Yes, 120 film is still actively manufactured and widely available for photographers today. It remains a popular format, particularly within medium format photography.
Why 120 Film Continues to Be Made
Despite the rise of digital photography, 120 film continues to be produced due to its unique advantages that appeal to a dedicated community of photographers. It offers distinct qualities that digital sensors often struggle to replicate, such as:
- Superior Image Quality: 120 film provides significantly higher image quality and a larger negative size compared to its 35mm counterpart. This larger negative allows for greater detail, finer grain structure when enlarged, and a broader tonal range in the final image.
- Distinct Aesthetic: Many photographers prefer the unique look, color rendition, and depth that film, particularly medium format film, offers. This aesthetic is often sought after for fine art, portrait, and landscape photography.
- Creative Control: The process of shooting film, from choosing film stock to darkroom processing or high-resolution scanning, offers a level of creative control that appeals to many artists.
Key Characteristics of 120 Film
120 film is primarily used in medium format cameras and produces a variety of negative sizes depending on the camera's format (e.g., 6x4.5 cm, 6x6 cm, 6x7 cm, 6x9 cm). This larger area is fundamental to its higher fidelity.
| Feature | 120 Film | 35mm Film |
|---|---|---|
| Negative Size | Significantly larger (e.g., 6x4.5cm – 6x9cm) | Standard 24x36mm |
| Image Quality | Higher detail, wider tonal range, finer grain | Good, but less detail/tonal range than 120 |
| Common Uses | Professional, fine art, studio, landscape | General, street, travel, documentary |
| Camera Type | Medium format cameras | 35mm SLR/rangefinder cameras |
| Frames per Roll | Varies by camera format (e.g., 8, 10, 12, 16) | Typically 24 or 36 |
Major Manufacturers and Film Types
Several reputable companies continue to produce 120 film, ensuring its availability to photographers worldwide. These include:
- Kodak: Known for its iconic color negative films like Portra and Ektar, as well as classic black and white options.
- Fujifilm: Offers a range of popular color negative and slide films.
- Ilford: A leading manufacturer of black and white films, including FP4 Plus, HP5 Plus, and Delta series.
- Lomography: Produces unique and experimental film stocks, often with vibrant colors or specific characteristics.
- CineStill: Adapts motion picture film for still photography, offering unique looks.
The variety of film types available for 120 format includes:
- Color Negative Film: Ideal for general-purpose photography, portraits, and landscapes, offering excellent exposure latitude.
- Black and White Film: Preferred by many for its timeless aesthetic, dynamic contrast, and suitability for artistic expression.
- Color Reversal (Slide) Film: Known for its vibrant colors, high contrast, and fine grain, often used for projection or scanning for rich digital images.
The continued production and use of 120 film underscore its value as a tool for creating high-quality, distinctive photographic work in the digital age.
