Film format

A film format is a technical definition of a set of standard characteristics regarding the image capture of still film or the image capture and projection of motion picture film. In the latter case, it may also encompass audio parameters (though often not). These characteristics usually include the film gauge, pulldown method, lens anamorphosis (or lack thereof), and film gate or projector aperture dimensions, all of which need to be defined for photography as well as projection, as they may differ.

Movie film formats

See List of film formats

Still photography film formats

Multiple image

Designation	Type	Year	Size and comment
101	roll film	1895–1956	3 1/2" × 3½"
102	roll film	1896–1933	1½" × 2"
103	roll film	1896–1949	3¾" × 4¾"
104	roll film	1897–1949	4¾" × 3¾"
105	roll film	1897–1949	2¼" × 3¼", see 120 film
106	for roll holder	1898–1924	3½" × 3½"
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	for roll holder	1898–1929	5" × 4"
110 Instamatic	cartridge	1972–Present	13 × 17 mm, see 110 film
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" × 4
117	roll film	1900–1949	2¼" × 2¼", see 120 film
118	roll film	1900–1961	3¼" × 4¼"
119	roll film	1900–1940	4¼" × 3¼"
120	roll film	1901–Present	See 120 film
121	roll film	1902–1941	1 5/8" × 2½"
122	roll film	1903–1971	3¼" × 5½", Postcard
123	roll film	1904–1949	4" × 5"
124	roll film	1905–1961	3¼" × 4¼"
125	roll film	1905–1949	3¼" × 5½"
126	roll film	1906–1949	4¼" × 6½"
126 Instamatic	cartridge	1963–1999⁽¹⁾	26.5 × 26.5 mm, see 126 film
127	roll film	1912–1995⁽²⁾	4 × 4 cm, see 127 film
128	roll film	1912–1941	1½" × 2¼"
129	roll film	1912–1951	1 7/8" × 3"
130	roll film	1916–1961	2 7/8" × 4 7/8"
135	cartridge	1934–Present	See 135 film
220	roll film	1965–Present	See 120 film
235	loading spool	1934–Unknown	24 × 36 mm, see 135 film
240 / APS	cartridge	1996–Present	See Advanced Photo System
335	stereo pairs	1952–Unknown	24 × 24 mm, for stereo pairs; see 135 film
435	loading spool	1934–Unknown	24 × 36 mm, see 135 film
616	roll film	1931–1984	2½" × 4¼" or 2½" × 2 1/8", see 616 film
620	roll film	1931–1995	See 120 film
645	format only		6 × 4.5 cm, see 120 film
828	roll film	1935–1985	28 × 40 mm, 35 mm wide Bantam, 8 exp.
35	roll film	1916–1933	1¼" × 1¾", 35 mm wide
Disc	cassette	1982–1998	See disc film
Minox	roll film	1938–Present	8 × 11 mm, 9.5 mm wide, 15 and 36 exp.
Karat	cartridge	1936–1963	Early AGFA cartridge for 35 mm film
Rapid	cartridge	1964–1990s	AGFA cartridge for 35 mm film, 12 exp (replaced Karat, same system)
SL	cartridge	1958–1990	Orwo Schnell-Lade Kassette for 35 mm film
K 16	cartridge	1987–Unknown	Orwo, 16 mm wide, 20 exp

⁽¹⁾ Discontinued by major manufacturers but still produced by Ferrania.

⁽²⁾ Discontinued by major manufacturers but still produced by Maco.

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

For roll holder means film for cartridge roll holders, allowing roll film to be used with cameras designed to use glass plates.

The primary reason there were so many different negative formats in the early days was that prints were made by contact, without use of an enlarger. 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
1⁵/₈×2¹/₈	"sixteenth-plate" tintypes
2×2½	"ninth-plate" tintypes
2×3	sheet film
2½×3½	"sixth-plate" tintypes
3×4	sheet film
3¹/₈×4¹/₈	"quarter-plate" tintypes
3¼×4¼	"quarter-plate" glass plates
4×5	sheet film
4¼×6½	"half-plate" glass plates
4½×5½	"half-plate" tintypes
4×10	sheet film
5×7	sheet film
7×17	sheet film
8×10	sheet film
8×20	sheet film
8½×6½	"full-plate" glass plates, 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	sheet film
10 × 15	sheet film
13 × 18	sheet film
18 × 24	sheet film
24 × 30	sheet film

Instant image

Designation	Type
SX-70	Polaroid flat film cartridge with integrated battery
Type 88	Polaroid flat film cartridge
Type 100	Polaroid flat film cartridge

External links

Film and video technology | Film formats

Aufnahmeformat | Filmformato