Kodak Medalist II: I was entranced by this camera when it came out in 1948 or so but I could never afford it. Are they still available today (used of course) and can they be easily...

stan weisleder

I was entranced by this camera when it came out in 1948 or so but I could never afford it. Are they still available today (used of course) and can they be easily adopted to handle 120 roll film?

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Google it.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Yes, and yes.

But the adapted to 120 models can get quite pricey. There is one for sale on Photrio right now at, IIRC, about $500.

Personally, I’d despoil onto 620, and look on eBay and other used gear sites. Should be in the $300 range unmodified.

Andy

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

stan weisleder wrote:

I was entranced by this camera when it came out in 1948 or so but I could never afford it. Are they still available today (used of course) and can they be easily adopted to handle 120 roll film?

An excellent review ! - https://www.kenrockwell.com/kodak/medalist-ii.htm

They CAN be adapted but not easily $$$
.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

stan weisleder wrote:

I was entranced by this camera when it came out in 1948 or so but I could never afford it. Are they still available today (used of course) and can they be easily adopted to handle 120 roll film?

If I'M not mistaken the difference between 620 and 120 film was the spool, the 620 had a bigger slot than the 120. You could rewind 120 film onto a 620 spool, this might cause you a loss of a few images per roll.
There could be a problem indexing your film, it's been too many years since I have used a 620 camera.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

https://www.butkus.org/chinon/film/film_spool_adapters.htm
--Bob

stan weisleder wrote:

I was entranced by this camera when it came out in 1948 or so but I could never afford it. Are they still available today (used of course) and can they be easily adopted to handle 120 roll film?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

stan weisleder wrote:

I was entranced by this camera when it came out in 1948 or so but I could never afford it. Are they still available today (used of course) and can they be easily adopted to handle 120 roll film?

First versions originally intended for the military - mostly Navy. After the war the II version was selling for civilian use at $319 - that would be about $3800 in today's money ! - Needless to say it did not sell well so Kodak cut some corners and designed the Chevron selling for "only" $109 in '51.
.

colt4x5 Loc: Central Connecticut

stan weisleder wrote:

I was entranced by this camera when it came out in 1948 or so but I could never afford it. Are they still available today (used of course) and can they be easily adopted to handle 120 roll film?

Or buy an unmodified camera, and get 620 film (custom wound by http://filmforclassics.com/products/) at B&H or Central Camera (Chicago) or Denver Pro Photo - three places that carry the custom rolls.

gessman Loc: Colorado

colt4x5 wrote:

Or buy an unmodified camera, and get 620 film (custom wound by http://filmforclassics.com/products/) at B&H or Central Camera (Chicago) or Denver Pro Photo - three places that carry the custom rolls.

Denver Pro Photo does NOT carry 620 spooled film any longer. A little belt sander and a vacuum to pull away the dust particles makes short work of whittling the 120 spool down in a hurry. Amazon has a hobby belt sander for $55 here: https://www.amazon.com/sander-sharpener-Polishing-Grinding-Machine/dp/B07HW15SH2/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=hobby+belt+sander&qid=1579548442&sr=8-2

kemert

As others have suggested, the way to go is to respool some 120 film onto 620 spools. It's not hard. I remember doing it in photography class back in 1977 when a fellow student brought a 1920 brownie no. 2 folding type camera to class. Im not sure of the exact model, only that it took 620 or some other hard to get format film and made very large negatives - large enough that contact prints looked enlarged.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

The nail scissors idea is also pretty good. I tried it once, but I'm pretty sure I could do it better the next time. Re-spooling is a piece of cake if you have a couple of spare 620 spools and a changing bag.

I used to have one of these and it really is a tank. Sorry I sold it - which is generally against my principles - but I needed the money.

Andy

Igbar

Great info .. thanks. I have a Metalist II think i will look into getting some film for it

gessman Loc: Colorado

AndyH wrote:

The nail scissors idea is also pretty good. I tried it once, but I'm pretty sure I could do it better the next time. Re-spooling is a piece of cake if you have a couple of spare 620 spools and a changing bag.

I used to have one of these and it really is a tank. Sorry I sold it - which is generally against my principles - but I needed the money.

Andy

I have a changing bag but neuropathy from 50 years of diabetes keeps me from feeling much with my hands. B&H sells 620 Kodak Porta 160 spooled for $17 a roll which isnt that bad. I haven't used my Medalist II in many years but may bring it out and dust it off. It really is a beast.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

B&H lists 5 620 films:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=39571&fct=fct_film-format_3106%7c620

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

gessman wrote:

I have a changing bag but neuropathy from 50 years of diabetes keeps me from feeling much with my hands. B&H sells 620 Kodak Porta 160 spooled for $17 a roll which isnt that bad. I haven't used my Medalist II in many years but may bring it out and dust it off. It really is a beast.

That’s why I’m thinking about hauling out the nail scissors. You can do it in subdued daylight. Just trim the bead on the 110 spool down to almost flush with the paper backing.

Andy