120 Film - Frame Sizes

Frame Sizes

120 film allows several frame sizes.

120 frame sizes
Name Aspect ratio Nominal size
(mm)
Exposures
120 220
6 × 4.5 1.35:1 56 × 41.5 15 or 16† 30–32
6 × 6 1:1 56 × 56 12 or 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 has the same aspect ratio as the standard 36×24 mm frame of 135 film. The 6×7 frame enlarges almost exactly to 8×10 inch paper, for which reason its proponents call it "ideal format". 6×4.5 is the smallest and least expensive roll-film frame size; equipment to take photos in this size is also the lightest.

The wide 6×12, 6×17, and 6×24 cm frames are produced by special-purpose panoramic cameras. Most of these cameras use lenses intended for large format cameras for simplicity of construction.

Cameras using 120 film will often combine the numbers of the frame size in the name e.g. Pentax 6×7 (6×7), Fuji 617 (6×17), and many 645s (6×4.5). The number '6' in general, and the word 'six' are also commonly used in naming cameras e.g. Kiev 60 and Pentacon Six.

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    We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours.
    Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961)