120 Roll Film (Medium Format / ISO 732) vs. 135 Film (35mm Still Film / ISO 1007)
Comparing 2 standards across 13 specifications. 13 key differences identified.
120 Film (standardized under ISO 732, introduced by Kodak in 1901 for the Brownie No. 2) is the universal medium format roll film standard, featuring a 61.5 mm wide unperforated film strip attached to continuous light-tight backing paper wound on a plastic/metal spool. Capturing multiple frame formats including 6×4.5 cm (16 exp), 6×6 cm (12 exp), 6×7 cm (10 exp), and 6×9 cm (8 exp).
135 Film (standardized under ISO 1007) is the most popular photographic film format in history, consisting of a 35.0 mm wide cellulose acetate or polyester strip with standard KS-1870 sprocket perforations housed in a light-tight metal cassette. Capturing standard 36 × 24 mm frames in 24 or 36 exposure lengths, it utilizes electrical DX-barcode contacts to auto-set ISO speed and exposure latitude.
Specification Comparison Table
13 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Film Strip Width
|
61.5 ± 0.5 mm (2.42 in) | 35.00 ± 0.05 mm (1.378 in) |
|
Total Film Strip Length
|
Approx. 820 mm (32.3 in) taped to backing paper | — |
|
Spool Flange Diameter
|
25.2 mm (Keyed end drive slot for camera winding mechanisms) | — |
|
6×4.5 cm Frame Yield (56 × 41.5 mm)
|
15 or 16 exposures per roll (Mamiya 645, Pentax 645, Bronica ETR) | — |
|
6×6 cm Square Yield (56 × 56 mm)
|
12 exposures per roll (Hasselblad 500C/M, Rolleiflex TLR, Mamiya C330) | — |
|
6×7 cm Ideal Format (56 × 70 mm)
|
10 exposures per roll (Mamiya RB67/RZ67, Pentax 67, Plaubel Makina 67) | — |
|
6×9 cm Broad Format (56 × 84 mm)
|
8 exposures per roll (Fuji GW690 'Texas Leica', technical cameras) | — |
|
Nominal Image Frame Size
|
— | 36.0 × 24.0 mm (standard 3:2 aspect ratio) |
|
Perforation Standard
|
— | KS-1870 (Kodak Standard) rectangular perforations (4.75 mm pitch along both edges) |
|
Standard Exposures per Roll
|
— | 24 or 36 exposures (approx. 115 cm and 165 cm total strip lengths) |
|
DX-Code Electrical Grid
|
— | 12-contact checkerboard grid on metal cassette (encodes ISO 25 to 5000, frame count, exposure latitude) |
|
Spool Core Diameter
|
— | Standard 11.0 mm plastic center spool with slot tab for loading |
|
Legendary Cameras
|
— | Leica M3/M6, Nikon F3/FM2, Canon AE-1, Olympus OM-1, Contax T2 |