Complete listing of terms which start with the numbers 0 through 9.
110.
A now essentially obsolete film format used in tiny subminiature consumer-oriented inexpensive cameras. 110 film comes in self-contained plastic cartridges and was released by Kodak in 1972 for use with their Pocket Instamatic cameras.
Popularity waned largely because the image quality of the tiny negative - 17x13mm - was very poor, particularly when used with cheap pocket cameras with lousy lenses. You can still buy 110 cartridges, though it’s getting difficult to find places that can develop and print them.
cf. 126, 35mm, APS, disc film, subminiature.
Entry last updated 2002-05-06.
120.
A medium-format film size, sold as simple spools of 6cm wide film (no protective canister). One roll of 120 film yields up to 12 exposures at the 6x6cm image size or 16 at the 6x4.5cm size.
120 film has a black paper backing for use with old-fashioned cameras which lacked frame counters but which had red (“ruby”) windows on the camera back. These windows let you see the current frame count that was printed on the paper itself. Obviously these windows let light into the camera body, so the paper backing is needed to prevent this light from fogging the film. In theory.
cf. 220, 645, medium format, roll film, spool.
Entry last updated 2002-05-09.
126.
A now obsolete form of instant-loading film cartridge. It was invented in 1963 by Kodak for use with their Instamatic cameras and sold under the name Kodapak.
126 film came in self-loading plastic cartridges, and it was one of the first of Kodak’s long line of attempts to get consumers away from 35mm film. Image areas of the negatives were 28mm square. The cartridges were also popular in the 70s for making homemade pinhole cameras and thus teaching children the basic principles of photography. Kodak discontinued 126 film in 1999 and the film is now made only by an Italian firm, which sells it under the name Solaris.
Entry last updated 2002-05-03.
135.
The technical designation that Kodak came up with for 35mm film. You’ll sometimes see it printed on film canisters. eg: 135-36 means a roll of 35mm film containing 36 exposures.
Entry last updated 2002-04-03.
220.
A medium-format film size, sold as simple spools of film 6cm wide (no protective canister). One roll of 220 film yields up to 24 exposures at the 6x6cm image size.
220 film does not have the paper backing that 120 film has, and some medium format cameras can’t accommodate it because of the length.
cf. 120, 645, medium format, roll film.
Entry last updated 2002-05-07.
35mm.
A small format film and the most popular film format in use today, despite various attempts to dethrone it in the consumer field. 35mm refers to the width of the film - since the film has sprocket holes punched into the sides the actual useable image area is nearly always 24x36mm. (some unusual cameras used half size or half-frame image areas in order to pack more photographs into a single roll of 35mm film)
35mm film usually comes in small cylindrical metal canisters, typically in 24 and 36 exposure sizes. It doesn’t offer the image quality of medium and large format film, but is very portable and convenient. Film emerges from the canister via a light trap - a narrow slot lined with light-absorbing black felt. You can, of course, buy film in bulk and spool it into reusable canisters if you want.
The 35mm film format dates back to motion picture film first used in the late 1800s and early 1900s and still used today. But the 35mm still film canister format actually dates back to 1934 with the introduction of the German-built Kodak Retina I type 117 camera. The film canister, called “daylight loading,” was a very popular technical innovation as it meant users didn’t have to load their 35mm cameras in darkness or a changing bag anymore.
cf. 110, APS, canister, changing bag, disc film, half frame, roll film.
Entry last updated 2002-05-03.
3D matrix metering.
(Nikon) Nikon AF-D lenses can return focus distance information to the camera. Certain Nikon SLRs can incorporate this data into matrix metering and flash metering calculations.
cf. AF-D, matrix metering.
Entry last updated 2002-05-03.
645.
A popular shorthand for medium format film shot with a 6x4.5cm image area. Cameras with 645 in the name use medium format shot at this aspect ratio.
cf. 120, 220, medium format.
Entry last updated 2002-05-07.
802.11b.
The official technical name for wireless Ethernet, a communications standard designed for connecting personal computers together in a wireless network.
Marketed under the equally forgettable name “Wi-Fi”, the technology is used by Apple’s AirPort technology and similar systems. It broadcasts data in the 2.4 GHz band, which is not regulated in many countries.
Wireless Ethernet enabled devices can exchange data without cumbersome connectors or cables. It seems probable that digital cameras will frequently come with wireless communications capabilities in the future, and wireless Ethernet is one candidate. Though convenient, the current 802.11b standard is riddled with security holes.
cf. Bluetooth, wireless, wireless Ethernet.
Entry last updated 2002-05-07.
View all terms which start with the letter A.
This document is copyright © 2002-2008 NK Guy, PhotoNotes.org. This information is provided with neither warranties nor claims of accuracy or completeness of any sort. Use this information at your own risk. All trademarks mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.
You may copy and print this document for your own personal use. You may not, however, reprint or republish this work, in whole or in part, without prior permission from me, the author. Such republication includes inclusion of this work in other Web sites, Web pages, FTP archives, books, magazines or other periodicals, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM compilations or any other form of publication or distribution. Please do not frame this site within another.
Please send comments or error reports using the feedback form.