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A film format is a technical definition of a set of standard characteristics regarding image capture on photographic film

Photographic film

Photographic film is a sheet of plastic coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film...

, for either stills or movies. It can also apply to projected film, either slides or movies. The primary characteristic of a film format is its size and shape.

In the case of motion picture film, the format may also include audio parameters (though often not). Other characteristics usually include the film gauge

Film gauge

Film gauge is a physical property of photographic or motion picture film stock which defines its width. Traditionally the major film gauges in usage are 8 mm, 16 mm, 35 mm, and 65/70 mm...

, pulldown method, lens anamorphosis

Anamorphosis

Anamorphosis or anamorphism may refer to any of the following:*Anamorphosis, in art, the representation of an object as seen, for instance, altered by reflection in a mirror...

(or lack thereof), and film gate

Film gate

The film gate is the rectangular opening in the front of a motion picture camera where the film is exposed to light. The film gate can be seen by removing the lens and rotating the shutter out of the way...

or projector

Movie projector

A movie projector is an opto-mechanical device for displaying moving pictures by projecting them on a projection screen. Most of the optical and mechanical elements, except for the illumination and sound devices, are present in movie cameras.-Physiology:...

aperture dimensions, all of which need to be defined for photography as well as projection, as they may differ.

Multiple image

Designation ^(A)	Type	Introduced	Discontinued	Image size	Exposures	Comment
101	roll film Roll film Rollfilm or roll film is any type of spool-wound photographic film protected from white light exposure by a paper backing, as opposed to film which is protected from exposure and wound forward in a cartridge. Confusingly, roll film was originally often referred to as "cartridge" film because of its...	1895	1956	3½" × 3½"
102	roll film	1896	1933	1½" × 2"		One flange has gear teeth
103	roll film	1896	1949	3¾" × 4¾"
104	roll film	1897	1949	4¾" × 3¾"
105	roll film	1897	1949	2¼" × 3¼"		Like 120 film with 116-size flanges
106	for roll holder	1898	1924	3½" × 3½"		Roll holder films were wound inside out
107	for roll holder	1898	1924	3¼" × 4¼"
108	for roll holder	1898	1929	4¼" × 3¼"
109	for roll holder	1898	1924	4" × 5"
110 110 film (roll format) 110 was the number later given by Kodak to a roll film format originally introduced in 1898. 110 film produced 5×4-inch images and was discontinued in October 1929.... (early roll film)	for roll holder	1898	1929	5" × 4"		No relation to the later 110 cartridge format for "pocket" cameras.
110 110 film 110 is a cartridge-based film format used in still photography. It was introduced by Kodak in 1972. 110 is a miniaturised version of Kodak's earlier 126 film format. Each frame is , with one registration hole.... ("Pocket Instamatic")	cartridge	1972	2009	13 × 17 mm		Introduced with Kodak's "Pocket Instamatic" series
111	for roll holder	1898	Unknown	6½" × 4¾"
112	for roll holder	1898	1924	7" × 5"
113	for roll holder	1898	Unknown	9 × 12 cm
114	for roll holder	1898	Unknown	12 × 9 cm
115	roll film	1898	1949	6¾" × 4¾"
116	roll film	1899	1984	2½" × 4¼"		Like 616 film with wider flanges
117	roll film	1900	1949	2¼" × 2¼"	12	Like 620 spool with 120 keyslot
118	roll film	1900	1961	3¼" × 4¼"		3.474" spool
119	roll film	1900	1940	4¼" × 3¼"
120 120 film 120 is a film format for still photography introduced by Kodak for their Brownie No. 2 in 1901. It was originally intended for amateur photography but was later superseded in this role by 135 film...	roll film	1901	Present	2¼" × 3¼" 6 cm × 7 cm 2¼" × 2¼" 2¼" × 1⅝"	8 10 12 16
121	roll film	1902	1941	1⅝" × 2½"
122	roll film	1903	1971	3¼" × 5½"	6 or 10	Postcard format
123	roll film	1904	1949	4" × 5"
124	roll film	1905	1961	3¼" × 4¼"		3.716" spool - same picture size as 118 with longer spool
125	roll film	1905	1949	3¼" × 2½" x 2		for stereo pairs
126 126 film (roll format) 126 was the name later given to a roll film format originally introduced by Kodak in 1906, for images 4¼ × 6½ inches. It was discontinued in March 1949.... (early roll film)	roll film	1906	1949	4¼" × 6½"		No relation to the 126 cartridge format introduced in 1963.
126 126 film 126 is the number given to a cartridge-based film format used in still photography. It was introduced by Kodak in 1963, and is associated mainly with low-end point-and-shoot cameras, particularly Kodak's own Instamatic series of cameras.... ("Instamatic")	cartridge	1963	2008	26.5 × 26.5 mm	12, 20 (later 24)	Introduced with first "Instamatic" cameras under the name "Kodapak"
127 127 film 127 is a film format for still photography. The image format is usually a square 4×4 cm, but rectangular 4×3 cm and 4×6 cm are also standard. Oddly, C. F. Foth & Co. used 36×24 mm for its first “Derby” model....	roll film	1912	Present	4 × 6 cm 4 × 4 cm 4 × 3 cm	8 12 16	"Vest Pocket"
128	roll film	1912	1941	1½" × 2¼"		for Houghton Ensignette #E1
