Medium Format Question

[Johnboy2978]

I was thinking of getting a good ol Holga to play around with, however, I know nothing of medium format film which it requires correct? Is 120 film easy to find or do you generally have to order it. There aren't many camera shops in town here except Ritz Camera, and I haven't looked for it there. Also, what about developing it? Where do you take it to be developed, or do you send it off to somewhere online, or develop it yourself? Is it expensive to have it developed?
Thanks for viewing and answering.

 

[j_mcquillen]

120 film is not as easy as 35mm to come across, especially if there's no specialist camera / photography stores near by (as opposed to the chemists, superstores etc where you can buy 35mm)... Having said that, the majority of pros who haven't gone digital will probably shoot on 120 or 220 film for things like landscapes, weddings, portraits etc, so you should be able to find somewhere resonably close that stocks it.

If not, there are loads of places where you can order film online, and probably get it at a discounted price compared to buying 'in-store'

120 film in the UK tends to be cheaper to buy than 35mm, but I'm not sure about the processing - possibly more expensive, especially when you take into account the fewer frames per roll.

The type of high-street stores that develop film in-store (the 1-hour types... a mini-lab in the back of a supermarket, for example) probably won't develop 120, but some places will send their film away to a lab... these are more likely to be able to help. If not, have a look in some photography magazines for labs that you can send your film off to, or ask your friendly local photographer where he gets his done

 

[ShutteredEye]

Here in the US, 120 is cheaper than 35mm both film cost and processing.

Ritz store near me has stopped carrying 120. But, the local camera store (LCS) still has it. I order my online though usually from Adorama or B&H (use the links to support tPF!)

Both Ritz and the LCS accept 120 film for processing, but both send it to an outlab. Sometimes I use the LCS if I'm not in a hurry. I never use Ritz b/c they make me wait over 2 weeks. I use the outlab directly most of the time.

I usually spend about $15 per roll for the film, processing, and 5"x5" proofs of each print.

HTHs.

 

[usayit]

Almost every camera speciality shop around here sells 120 film. Selection might be less than 35mm but I've had no problems finding the Kodak series of 120 color and B&W film.

I generally request processing and an 8x10 contact sheet. Further examination is performed on my home scanner. Once I decide what frames I like, i take it back and have them make prints. Doesn't cost much more than a roll of 35mm but there's less frames per roll.

You will enjoy the quality of a medium format print....