film and film cartridges. It consists of several parts, a latent image DX film edge barcode on the film below the sprocket holes, a code on the cartridge used by automatic cameras, and a barcode on the cartridge read by photo-finishing machines.

Medium format Photographic cameras with an aspect ratio in the range of about four to ten centimeters edge length

Medium format has traditionally referred to a film format in photography and the related cameras and equipment that use film. Nowadays, the term applies to film and digital cameras that record images on media larger than the 24 mm × 36 mm used in 35 mm photography, but smaller than 4 in × 5 in.

Brownie (camera)

The Brownie was a series of cameras made by Eastman Kodak. Released in 1900, it introduced the snapshot to the masses. It was a basic cardboard box camera with a simple meniscus lens that took 2 1/4-inch square pictures on 117 roll film. It was conceived and marketed for sales of Kodak roll films. Because of its simple controls and initial price of $1 along with the low price of Kodak roll film and processing, the Brownie camera surpassed its marketing goal.

Autographic film System for roll film launched by Kodak in 1914

The autographic system for roll film was launched by Kodak in 1914, and allowed the photographer to add written information on the film at the time of exposure.

Fujifilm Japanese conglomerate started as photographic film manufacturer

FUJIFILM Corporation, trading as Fujifilm, or simply Fuji, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operating in the realms of photography, optics, office and medical electronics, biotechnology, and chemicals.

Instant camera Type of camera whose film self-develops a short time after the picture is taken

An instant camera is a camera which uses self-developing film to create a chemically developed print shortly after taking the picture. Polaroid Corporation pioneered consumer-friendly instant cameras and film, and were followed by various other manufacturers.

Instant film Photographic film which develops in minutes

Instant film is a type of photographic film that was introduced by Polaroid Corporation to produce a visible image within minutes or seconds of the photograph's exposure. The film contains the chemicals needed for developing and fixing the photograph, and the camera exposes and initiates the developing process after a photo has been taken.

Fujica is the name given by Fujifilm of Japan to its line of still-photography and motion picture cameras.

Standard 8 mm film

Standard 8 mm film, also known as Regular 8 mm film, Double 8 mm film, Double Regular 8 mm film, or simply as Standard-8 or Regular-8, is an 8 mm film format originally developed by the Eastman Kodak company and released onto the market in 1932.

Instax Brand of instant still cameras and films

Instax is a brand of instant still cameras and instant films marketed by Fujifilm.

Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D

The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W series is a line of consumer-grade digital cameras designed to capture stereoscopic images that recreate the perception of 3D depth, having both still and video formats while retaining standard 2D still image and video modes. The cameras feature a pair of lenses, and an autostereoscopic display which directs pixels of the two offset images to the user's left and right eyes simultaneously. Methods are included for extending or contracting the stereoscopic baseline, albeit with an asynchronous timer or manually depressing the shutter twice. The dual-lens architecture also enables novel modes such as simultaneous near and far zoom capture of a 2D image. The remainder of the camera is similar to other compact digital cameras.

Fuji GX680

The Fuji GX680 is a series of single lens reflex system cameras for medium format film produced by Fujifilm with interchangeable camera lenses and interchangeable film holders for the unusual film format 6×8 cm on 120 and 220 roll film. The distinguishing feature of the Fuji GX680 is the articulating front standard, which runs on a rail connecting lens and camera body by a bellows; the interchangeable lens is permanently mounted to a lens board.

References

  1. Archer, Myfanwy Morgan (March 1933). "Wisconsin man inventor of folding film roll Kodak features". The Wisconsin Magazine of History. 16 (3): 235 to 243.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Nemenoff, Ben. "Houston, David Henderson". nd.gov. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  3. Hammer, Mina Fisher (1940). History of the kodak and its continuations. The House of Little Books. pp. xv.
  4. US patent #248,179 for Photographic Apparatus is dated October 11, 1881; issued to David H. Houston of Cambria, WI.
  5. Christopher Beane; Anthony F. Janson (2008). Flower . Artisan Books. p.  12.
  6. 1886 patent #355084
  7. Hammer, 1940, p.55.
  8. Peres, Michael R. (2007). The Focal encyclopedia of photography. Focal Press. p. 78.
  9. Hammer, 1940, pp.55ff.
  10. 1 2 3 Paul, Matthias R. (2008-08-24). "Infos zu Mittelformatrollfilmen mit Barcodekennung - Barcodes auf Fujifilm Brownies" [Information on medium format rollfilms with barcodes suitable for detection through camera - Barcodes on Fujifilm brownies]. Minolta-Forum (in German). Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  11. 1 2 Goto, Shigenori; Hamada, Hisashi; Hashimoto, Shiro; Aoki, Nobuhiro; Sato, Tokuji (2000-02-15) [1996-12-12, 1997-12-09]. "US-Patent #6026250 "Camera, bar code reader for camera and method of detecting bar code reading". Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. US6026250A. Archived from the original on 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  12. 1 2 Goto, Shigenori; Makino, Teruyoshi; Hamada, Hisashi; Sato, Tokuji (2000-04-18) [1997-04-08, 1998-04-08]. "US-Patent #6050489: Bar code system for brownie film and bar code reader of camera". Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. US6050489A. Archived from the original on 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  13. 1 2 Sato, Tokuji; Hamada, Hisashi; Hashimoto, Shiro; Goto, Shigenori; Saito, Tatsuo; Arai, Hiroyuki; Omiya, Akio; Akiba, Makoto (2001-03-27) [1997-05-21, 1998-05-21]. "US-Patent #6208812: Camera with bar code reader". Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. US6208812A. Archived from the original on 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  14. 1 2 Goto, Shigenori; Hamada, Hisashi (2000-04-18) [1996-12-12, 1997-12-09]. "US-Patent #6052538: Camera and exposure control method". Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. US6052538A. Archived from the original on 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2018-01-22.