Vintage Cameras - Getting film?

[lewis s]

I am looking at buying my girlfriend a vintage camera (something she has always said she wanted) but i am worried about the difficulty of obtaining film. Obviously it won't be used often, but it would be nice to know that you could obtain film if needed. The cameras i have been looking at are 1950's / 60's Kodaks that take 828 film. Can you still buy this, i can't see any for sale online? I have also read you can 'make' your own using 120 film. How hard would this be?

Also i will add that i have no camera experience whatsoever, but am quite practical and willing to learn Any help would be great!

[andy-xr]

Drop these guys an email to see if they can source some. I think you might have problems with it but worth trying

http://www.discountfilmsdirect.co.uk/

[lewis s]

Thanks i will drop them an email now! Does anybody have any information on how to roll the film onto spools yourself?

[Snapper7]

I would guess that if someone states that you can cut 120 roll film down to make it, then it would be the same film base. However this is not going to be easy because you would have to do this in the dark. You will have to cut the film and the backing paper to a template in such a way that you do no nick the film edge, because you will make it prone to tearing when you wind it on in the camera. This would be extremely hard thing to do IMHO. Then you will need to wind it on to a set of original sprules. All this without kinking the film base which is very easy to do with 120 roll film. It is way harder than trying to bulk load 35mm film.

Your next problem will be to get the film processed and prints made.

IMHO it would not be worth the effort required.

There are plenty of 120 film cameras that are around which are now very cheap to pick up.

Bronica SQ and ETRs systems are cheap (the manufacture is no longer in business so repairs are unlikely)

Manyia RZ & RB 6x7 or there is 6x4.5 options as well.

[lewis s]

Good news!

Turns out the internet was wrong on this one, and on opening the back of the camera i was greeted with the label 'load 135 film'

3 B+W 36 exposure films for £8.50

And i won the camera for 99p

If the results are any good when we have a play about i will scan and post them on here. Thanks for your help btw!