129	roll film	1912	1951	1⅞" × 3"		for Houghton Ensignette #E2
130	roll film	1916	1961	2⅞" × 4⅞"
135 135 film The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...	cartridge	1934	Present	24 × 36 mm	24 or 36	formerly available in 12, 20, or 72 exposures
220 120 film 120 is a film format for still photography introduced by Kodak for their Brownie No. 2 in 1901. It was originally intended for amateur photography but was later superseded in this role by 135 film...	roll film	1965	Present	varies	8, 10, 12 or 16	Twice as long as 120, no backing paper
235 135 film The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...	loading spool	1934	Unknown	24 × 36 mm		35 mm film in daylight-loading spool
240 / APS Advanced Photo System Advanced Photo System is a film format for still photography first produced in 1996. It was marketed by Eastman Kodak under the brand name Advantix, by FujiFilm under the name Nexia, by AgfaPhoto under the name Futura and by Konica as Centuria.- Design :The film is 24 mm wide, and has three...	cartridge	1996	Present (corrected)	30.2 × 16.7 mm	15, 25, or 40	Daylight, Transparency, Black & White (Chromogenic 400CN)
335 135 film The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...	stereo pairs	1952	Unknown	24 × 24 mm		For stereo pairs
435 135 film The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...	loading spool	1934	Unknown	24 × 36 mm		35 mm film in daylight-loading spool
500	film pack			1¼" × 2⅜"	12
515	film pack			5" × 7"	12
516	film pack			2½" × 4¼"	12
518	film pack			3¼" × 4¼"	12 sheets
520	film pack			2¼" × 3¼"	16 sheets
522	film pack			3¼" × 5½"	12 sheets	3A postcard
523	film pack			4" × 5"	12 sheets
541	film pack			9 cm × 12 cm	12
543	film pack			10 cm × 15 cm	12
616 616 film 616 film was originally produced by Kodak in 1932 along with 620 film for the Kodak Six-16 camera. Seventy millimetres wide, the film produced 2.5 in. × 4.25 in. negatives. It was the same format as that of 116 film but on a slimmer spool, for use in more compact cameras. The format was used...	roll film	1931	1984	2½" × 4¼" or 2½" × 2⅛"	6, later 8	Similar to 116 film but on a thinner spool
620	roll film	1932	1995			Similar to 120 film but on a thinner spool
828 828 film 828 is a film format for still photography. Kodak introduced it in 1935, only a year after 135 film. 828 film was introduced with the Kodak Bantam, a consumer-level camera....	roll film	1935	1985	28 × 40 mm,	8	35mm, one perforation per frame Bantam
35	roll film	1916	1933	1¼" × 1¾"		35 mm unperforated
00 UniveX	roll film	1933		1½" × 1⅛"	6	made by Gevaert
Hit (a.k.a. Mycro)	roll film	1937	unknown	14 × 14 mm	10	17.5 mm; used in imported miniature toy cameras
Disc Disc film thumb\|Cartridge of disc filmDisc film was a still-photography film format aimed at the consumer market, and introduced by Kodak in 1982.The film was in the form of a flat disc, and was fully housed within a plastic cartridge...	cassette	1982	1998	8 × 11 mm
Half-frame Half-frame camera A half-frame camera is a camera using a film format at half the intended exposure format. A common variety is the 18x24mm format on regular 135 film. It is the normal exposure format on 35mm movie cameras...	cartridge	later than 1934	Present	18 × 24 mm	48 or 72	135 film 135 film The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format... in "half-frame" cameras
Minox Minox The Minox is a subminiature camera conceived in 1922 and invented in 1936 by German-Latvian Walter Zapp, which Latvian factory VEF manufactured from 1937 to 1943. After World War II, the camera was redesigned and production resumed in Germany in 1948. Originally envisioned as a luxury item, it...	cartridge	1938	Present	8 × 11 mm	15, 36 or 50	nominally 9.5 mm wide (in reality 9.2-9.3 mm)
Karat	cartridge	1936	1963			Early AGFA Agfa-Gevaert Agfa-Gevaert N.V. is a European multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, and distributes analogue and digital imaging products and systems, as well as IT solutions. The company has three divisions. Agfa Graphics offers integrated prepress and industrial inkjet systems to the... cartridge for 35 mm film
Rapid	cartridge	1964	1990s		12	AGFA Agfa-Gevaert Agfa-Gevaert N.V. is a European multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, and distributes analogue and digital imaging products and systems, as well as IT solutions. The company has three divisions. Agfa Graphics offers integrated prepress and industrial inkjet systems to the... cartridge for 35 mm film (replaced Karat, same system)
SL	cartridge	1958	1990	24x36 mm 24x24 mm 18x24 mm	12 16 24	Orwo ORWO ORWO was an East German manufacturer of photographic film and magnetic tape. The basis for ORWO was the Agfa Wolfen plant, where the first modern colour film with incorporated colour couplers, Agfacolor, was developed in 1936.... Schnell-Lade Kassette for 35 mm film
Kassette 16	cartridge	1978	1990s	13 x 17 mm	20	Orwo ORWO ORWO was an East German manufacturer of photographic film and magnetic tape. The basis for ORWO was the Agfa Wolfen plant, where the first modern colour film with incorporated colour couplers, Agfacolor, was developed in 1936.... , 16 mm wide, central perforation (holes between frames) Introduced exclusively for the Pentacon k16 camera

