Bulk Loading and Cassettes question

[Flyfisher Tom]

I've finally decided to get into bulk loading. Have my Watson 100 ready with Tri-X.

My questions are:

1) what is your recommendation for the most reliable re-usable cassettes? metal versus plastic? any particular brands?

2) is there such a thing as a permanently re-usable cassette ala the Leica cassettes that I can use with my late model leica M6. I understand that only early model M6 and other older M cameras have the correct baseplate to open and close the Leica cassettes. So any similar options for those with later model M6s?

Any advice would be much appreciated! thanks

 

[eric]

I've finally decided to get into bulk loading. Have my Watson 100 ready with Tri-X.

Good choices! I either go with tri-x or recently, neopan 400

1) what is your recommendation for the most reliable re-usable cassettes? metal versus plastic? any particular brands?

Kodak metal. But they don't make 'em anymore.. I just tossed out a bunch called "screw top" that I got from B&H. I thought it would make my life easier. They scracthed film on me. YMMV. But basically, the cheapo KALT one are pretty darn good. If you are using it with a DX body, they sell the DX kind. Some people, go to the lab, and grab some used cassettes and tape the film to the end of the old film. I think, over the years, the best thing to do is get a sh**load of cassettes that way, your chances of reusing them a lot is less.

2) is there such a thing as a permanently re-usable cassette ala the Leica cassettes that I can use with my late model leica M6. I understand that only early

I'm not familiar with any Leica other than I wished I have one. But I had a friend who as a Leica RF shooter and I seem to recall seeing Leica cassettes. I think they are very expensive.

 

[RayPA]

Manolo's suggestion is a good one. I use both the metal and the plastic canisters. The plastic are nice because they have a twist-on locking cap. The generic metal ones aren't too bad. The Kalt metal canisters are very nice. They're black with a yellow data sticker wrapped around them. They're well made, too. The Kodak Snap-On canisters aren't too bad either.

🙂

 

[taffer]

Hey🙂

Go to your local friendly minilab and ask for some cassettes from films they have processed. They'll have loads of them, and they should have a short length of film sticking out to which you can attach your film with masking tape etc. Use once or twice and then get another batch. A free plentiful supply cannot be beat!

ManGo

This is exactly what I do 🙂

 

[Doug]

Ilford and Agfa used to sell their films in cassettes disigned for non-destructive opening. I just collected a bunch of them as I processed the film myself, and reused those cassettes for bulk loading. Before a reloading session, I use a small hand-vacuum-cleaner to get any debris out of the interior and the felt light trap.

 

[LazyHammock]

I use the plastic canisters with the screw tops. I've found these easier to handle than the metal snap caps.

 

[Skinny McGee]

I am with Lazy Hammock I like the plastic and have had no problems I also have the metal kind and I pretty much only shoot bulk... I just ran out of Tri-x I have to place and order but I bought a roll of 160 portra off ebay for 14.99 that is still in date. so I had to buy another loader...

 

[terrafirmanada]

I also have begun to go Manolo's orute. I have a number of different metal ones if you care to try a selection. But I like the minilab ones, cause if you drop them they never open up. This has happened to me two times with the reloadable ones. It would be a bummer if they had been exposed. Now I am always a bit nervous when I have reloadable cassets on me.

 

[mongo141]

Good choices! I either go with tri-x or recently, neopan 400


Kodak metal. But they don't make 'em anymore.. I just tossed out a bunch called "screw top" that I got from B&H. I thought it would make my life easier. They scracthed film on me. YMMV. But basically, the cheapo KALT one are pretty darn good. If you are using it with a DX body, they sell the DX kind. Some people, go to the lab, and grab some used cassettes and tape the film to the end of the old film. I think, over the years, the best thing to do is get a sh**load of cassettes that way, your chances of reusing them a lot is less.


I'm not familiar with any Leica other than I wished I have one. But I had a friend who as a Leica RF shooter and I seem to recall seeing Leica cassettes. I think they are very expensive.

www.ritzcam.com US $5 each under Leica screw mount acessories. They claim to have a lot of them. Dave

 

[kiev4a]

I use the plastic canisters with the screw tops. I've found these easier to handle than the metal snap caps.

I tried the plastic screw tops but had problems with the tops coming unscrewed while I was loading or unloading a camera. Swithed to metal. The Kalt are good and I also uses a generic black metal model sold by the local camera store.

I can remember when Kodak film came in reloadable cassettes!!

 

[photodog]

Be careful if you buy the genuine Leica cassettes, the older ones only work on the screw mount cameras. The newer ones for the M cameras will only work on the M6 if you get an older style baseplate from an M4-2 or M4-P.

 

[terrafirmanada]

Another benefit from the Pharmacy/ Minilab cassets that I have been taking advantage of is bulk loading color, and then getting it processed by one of the companies that does it dirt cheap online. I get 42-44 frames on each roll, and they process it for about 2 dollars.

 

[Trius]

I agree that the plastic cassettes with screw tops are a risk. I just had a roll of APX100 have the top come off, and damned if I didn't discover it AFTER I shot the roll! The important shots are on the last several frames, so maybe they'll be OK. Grrr.

Trius

 

[tedwhite]

I buy the metal ones from Freestyle in L.A. Have no idea who makes them. They work fine, but, as I've been bulk loading for thirty years, I've learned a small bit about the process.

No matter how good the cassettes are (and Kalt are quite good, but I can't find them around here) eventually you've got to toss them. The felt lips pick up dust particles that will scratch the emulsion side. So here's what I do. I use them only three times. I have three small plastic containers (with tight lids). I bulk load ten cassettes. As I process each one I toss it into Box One. After I use up the ten and they are all in Box One, I reload them. This time they go into Box Two, etc. It's an infantile system, you're probably thinking. All I can say in my defense is that I've never had a scratched negative.

I forgot to mention that I process all my own film at home. Recently I discovered the usefulness of a negative scanner. The only tray work I do after the negs are dried is to make a contact sheet. That way I can determine which neg(s) to scan and work with.

Ted

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Ditto what tedwhite said. And Freestyle has cassettes with DX coding on them which makes them usable in modern cameras without too much fussing. I tend to shoot only 400 ASA film and so I bought a box of these and have been a happy camper. Two words of warning - dust/grit in the felt lightraps on the cassettes WILL eventually give you a scratch that runs the length of your film. And if you drop a cassette (of either plastic or metal construction) the right way, the cassette WILL pop open. The only way to avoid these fates is to use sealed, pre-packaged factory loaded cassettes. When I carry my bulk loaded cassettes, I always keep them in the plastic film canesters as extra protection. I have several 100' rolls of Neopan and Delta 400 sitting in the freezer downstairs. Now if I could just complete my film-drying cabinet project . . .

Ben

 

[Trius]

My routine for reusing bulk cassettes has been to always clean the felt after each use. I use a piece of masking tape, pressed to the felt, to clean off dust and grit. I use a new piece of tape for each cassette. After I developed this routine, I had few, if any, problems with scratches.

Trius