4x4

[andrealed]

I'd love to have a 4x4 TLR. But I'm not a collector of equipment. I love shooting. I really love TLR style but I also realize that a true 6x6 is a HUGE camera (I own a yashicamat, good camera but not a carry everywhere camera..). So I'm thinking about baby-flex or baby-mat. What about film availability? Pros and cons..tips...film cutting...tricks..
thanks
Andrea

[erikhaugsby]

Film for 4x4 cameras was designated 127, in case you were wondering.
If you want to buy straight 127 film, freestylephoto.biz sells Efke brand film (100 ISO) here (http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=1000001827) for $4.39 per roll. They also sell Efke IR film, for $10.99 per roll.

If you want any variety to your film choices, cutting down 120 film is your only option. Many people I've heard of take a Kodak Brownie box camera and put a razor into and wind the film through, properly cutting it down to 127 size in a light-tight environment. Make sure that you have a spool for 127 size film.

Either way you go, you'll need a tank to develop it as I don't know of many places that will process 127. Plastic tanks would be best for this, and make sure your reel has a click-stop for the 127 size.

[rbiemer]

Dwayne's photo offers 127 processing. C-41, E-6, and black & white.
Link: http://www.dwaynesphoto.com/index.html
Click on the "disc and 126 processing" part of the "Services" drop down menu.
Rob

[micromontenegro]

I shoot 4X4 in both a Baby Rolleiflex and a Towers Mark IV. I wholeheartly recomend the latter. Its build quality is closer to a Rolleiflex, whereas the Grey Baby feels closer to a Rolleicord. Both have incredibly sharp lenses.
Second recomendation: shoot slides! Mounts are not hard to come by, and they can be shown with any 35mm projector. Those 4x4 superslides make the whole 127 experience worthwile.
You CAN get film at B&H. It is very expensive, but I tend to see my 4x4s as seldom used equipment, and film price is not as important when you shoot a couple of rolls in a blue moon.