220 B&W Film

I'm hoping to buy a 645n in the next week or two but I can't find any film stock for a 220 back will a 120 film load ok into a 220 mag

really I would like some 220 film but to date no found any ??

No, you need 120 film for a 120 back and 220 for a 220 back. The reason is that 220 film has twice the length but doesn't have backing paper except at the start and end. As a consequence the pressure plate needs to hold the film in a slightly different position.

Also, the counter needs to know that 120 or 220 film are loaded, so the camera can count 15 or 30 exposures respectively.

220 film might be quite hard to source these days, but try The Darkroom Ltd. or any professional dealer such as Calumet.

And you can pick up a s/h 120 back pretty cheaply

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Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -

this is no longer a issue as I have bought a 645n with a 120 back but I now need to find a lens for it.
I plan to shoot B&W Landscapes with this camera also architecture photography and to odd seascape when I'm near the coast

Have you tried eBay?

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Best regards, John

For film I have used Photouk.co.uk (spun out of Fujilab) good prices and speedy delivery (even Velvia was a new batch)...

west yorkshire cameras or LCE might be good places to look for lenses, lots of independent camera shops with plenty of SH stock...

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AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff

Try MIFSUD. CHEERS Vic

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Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.

I understand that 220 backs can be easily converted to 120 backs. I only have a single 120 back so it's not an issue for me (though I have some 220 film I can currently only use in my 124G).

Ffordes are expensive for medium format lenses and very rarely have 75mm primes. The 75mm lens is very good indeed, by the way. So is the A 55mm, which I've also used (and which may be a better choice for landscapes).

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Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses

Thank you Jonathan-Mac I have bought a 75mm lens and looking for a 45mm prime lens now I agree Ffordes where so so expensive.

I'm just waiting now for delivery of camera and lens(75mm)

Kodak portra 100/400 is still available in 220, but afaik there are no b&w films available for 220.

[quote:3496ace15f="Jonathan-Mac"]I understand that 220 backs can be easily converted to 120 backs. I only have a single 120 back so it's not an issue for me (though I have some 220 film I can currently only use in my 124G).

I know this is an early post but I have successfully converted a 220 to a 120 insert. Very easy and works perfectly. 220 inserts are cheap on ebay

If all you have done is flip the little plastic piece then you have only half done the job and you can be building up problems for yourself and the camera.

If you compare the pressure plates of the 120 and 22 inserts side by side you will see that the 220 pressure plate is relieved (cut away) a small amount on the outside edges. This is to allow the pressure plate to bear on the film instead of the paper backing and locate the film securely in the proper plane. With a 120 insert the pressure plate presses the backing paper onto its proper rails above and below the film gate whilst the film is located correctly on its rails by the backing paper.

Essentially, unless the backplate is modified: a) the film will not be held in the correct plane and b) it will place undo stress on the winding motor assembly and it this breaks you have an expensive door stop as I have never found anyone who repairs them,

I discovered this years ago but recently found this post which explains it more clearly:

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/node/4763083