120 Film Square Slide Scanning (also 620)
Our charge for scanning 120-format slides in carriers like the example below is $2 per slide. Scans are made at 1200 ppi per slide. Please note: we do not develop your medium/large format 120 or 620 film (620 was similar to 120 but used a thinner spool).
120 & 620 Medium Format Film: A Brief History
Medium format roll film was popularized for the Kodak Brownie cameras around 1900–1901. These were simple, fixed-focus “point and shoot” cameras with a single shutter speed. Medium format means 120 and 220 size roll film, supplied on a spool rather than in a cassette.
Most major film emulsions were available in 120, and many also in 220. The difference: 220 is twice as long. 120 includes a paper backing the full length; 220 only has a paper leader, allowing more film in the same space.
If you have 35mm negative films that need to be scanned, please see our negative film scanning page.
Common 120 Frame Sizes
120 film allows several frame sizes.
| Name | Aspect ratio | Metric size (mm) | Exposures (120) | Exposures (220) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 × 4.5 | 1.35:1 | 56 × 41.5 | 15–16 | 30–32 |
| 6 × 6 | 1:1 | 56 × 56 | 12–13 | 24–27 |
| 6 × 7 | 1.25:1 | 56 × 70 | 10 | 21 |
| 6 × 8 | 1.37:1 | 56 × 77 | 9 | 19 |
| 6 × 9 | 1.50:1 | 56 × 84 | 8 | 18 |
| 6 × 12 | 2.1:1 | 56 × 118 | 6 | 12 |
| 6 × 17 | 3:1 | 56 × 168 | 4 | 9 |
| 6 × 24 | 4:1 | 56 × 224 | 3 | 6 |
The 6×9 frame shares the aspect ratio of 35mm’s 36×24 mm frame. The 6×7 frame enlarges nearly perfectly to 8×10" paper (often called the “ideal format”). 6×4.5 is the smallest and most economical; cameras for this size are typically lighter.
Ultra-wide 6×12, 6×17, and 6×24 formats are produced by panoramic cameras (often using large-format lenses). Camera names frequently reflect frame sizes—e.g., Pentax 67 (6×7), Fuji 617 (6×17), and various “645” cameras (6×4.5).
Related Roll Film Formats
The 105 format (introduced 1898) and 117 format (1900) preceded 120 with slightly different spools but the same film width. In 1931 Kodak introduced 620 as a thinner, narrower all-metal spool version of 120:
- 120: 2.466" width, 0.990" flange, 0.468" core
- 620: 2.468" width, 0.905" flange, 0.280" core
620 (sometimes called “small hole”) was discontinued by Kodak in 1995, but 120 film can be rewound onto a 620 spool in a darkroom for use in 620 cameras. Despite the smaller spool intent, some 120 cameras (e.g., Voigtländer Perkeo) remain remarkably compact.