mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I have a Rollie 6008i that lacks a 120 back. I have a Polaroid back, a 220 back, multiple lenses and other accessories, but cannot find either of the 120 backs I once had. I cannot find a source for 220 color film, either slide nor negative, and I cannot find a source for a replacement 120 back. Either solution is acceptable - 120 film is readily available but does not work in the 220 back. Neither can I find a convertible back.
Does anyone know of a source for either color 220 film, or a 120 back for the Rollei 6008i or later Rolleiflex 6x6 camera? (B&W film is still available in 220).

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

Google "Rollie camera forums"....

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Thank you. I didn’t know it existed.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Will any of these work for you?
--Bob

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TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I didn’t know any major film company was making 220 anymore - color or B&W. I did discover a company (Shanghai) who I’ve never heard of, making B&W, but not color. Not cheap, but here’s a 120 back on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/154390541665?hash=item23f264b561:g:cQQAAOSwB5VgXdBk

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

The Rollei SLR system was not as prolific in the marketplace as the Hasselblad and Mamiya and other medium format systems of that era. I only mention this because there are a plethora of used film magazines for the other brands but most to the Rollei gear, in that category that I see for sale, are complete outfits rather than separate accessories.

As for 220 roll film- it seems that it has been entirely discontinued and anything you find may be seriously outdated. Even if you could locate some 220 films, unless you do your own darkroom work, processing may be problematic. I used 220 frequently, prior to the transition to digital. I had my only in-house lab but outsourced someof the C-41 and E-6 processing during busy seasons. The labs that used dip and dunk processing machinery would either loop the film or arbitrarily cut the rolls in having to accommodate the machinery. The frame or frame in the center of the roll was either destroyed or damaged due to over agitation. Then, many labs we to roller-transport film processors someof who had scratching issues. Even processing many rolls in-houses with stainless steel reels and tanks was a bit of a chore, so I eventually purchased more than 120-magazines and stuck with that roll film size for many years.

I real that 35mm film is just as long but perhaps the 6cm size of the roll film made them more unwieldy and some of the film types were on a thinner base?

I hope you can find some backs. It is a nice camera with some great features and great lenses. There are a few Rolei66 kits on eBay and are sellers are still asking high prices. Try KEH- they oftentimes have some of the rarer used gear and are a reliable source.

Dalbon

Yes you can't find slide film any longer that is the reason I have kept 100 rolls of 220mm Fuji ASA 64 slide film in my freezer along with 100 rolls of Fuji 35mm slide film. It's good to have around if you ever need it and I do appreciate film.
Good Hunting, David

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I forgot to mention that you may be able to use 120 films in your 220 back. If you have a old disposable roll, you can load I in, see how it tracks and find out if you can roll it out after the 12the frame. The pressure plate on the 220 back MAY apply more pressure due to t the absence of the backing paper. There might be a difference in the position of the starting arrow at the beginning of the roll and you may lose a frame. If you can not locate aback, this might be a good workaround and worth a try.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Thanks very much for everyone’s help.
It seems I will be able to get an older 6000 series back for the Rollei, and that will work for manual mode, but is not compatible with the automated features of the 6008i. I’ll wait a few days to see if anything else turns up before ordering.
I’ll drop the option of using 220 film - too many obstacles!
One benefit of searching around home for my old 120 backs was finding lots of long forgotten “stuff”. I’m not sure that was really a benefit though - now I have to figure out what to do with it.
Once again, thanks for the help!

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Tried that a few days ago - it jammed.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I never tried this but maybe you can use 120 in a 220 back

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I did that with Hasselblad and Graflex XL backs with no issues but it mya, not wwork with all cameras and magazines. The OP tried it and experienced a jam.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

cytafex Loc: Clarksburg MA

Kodak does offer Ektachrome in 120, try Keith Canham.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Keep looking for the 120 backs you had for your camera or another to purchase to use upon it.

220 film is gone and not coming back. 120 film remains available, although the selection is a lot less that it once was.

I had the same problem with some Koni-Omega cameras, which had both 220 and 120 backs. I had a bunch of 220 backs, but only one or two 120.

I just kept a lookout on some famous auction websites and eventually was able to buy a batch of four 120 backs. I found quite a few 120 backs, actually. But most of them were ridiculously expensive, while 220 backs are dirt cheap. Obviously some sellers have discovered the demand for 120 backs and the lack of demand for 220. It took a while to find a deal that was reasonable and acceptable for 120 backs, but it eventually happened.

I still have them, so thought about seeing if the 220 backs could be modified, but haven't done so and have no idea if that might be a possibility.