I often like the medium-format version of a film better than its 35mm counterpart. The larger negative opens up the film and shows you what it can really do. This goes for the new 120 Mono film from Kosmo Foto.

Flowers

When friend-of-the-blog Stephen Dowling, the man behind Kosmo Foto, announced this new film, I preordered immediately. My order arrived in due course, but it took me a couple months to find a day to spool a roll into my Yashica-D. I took both on a walk up and down the lovely Main Street in Zionsville.

One Nine Five

Dowling makes no bones about it: this is an existing film, repackaged for Kosmo Foto. This classic emulsion features strong contrast and managed grain, much like black-and-white films of old. Best of all, it’s reasonably priced. If you’re curious, get yours here.

Bus

It was a full-sun summer day as I strolled Zionsville’s charming brick Main Street. A lot of classic emulsions struggle to keep highlights in check on days like this; no so Mono.

Brick street

Moving in close, as close as my TLR would let me anyway, Mono shows good resolving power.

Chickens on the wall

I don’t mind doing a little work in Photoshop to make my photos more presentable, but it sure is nice when I can use them right off the scanner. Such was largely the case with these images. The only thing I did consistently was rotate them slightly so the verticals were vertical and the horizontals were horizontal; I do struggle to hold a TLR level.

Winery

It’s not a photowalk in Zionsville unless I photograph the great Black Dog Books sign.

Black Dog Books

Rich blacks, reasonable midtones, good contrast, barely detectable grain. What’s not to like about Kosmo Foto Mono in 120?

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Comments

7 responses to “Shooting Kosmo Foto Mono in 120”

  1. fishyfisharcade Avatar

    Off topic for this post Jim, but have you seen the image that appears at the top of the page when you Google Film Photography Blogs? :)

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Where I’m Googling from there’s no image at the top of the search results! But my post on film photography blogs worth following is hit #5.

      1. fishyfisharcade Avatar

        I was using an iPad, so it must be different to what you on a standard browser, but your Side Mirror Selfie image (the first image on your Flickr feed at present) was right there at the very top.

        1. Jim Grey Avatar

          Wonderful! I’m first in something!

  2. Martin Cutrone Avatar

    Great photos, Jim. The film certainly performed well in your TLR. Love the contrast in these images. I must have some! On to the FPP site to scratch thus itch…

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Excellent, my nefarious plan is working!

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