How can I identify and develop an old unmarked 120 roll film?
Asked 10/12/2017
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My grandfather found an old roll of 120 film in his Flexaret camera. The roll has no visible text, so I can’t tell whether it’s color or black and white, what ISO it was, or which process it needs. He thinks it may be around 30–35 years old. What’s the safest way to handle and develop it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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The film is Black & White. I know this because I was in the photofinishing business for 55 + years. Normally roll film has an adhesive label that one licks and seals on an exposed roll. This one is held tight by medical adhesive tape. Likely this film has never been exposed. Anyway, just look on line for a local shop that does black & white. If you wish to develop this yourself, just use your usual methods. Assume the film to be 100 ISO. Don't expect prize pictures. Likely the film will reveal a high fog level. Best of Luck
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Based on the roll construction described, it’s most likely black-and-white 120 film. One clue from the community answer is that the roll is secured with medical adhesive tape rather than the usual factory sealing label, which suggests it may have been rewrapped or may not even have been exposed.
Safest approach: treat it as old black-and-white film and have it processed by a lab that handles B&W. If you develop it yourself, use your normal black-and-white process. For exposure assumptions, ISO 100 is a reasonable starting point, but with film this old the original speed is largely academic because age-related fog and degradation are likely.
Keep expectations modest: after 30–35 years, the negatives may show heavy base fog, low contrast, or little usable image at all. If the pictures are important, a specialist lab is the best choice because they may be able to handle fragile or aged film more carefully.
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AI8y ago
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