ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
AliExpress lists "iron" reloadable 35mm cassettes for bulk loading, priced under $1.00 each.
They look okay. Has anyone tried these?
Chris
They look okay. Has anyone tried these?
Chris
Metal 35mm cassettes from China?
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Alpsman
Well-known
Good morning Chris!
First of all: no, I haven't tried these metal cassettes yet. But I'm interested.
Because: I have enough Nikon cassettes for my Nikon cameras and they'll probably last until I die.
Then: you often read in various forums that the seal in the cartridge mouth collects/can collect dirt over time and then the film gets scratched. But I've also read about people who say they've never had this problem.
Continuing: from the reviews on AliExpress, it can be seen / read that these cassettes CANNOT be opened. So you have to stick the film to the strip in the cassette. If that's the case, then you can just use the cassettes that are left over from your used films.
One buyer wrote in the review that the strip had slipped into the cartridge on his cassette and he couldn't use it.
Because: if the seal gets dirty, you can't change the seal on either cassette.
This means for "me": I buy a "normal" film, take photos up to image number 35, cut the film a little shorter to leave a longer strip in the cassette when developing it and have a cassette with a tab left over to stick on. And it's practically for free.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
First of all: no, I haven't tried these metal cassettes yet. But I'm interested.
Because: I have enough Nikon cassettes for my Nikon cameras and they'll probably last until I die.
Then: you often read in various forums that the seal in the cartridge mouth collects/can collect dirt over time and then the film gets scratched. But I've also read about people who say they've never had this problem.
Continuing: from the reviews on AliExpress, it can be seen / read that these cassettes CANNOT be opened. So you have to stick the film to the strip in the cassette. If that's the case, then you can just use the cassettes that are left over from your used films.
One buyer wrote in the review that the strip had slipped into the cartridge on his cassette and he couldn't use it.
Because: if the seal gets dirty, you can't change the seal on either cassette.
This means for "me": I buy a "normal" film, take photos up to image number 35, cut the film a little shorter to leave a longer strip in the cassette when developing it and have a cassette with a tab left over to stick on. And it's practically for free.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
At least two developing places I know use spent cassettes as a window display with thousands just piled up. On a couple of occasions I have filled up a small carrier bag for free; most will have small lengths protruding so you can attach bulk film. Obviously a little checking and maybe vacuuming is advised.
I’m sure the Chinese cassettes are ok though but the “iron” worries me a bit in case it is cast! Reflx labs also sell packs of 50 at 45 USD.
I’m sure the Chinese cassettes are ok though but the “iron” worries me a bit in case it is cast! Reflx labs also sell packs of 50 at 45 USD.
Muggins
Junk magnet
Pop in your pre-war Contax, or Nikon SLR, and use them as a boat anchor!
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
The illustration shows them disassembled, but who knows?
I see macodirect lists some as well, presumably made in EU.
Chris
I see macodirect lists some as well, presumably made in EU.
Chris
Alpsman
Well-known
On the macodirect website it is specified in the text, that the cartridges can be opened
"Opening the cartridge is extremely simple; just carfully open the lid. This allows for effortless handling when loading and unloading films"
www.macodirect.de
AP itself seems to be a spanish seller. They also sell the AP film developing tanks.
www.apphoto.es
On their webshop I found only the plastic cartridges.
www.apphoto.es
"Opening the cartridge is extremely simple; just carfully open the lid. This allows for effortless handling when loading and unloading films"
AP film cartridge 35mm, metal, DX200, Pack of five
The AP metal film cartridges are a true rarity in the market! This refillable film cartridge has been specially designed for use with bulk film…
www.macodirect.de
AP itself seems to be a spanish seller. They also sell the AP film developing tanks.
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AP Photo Industries, Especialistas en Fotografía y en Sistemas de impresión fotográfica profesionales. para tiendas de fotografía, Fotógrafos y Copisterías.
www.apphoto.es
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ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I checked and have enough reloadable cassettes for now; I'm not bulk loading as much as I once did.
However to test the trustworthiness of AliExpress I ordered a few rolls of Ilford Pan 100 35mm BW film.
Chris
However to test the trustworthiness of AliExpress I ordered a few rolls of Ilford Pan 100 35mm BW film.
Chris
pixie79
Established
Bulk film was very much cheaper! Now it's same as factory loads!! I no longer bother.. Toronto. maybe somwhere else it's different.
Alpsman
Well-known
Fomapan as a 50 Meter roll ist by far the cheapest to get.
pixie79
Established
I have one priority! Film must and should dry flat. Ilford Kentmere DO! TX and Kodak don't! Thats crap. Foma ?
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
Based on this photo from the Macodirect site -
- these look identical to a batch of cassettes I bought on eBay in 2010 that I'm still using to this day.
The ends are easily removable with a thumbnail - no need for tools - and removing both ends gives you enough of a gap in the cassette's mouth to carefully place some sellotape onto each piece of felt. Squeezing the mouth closed then presses the felt firmly onto the sellotape, and when the tape is then peeled off, it lifts any built-up dirt away from the felt. No scratches!
