Film format

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A film format is a technical definition of a set of standard characteristics regarding image capture on photographic film, for either stills or movies. It can also apply to projected film, either slides or movies. The primary characteristic of a film format is its size and shape.

In the case of motion picture film, the format may also include audio parameters (though often not). Other characteristics usually include the film gauge, pulldown method, lens anamorphosis (or lack thereof), and film gate or projector aperture dimensions, all of which need to be defined for photography as well as projection, as they may differ.

Contents

[edit] Movie film formats

See List of film formats

[edit] Digital camera formats

See Image sensor format

[edit] Still photography film formats

[edit] Multiple image

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Designation(A) Type Introduced Discontinued Size Detailed article Comment
101 roll film 1895 1956 3½" × 3½"
102 roll film 1896 1933 1½" × 2"
103 roll film 1896 1949 3¾" × 4¾"
104 roll film 1897 1949 4¾" × 3¾"
105 roll film 1897 1949 2¼" × 3¼" 120 film
106 for roll holder 1898 1924 3½" × 3½"
107 for roll holder 1898 1924 3¼" × 4¼"
108 for roll holder 1898 1929 4¼" × 3¼"
109 for roll holder 1898 1924 4" × 5"
110 (early roll film) for roll holder 1898 1929 5" × 4" 110 film (roll format) No relation to the later 110 cartridge format for "pocket" cameras.
110 ("Pocket Instamatic") cartridge 1972 Present 13 × 17 mm 110 film Introduced with Kodak's "Pocket Instamatic" series
111 for roll holder 1898 Unknown 6½" × 4¾"
112 for roll holder 1898 1924 7" × 5"
113 for roll holder 1898 Unknown 9 × 12 cm
114 for roll holder 1898 Unknown 12 × 9 cm
115 roll film 1898 1949 6¾" × 4¾"
116 roll film 1899 1984 2½" × 4
117 roll film 1900 1949 2¼" × 2¼" 120 film
118 roll film 1900 1961 3¼" × 4¼"
119 roll film 1900 1940 4¼" × 3¼"
120 roll film 1901 Present 120 film
121 roll film 1902 1941 1⅝" × 2½"
122 roll film 1903 1971 3¼" × 5½", Postcard
123 roll film 1904 1949 4" × 5"
124 roll film 1905 1961 3¼" × 4¼"
125 roll film 1905 1949 3¼" × 5½"
126 (early roll film) roll film 1906 1949 4¼" × 6½" 126 film (roll format) No relation to the 126 cartridge format introduced in 1963.
126 ("Instamatic") cartridge 1963 1999(B) 26.5 × 26.5 mm 126 film Introduced with first "Instamatic" cameras under the name "Kodapak"
127 roll film 1912 1995(C) 4 × 4 cm 127 film
128 roll film 1912 1941 1½" × 2¼"
129 roll film 1912 1951 1⅞" × 3"
130 roll film 1916 1961 2⅞" × 4⅞"
135 cartridge 1934 Present 135 film
220 roll film 1965 Present 120 film
235 loading spool 1934 Unknown 24 × 36 mm 135 film 35mm film in daylight-loading spool
240 / APS cartridge 1996 Present Advanced Photo System
335 stereo pairs 1952 Unknown 24 × 24 mm 135 film For stereo pairs
435 loading spool 1934 Unknown 24 × 36 mm 135 film 35mm film in daylight-loading spool
616 roll film 1931 1984 2½" × 4¼" or 2½" × 2⅛" 616 film
620 roll film 1931 1995 120 film
645 format only 6 × 4.5 cm 120 film
828 roll film 1935 1985 28 × 40 mm, 35 mm wide Bantam, 8 exp 828 film
35 roll film 1916 1933 1¼" × 1¾", 35 mm wide
Disc cassette 1982 1998 Disc film
Minox roll film 1938 Present 8 × 11 mm, nominally 9.5 mm wide (in reality 9.2-9.3mm), 15, 36 or 50 exp.
Karat cartridge 1936 1963 Early AGFA cartridge for 35 mm film
Rapid cartridge 1964 1990s AGFA cartridge for 35 mm film, 12 exp (replaced Karat, same system)
SL cartridge 1958 1990 Orwo Schnell-Lade Kassette for 35 mm film
K 16 cartridge 1987 Unknown Orwo, 16 mm wide, 20 exp

(A) Unless otherwise noted, all formats were introduced by Kodak, who began allocating the number series in 1913. Before that, films were simply identified by the name of the cameras they were intended for.[1]

(B) Discontinued by major manufacturers but still produced by Ferrania.

(C) Discontinued by major manufacturers but still produced by Maco.

For roll holder means film for cartridge roll holders, allowing roll film to be used with cameras designed to use glass plates.

The primary reason there were so many different negative formats in the early days was that prints were made by contact, without use of an enlarger. The film format would thus be exactly the same as the size of the print -- so if you wanted large prints, you would have to use a large camera and corresponding film format.

[edit] Single image

Size (in inches) Type
1⅝×2⅛ "sixteenth-plate" tintypes
2×2½ "ninth-plate" tintypes
2×3 sheet film
2½×3½ "sixth-plate" tintypes
3×4 sheet film
3⅛×4⅛ "quarter-plate" tintypes
3¼×4¼ "quarter-plate" glass plates
3¼×5½ postcard or 3A
4×5 sheet film
4¼×6½ "half-plate" glass plates
4½×5½ "half-plate" tintypes
4×10 sheet film
5×7 sheet film
7×17 sheet film
8×10 sheet film
8×20 sheet film
8½×6½ "full-plate" glass plates, tintypes
11×14 sheet film
12×20 sheet film
14×17 sheet film
16×20 sheet film
20×24 sheet film
Size (in cm) Type
6.5 × 9 sheet film
9 × 12 sheet film
10 × 15 sheet film
13 × 18 sheet film
18 × 24 sheet film
24 × 30 sheet film

[edit] Instant image

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.
Designation Type
SX-70 Polaroid flat film cartridge with integrated battery
Type 37 Polaroid roll film cartridge
Type 47 Polaroid roll film cartridge
Type 88 Polaroid flat film cartridge
Type 100 Polaroid flat film cartridge

See [1] for a full list of Polaroid films.

Fuji produce instant films and film backs for sheet film cameras.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The History of Kodak Roll Films. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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