A Prescription for 120 Film Storage

Ever wonder why 135 film comes in those neat plastic containers, but 120 film doesn’t?

Me too. If you shoot 135 film and prefer to store it uncut, you can keep it in those little containers. Plus, they keep your film nice and dry up until the time you’re ready to use it. In the field, where atmospheric conditions are the most unpredictable, you can return exposed film to the containers, free from further exposure to rain, moisture or dust. Not so with 120.

But I’ve recently found a no-cost solution to this problem. One day I discovered the reason I had been holding on to all my prescription bottles.

Prescription Bottles make ideal 120 film canisters.

Actually, I have a few in a longer size than this one which initially caught my attention, but as it turned out the shorter bottles which I have an abundance of worked even better. They’re quite weatherproof, and have enough room to fit 120 rolls still in their original wrapper. The amber tint will help to keep out UV rays, which is important when storing uncut negatives, such as continuous Holga exposures.

If you don’t take prescriptions regularly, you can find a friend who does and ask them to save them for you.