I still prefer using FILCAs and IXMOOs where possible, but this style of cassette will work in absolutely anything, so it's been my fallback for non-Leica cameras for fifteen years, and it works a treat.
The only catch: you do have to tape the film to the spool. The little slot does a frankly piss-poor job of holding it in place!
- these look identical to a batch of cassettes I bought on eBay in 2010 that I'm still using to this day.
The ends are easily removable with a thumbnail - no need for tools - and removing both ends gives you enough of a gap in the cassette's mouth to carefully place some sellotape onto each piece of felt. Squeezing the mouth closed then presses the felt firmly onto the sellotape, and when the tape is then peeled off, it lifts any built-up dirt away from the felt. No scratches!
I still prefer using FILCAs and IXMOOs where possible, but this style of cassette will work in absolutely anything, so it's been my fallback for non-Leica cameras for fifteen years, and it works a treat.
The only catch: you do have to tape the film to the spool. The little slot does a frankly piss-poor job of holding it in place!
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I expect the cassettes sold by macodirect would be very good.
Every AP product I have purchased has been excellent quality.
Unfortunately macodirect shipping rates to USA are prohibitive.
Chris
Every AP product I have purchased has been excellent quality.
Unfortunately macodirect shipping rates to USA are prohibitive.
Chris
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I ordered the Ilford Pan 100 film on AliExpress on 1/19/2025; I received it 1/25/2025,
i.e. it took six days from ordering and shipment from China to delivery to me in USA.
Comparing film to boxes I have of older stock it appears to be the authentic product.
For more of this hard to find item I would not hesitate to order from AliExpress again.
Chris
i.e. it took six days from ordering and shipment from China to delivery to me in USA.
Comparing film to boxes I have of older stock it appears to be the authentic product.
For more of this hard to find item I would not hesitate to order from AliExpress again.
Chris
Alpsman
Well-known
Ilford PAN 100 and 400 is sold by my dealer here in Austria. But I really dont know how much it will cost to ship to US nor how long shipping will take. I also don't know if the film is cheaper in the end if you buy it in Austria or from China, nor whether the dealer ships to the USA. By the way my preferred film.
www.fotofachversand.com
www.fotofachversand.com
Ilford Pan 100 / 135-36 - www.fotofachversand.com - Foto Riegler KG, 6,80 €
Schwarzweißfilm, panchromatisch sensibilisiert, für feinkörnige und scharfe Negative
Ilford Pan 400 / 135-36 - www.fotofachversand.com - Foto Riegler KG, 6,60 €
Schwarzweißfilm, panchromatisch sensibilisiert, hohe Empfindlichkeit, enormer Belichtungsspielraum
Alpsman
Well-known
Well, at least my Foma 100 from the 50 meter roll lies flat as a board.
I would like to point out, however, that the flatness of the film also depends on the ambient conditions under which it is dried.
If the air is very dry and the temperature is "relatively" high, then it will warp more than if the ambient air is humid and the temperature is low.
Of course, drying takes longer if the temperature is lower and the ambient air is more humid.
Alpsman
Well-known
Maybe a alternative for those who are blessed with a 3D-printer
www.thingiverse.com
reloadable 35mm film can by DRGlenn
To the manual reviewer I applied to have this as a learning tool in hopes that it would cut down on some of the costs involved with bulk loading your own film ultimately film photography is an expensive Hobby it's my hope that this gets More film photography students and teachers aware of the...
www.thingiverse.com
FotohuisR
Member
AP only sells the plastic reloadable cartridges, the metal ones were already finished in production from some years ago.
Envasado película | AP Photo Industries
Glenn2
Well-known
What I’d really like to see is someone making copies of the Leica reloadable cassettes. I’ve got a few but would gladly buy more. Did any Japanese companies make anything compatible with Leica? I have a Nicca 3S and the base appears capable of opening Leica style cassettes, although I haven’t tried it.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
The early Leotaxes used a Leica-style cassette; unfortunately Leotax cassettes tend to be a lot rarer than the Leitz equivalents.
Later Leotaxes and all FEDs, Zorkis, Canons and Nikons used a Zeiss-style cassette with the two nubs on top (annoyingly, all with the nubs in slightly different places); I have no idea on the Niccas and Yashicas, but that page I linked to suggests they at least started with the Leica design, too. The Zeiss cassettes are much simpler in design and I can't imagine it'd be too hard to manufacture new ones, but the incompatibility from one brand to the next makes it a bit of a poor proposition unless you're a bit of an obsessive.
I imagine reproductions of the Shirley-Wellard would be a more widely-used cassette, but the cost and complexity of manufacturing those would make them exorbitantly expensive today. As Roger Hicks said in that article:
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Interestingly those AP ISO 200 DX-coded cassettes listed on macodirect are described as metal and in stock.
Unfortunately with shipping to USA they'd cost close to $10 each. That's just more than I'm willing to pay.
Chris
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