^(A) Unless otherwise noted, all formats were introduced by Kodak, who began allocating the number series in 1913. Before that, films were simply identified by the name of the cameras they were intended for.

For roll holder means film for cartridge roll holders, allowing roll film

Roll film

Rollfilm or roll film is any type of spool-wound photographic film protected from white light exposure by a paper backing, as opposed to film which is protected from exposure and wound forward in a cartridge. Confusingly, roll film was originally often referred to as "cartridge" film because of its...

to be used with cameras designed to use glass plates. These were spooled with the emulsion facing outward, rather than inward as in film designed for native roll-film cameras.

The primary reason there were so many different negative formats in the early days was that prints were made by contact

Contact print

A contact print is a photographic image produced from film; sometimes from a film negative, and sometimes from a film positive. The defining characteristic of a contact print is that the photographic result is made by exposing through the film negative or positive, onto a light sensitive material...

, without use of an enlarger

Enlarger

An enlarger is a specialized transparency projector used to produce photographic prints from film or glass negatives using the gelatin silver process, or from transparencies.-Construction:...

. The film format would thus be exactly the same as the size of the print—so if you wanted large prints, you would have to use a large camera and corresponding film format.

Single image

Size (in inches)	Type
1⅝×2⅛	"sixteenth-plate" tintype Tintype Tintype, also melainotype and ferrotype, is a photograph made by creating a direct positive on a sheet of iron metal that is blackened by painting, lacquering or enamelling and is used as a support for a collodion photographic emulsion.... s
2×2½	"ninth-plate" tintypes
2×3	sheet film Sheet film Sheet film is large format and medium format photographic film supplied on individual sheets of acetate or polyester film base rather than rolls. Sheet film was initially supplied as an alternative to glass plates...
2½×3½	"sixth-plate" tintypes
3×4	sheet film
3⅛×4⅛	"quarter-plate" tintypes
3¼×4¼	"quarter-plate" glass plates Photographic plate Photographic plates preceded photographic film as a means of photography. A light-sensitive emulsion of silver salts was applied to a glass plate. This form of photographic material largely faded from the consumer market in the early years of the 20th century, as more convenient and less fragile...
3¼×5½	postcard or 3A
4×5	glass plate,sheet film
4¾×6½	"half-plate" glass plates, sheet film
4½×5½	"half-plate" tintypes
4×10	sheet film
5×7	sheet film
7×17	sheet film
8×10	glass plates,sheet film
8×20	sheet film
8½×6½	"whole-plate" glass plates, sheet film, tintypes
11×14	sheet film
12×20	sheet film
14×17	sheet film
16×20	sheet film
20×24	sheet film

Size (in cm)	Type
6.5 × 9	sheet film
9 × 12	glass plate, sheet film
10 × 15	sheet film
13 × 18	sheet film
18 × 24	sheet film
24 × 30	sheet film

Instant image

Designation	Type
Type 37	Polaroid roll film cartridge
Type 47	Polaroid roll film cartridge
Type 88	Polaroid flat film cartridge

See http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landfilm.htm for a full list of Polaroid films.

Fuji produce instant films and film backs for sheet film cameras.

Film format

Multiple image

Single image

Instant image

See also

External links