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In this day and age of digital cameras and smartphones, <\/span>35mm film<\/span><\/a> may seem like an antiquated format, even though it\u2019s by far the most popular film format of all time. With that said, <\/span>120mm film<\/span> might seem even more antiquated, unless you\u2019re an amateur photographer who loves the artsy effects of Brownie cameras or a pro who uses expensive medium format cameras. Chances are you have many 35mm negatives and slides<\/a> gathering dust in closets, attics, and basements \u2013 probably far less 120mm format film.<\/span><\/p>\n Unlike 35mm film, 120 format was primarily designed for professional use when it came to movies. Although <\/span>35mm movie film<\/span> may not have produced quite as extraordinary quality as 70mm, cinema lovers and experts bemoaned its demise. In the early 2000s when the digital cinema revolution hit, the vast majority of movie houses discarded film projectors in favor of new digital projectors. They switched from 35mm film to DCP digital format, disregarding the film\u2019s rich history<\/a>. Digital film is much easier to reformat and resize for mobile without compromising picture quality, making it appealing from a financial standpoint. A notable exception is Director <\/span>Quentin Tarantino<\/span><\/a> who is still an outspoken opponent of digital. Tarantino was quoted in an <\/span>IndieWire<\/span><\/i> article, “As far as I’m concerned, digital projection is the death of cinema. The fact that most films aren’t presented in 35mm means that the world is lost. Digital projection is just television in cinema.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In the late 19<\/span>th<\/span> century, an employee of Thomas Edison cut 70mm movie film in half and spliced the ends together. Many inventors tried unsuccessfully to use this new format for still photography, however, it wasn\u2019t until 1913 that the first 35mm camera was widely available for purchase. Of course, it was incredibly expensive ($175 is the equivalent of $4,000 today), so most people couldn\u2019t afford it. In 1925, Leica introduced a camera that inspired other camera makers to follow suit. In 1936, the Argus A made <\/span>35mm photography<\/span><\/a> affordable for amateur photographers. The invention of the single-lens reflex camera (SLR) further revolutionized photography. The same lens is used for the image on the film and viewfinder, enabling accurate focusing and framing the image through the viewfinder. While you can still buy new and used 35mm cameras, a dwindling number of photo labs process the film.<\/span><\/p>\n 120mm Film: A Brief History & Guide<\/b><\/p>\n Introduced for the Kodak Brownie camera around 1900, 120mm film is larger than 35mm and scarce in comparison. This film consists of a black paper roll with a strip of film taped inside which is drawn through your camera as you shoot. The paper had markings on the back to guide advancing the film through a red window, prior to the advent of rapid wind levers. While it was still popular among professionals in the 1960s, photojournalists started using 35mm film around 1970.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Digitizing Old Movies and Film<\/b><\/p>\n Although history is wonderful, it isn\u2019t always practical. Just as cinemas discarded those old projectors, not many people these days have <\/span>slide projectors<\/span> or old-school movie projectors. You can digitize slides<\/a>, negatives, and movies yourself if you have the patience and equipment. Getting them <\/span>scanned professionally<\/span><\/a> is a great way to share precious memories with family, friends, and preserve them for generations to come.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n35mm Film: A Brief History & Guide<\/b><\/h2>\n
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FAQs on 35mm vs 120mm Film<\/span><\/h3>\n