Bulk Loader Showdown

[kiss-o-matic]

Copied from another thread that fizzled:

Anyone care to comment on the Arista Bulk Loader versus the Lloyd one (the only one B&H carries)? The Arista one, for $90, comes w/ 20 cartridges as well. Although I guess if these suck they are by and large, useless.

Toodles

 

[John E Earley]

Why would anyone pay more than $5 for a bulk loader with all the used ones out there.

 

[pschauss]

Freestyle also sells the Arista bulk loader without the cartridges for about $13 less. I have no experience with the Arista but I do have a couple of Lloyds which I have found to be simple and easy to use. The Lloyd uses a felt light trap which can scratch the film if it gets dirt in it. I have been using mine for years and have never had that problem. It has a table printed on the side telling you how many turns of the crank you make for a given number of frames. There is nothing to tell you how much film is left in the loader.

From the picture, the cartridges look like they are the screw cap type. I have had problems using those in my bottom loading Leicas and Zorkiis. I prefer the Kalt snap cap cartridges from B&H.

 

[filmtwit]

I'm with you here. Used is the way to go on bulk loaders.

Why would anyone pay more than $5 for a bulk loader with all the used ones out there.

That having been said, I have both loaders.
The Arista Bulk Loader is the nicer of the two, but kind of cramped to set up and use.

My personal preference is the Watson bulk loaders, but the older ones.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-6212.html

 

[nikon_sam]

Why would anyone pay more than $5 for a bulk loader with all the used ones out there.

What John sez...
I use a Watson 100...works perfectly...been loading my film without any problems for over 35 years...😎

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Virginia is the Golden State of bulk loaders!
Where else I could buy it for $5.

 

[bence8810]

I have a Watson 100, a Watson 66B and an LPL Japanese made loader.
While most of you are familiar with the Watsons the LPL is a local thing so I am copying an image below, I am sure it's a sister / brother model of something Global.

I prefer the Watsons overall but they waste a frame or two per roll unless I load the cassettes in a darkbag. Since I am cheap and don't like wasting, I do go through the trouble and put the Watson in a darkbag every time I load film.

The LPL one does not waste film so it's great but it doesn't support loading the Leica legacy IXMOO cassettes so I came up with my own little workflow.

When travelling and needing to take plastic cartridges so the Airport security won't think I am carrying military grade bullets in my bag, I use the LPL and load really quick into reusable cheap plastic shells.
When not traveling, I just use the Watsons in a darkbag and load my IXMOOs.

Ben

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Cheers for this. Looks like used is the way to go.

All of my developing tanks and reels are LPL -- solid stuff. I've moved away from Japan late last year but can always have stuff sent over in a care package from a friend. Just need to decide if it's worth it though.

 

[Per]

The Arista loader (also known as AP, Hansa and more) has a remaining film length indicator. Anyone who knows how that works? I really figure this out. I have never seen the pointer ever move.

 

[Bill Clark]

I own two Lloyd loaders. Both have film, each with a different type. One loader is so old it was made in U.S.A. the other, a fairly recent purchase made in China.

I would think twice about used as I've looked at some where the felt was suspect. At the price of one hundred feet of film plus possible ruined photos, why take the chance? It's up to you!

Haven't had any trouble with either loader and the oldest one is at least 50 years old.

Do you remember when 50 foot reels of film could be bought? Cheapie me used to buy a few that way when I was low on funds! Weren't a roll of one or maybe two types were available in 150 foot lengths? Was it Panatomic X? Or Technical Pan?

I never bulk loaded color. Just me. Always black and white as I used the most!

Link to the new Lloyd bulk loader:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/31737-REG/Lloyd_LL01_35mm_Bulk_Film_Loader.html

Back in the late sixties to early seventies I used color slide film for weddings! With 35mm camera two 36 exposure rolls of Ektachrome-X were all that I used back then! Try pulling that off on a couple getting married in this day and age. Probably seventy six photos of just her shoes from some photogs! It wasn't until around late nineties that I could afford to make the leap into Hasselblad stuff. Thought, "this is it. Wiil take me until I retire!" Then digital gave birth and grew up so as pro photogs embraced it. Rest is history! Lots of smiles and fun going through all of this!

 

[bence8810]

The Arista loader (also known as AP, Hansa and more) has a remaining film length indicator. Anyone who knows how that works? I really figure this out. I have never seen the pointer ever move.

On my LPL loader (image a few posts above) there's a remaining film counter on the back side of the loader. It is just a spring driven gauge that has a little lever sitting on the edge of the film and as the diameter of the roll decreases the lever is moving closer to the center and this moves the little gauge. Don't know how to better explain.

Found an image, you can see it here:

As for why buy bulk: It is true the price does not make sense anymore but as we see yearly increases in film prices, I tend to stock up and it's easier to freeze the bulk rolls as they take up less space. The more room I take up in the freezer, the angrier the wife. Bulk pays off!

Ben

 

[Nokton48]

As long as they aren't cracked or chipped, the used Watson ones are fine for me.
I have six or seven of them around. A few were given to me.
I would never use a loader that has a felt light trap.

 

[bence8810]

As long as they aren't cracked or chipped, the used Lloyds ones are fine.
I have six or seven of them around. A few were given to me.
I would never use a loader that has a felt light trap.

The one I pasted from the web does have a felt trap but it is only engaged when the loader is opened (crank pulled). It is there to block light. As soon as you insert the crank, the felt trap opens and it does not touch the film in any way. While loading, your film does not pass through anything.

I have two Watsons (Lloyd) and one LPL. If it wasn't for the fact that the Watson closes the IXMOO cassettes I would use the LPL exclusively as it does not waste a single frame on the film by exposing it to light.

Ben

 

[philipus]

I use an Alden that takes 200ft rolls (this one I think). Because it is a fairly large/long loader it will waste a frame or two at the end of a roll so loading in a dark bag is a good idea. It's a very nice loader though.

 

[narsuitus]

Anyone care to comment on the Arista Bulk Loader versus the Lloyd one...

I have used the Lloyd bulk film loader and I have used the Burke & James Watson model 100 bulk film loader but I have never used the Arista.

I prefer the Watson for the following reasons:

1. The Lloyd, and probably the Arista, use felt for a light trap. The felt may also trap dirt particles that can scratch the film.

2. The Watson does not use felt; therefore, the film is less susceptible to scratching.

3. The Lloyd, and probably the Arista, cannot load Nikon AM-1 film cassettes for Nikon F2 cameras. Nikon AM-1 film cassettes do not use felt light traps; therefore, the film is less susceptible to scratching.

Burke & James Watson model 100 bulk film loader by Narsuitus, on Flickr