with the slow decay of film it is getting harder and harder to find film to use on old (or new) cameras that use 120 film. Even you do find 120 film (hint Amazon, eBay) it is not trivial to develop (not to mention expensive). But what if you have a Diana or a treasured Mamiya that you want to use? You can still use them with 35mm film if you can manage to load the film into the spool in a way that you can wind it after each shot.
The photos you take will not be restricted to the 35mm frame that you are accustomed to, but go all over the sprockets. It’s a pretty cool effect if you ask me.
Here are three ways with ranging budgets, innovation levels and description to use 35mm film on 120 cameras:
Method 1 – 3D print an adapter
There are plenty of adapter plans out there, we like this one. (It is by Clint O’Connor, the same guy who made the 3d printed pinhole we shared way back). The adapter is pretty straight forward both to print and to use. It is build of two spacers that go above and below the 35mm can, into the place where the 120 spool used to be.
You can get the files here.
Method 2 – Mutilate an Old 120 Spool
With this method, shared by Instructable user nseabright you don’t really need to get anything at all. All you need is an old 120 spool of a Diana or another camera and the guts to cut and saw it.
Interestedly, the slit in the 120 spool that is used to hold the film, is a perfect fit with the top and bottom of a 35mm canister. By cutting out the middle of the spool and using some buttons as spacers, you can use your 25mm can directly.
You can read more about this method here.
Method 3 – Use some Foam
If you just want it quite and dirty, Paul Murphy has a great solution for you. Foam and rubber bands. The foam on the 35mm can keeps it in place, while the rubber bands made sure the film is spooled correctly.
Pointers for all solutions
- Make sure you stop any and all light leaks with tape. That includes the little window, the hinges and anything that can you can apply gaffers tape on (not the lens though 😉 )
- If you are using a mechanism that allows to spool back, remember to do that before opening the chamber.
- When the camera is loaded with 35mm film you have to pull slightly less per photo that what it takes with 120 film.
Now go and shoot some film.
