Buying film in bulk?

[Compaq]

For fun I've added a poll "Do you buy your film in bulk?".

Anyway, I've heard it reduces the cost of film in half. Is it hard to learn? I saw a video on the youtubez, and I don't need much equipment. Just the changing bag and some reels or something. Would you recommend it? It sounds fun to do this manually, IF there are some economic benefits from it. How many films does 10mm equal?

Anders

 

[kode]

I got a couple of bulk loaders for cheap, so I bought a bulk roll to try it. But frankly, I don't see any savings in cost from it. Something that I appreciate, however, is that you can decide how many exposures you want in the roll you're loading. Say, for example, 12 exposures could be enough to see if that "new" camera off ebay works or not - no need to blow a full 36 exposures on a dud.

A 30m/100feet bulk roll is somewhere around 20 rolls of 36 exposures, if I recall correctly, perhaps a few more.

 

[Compaq]

One roll of bw film costs around 4-7 dollahs. 30m costs around $50...surely that's a good investment? Or am I overlooking something obvious?

This would be a nice way for me to make the process of making a photograph more personal. That's why I did buy a rangefinder in the first place, to have a more personal option than digital. My DSLR is in for service now anyway, and I won't see it for a month or so.

 

[Deniz Merdan]

There are significant cost savings (more than 1/2) in Canada. But i don't think the savings are as dramatic in the states.
ex.
Roll of tri-x about $7.50/roll
bulk tri-x about $2.80/roll

 

[pschauss]

I do it mostly for the convenience of being able to make short rolls. In addition, some of the film that I use, like Eastman Double-X, Polypan-F, and Orwo UN54, is only available in bulk.

Another advantage which no one mentions is that 100' of bulk film takes up considerably less storage space than 22 rolls of film.

 

[emayoh]

Note: if you need DX-coding, you *can* get reloadable canisters that are DX-coded as well.

Or, if you are verrry careful in how you open old canisters, you can convert them to reloadable canisters. I use some vintage-looking Tri-X canisters that I reload and re-use with new. A very insignificant and silly thing, but it makes me smile.

 

[emayoh]

Peter Schauss: Where do you get 100' of Double-X? Or do you just hand-load from 400'?

 

[Compaq]

I don't need DX coded cartridges. I am well capable of setting film speed and count the look at the counter myself. Rewinding the film is fun also!

Thanks, btw. Can the metal reloadable cartridge that freestyle photo carries be used with both 100 and 400 film?

 

[Colin Corneau]

Google "John Sypal bulk loading" to get a clear, simple explanation on bulk loading film. I especially like his method of re-using regular film cassettes.

You also have to figure out if this is enough cost savings for you, or not. Tri-X bought through B&H for example, is $3.99/roll of 36 -- compared with $7 or more in Canada the land of no competition.

Even less if you go with the Arista knockoff brand through Freestyle...I'm inclined to go with regular rolls to avoid the possibility of ruined shots through scratches, cannisters popping open, etc. But it's your choice to make.

 

[Tim Gray]

For some films and locations, it doesn't really make a lot of sense. I never got into it because I shoot a lot of Tri-X. Here in the US, you can get 36 exposure Tri-X for $3.99. A 100 foot roll, which gives about 18 rolls, is $64.95, or $3.61/roll. Mind you I have to factor in my time rolling the film, the canisters, and the risk of me scratching the film. All for 40 cents a roll? I'll pass. I also don't shoot *that* much film, so I it's not a dominant expense in my life (compared to food, rent, cameras, lenses 😀 ).

For other films/locations/needs, it might make perfect sense.

 

[Compaq]

Shooting film is to me more personal than digital. That's why I want to learn to develop the film myself. I take pride in doing as much of the process as I possible can. I can't make my own film, but I can buy bulk and reel it on the spool myself. More control to me, should I need it. I have a few hobbies where I just feel like the urge to do it properly - and that means doing things myself.

And I'm pretty sure I'll save money on buying bulk, as the price in Norway is 50NOK per roll of film. 10 rollls for 450 NOK. 10 rolls cost a little more than a 30m spool. And then there's shipping, but I'm still saving lots of money. I'm just a full time student after all!

 

[Livesteamer]

If your camera can use a labyrinth cassette like the ixmoo or the Nikon F cassette then bulk loading is very attractive. I've loaded hundreds of rolls thru Nikon F cassettes and they work wonderfully. No felt and reusable just about forever. Bulk loaders are also available cheaply these days.

Joe

 

[timor]

Peter Schauss: Where do you get 100' of Double-X? Or do you just hand-load from 400'?

DXN (double X negative) comes in 400' rolls. Sometimes local distributor may have unused ends. Handling 400' roll may be awkward, but is all worth it, film is superb.

 

[kingqueenknave]

Yes, I buy all of my B&W film in bulk.

 

[taskoni]

I might give the bulk loading film a try after I source at least few film cassettes for my M2. I don't like the John Sypal reusing cassettes method, I think the risk of scratching the film is 50% more that way. I am paying 6,64 Euros a roll of Delta 400 from the local Ilford importer (and the only one) 🙁 very expensive... I'll check the options of Delta 400 bulk.

 

[Mablo]

I'm bulk loading but usually only when I can buy a 100ft can of reasonably good film for €30 or less. You don't find Tri-x for that price in Europe but Foma and Efke and some Rollei films can be found. Sometimes you find lucrative discount sales for dated bulk films and then there are cheap b&w movie film like Double-X, Orwo 100 and 400 and others. I prefer plastic reusable cassettes with screw-in cap to metal cassettes with a snap cap.

 

[jimrohrer]

For some films and locations, it doesn't really make a lot of sense. I never got into it because I shoot a lot of Tri-X. Here in the US, you can get 36 exposure Tri-X for $3.99. A 100 foot roll, which gives about 18 rolls, is $64.95, or $3.61/roll. Mind you I have to factor in my time rolling the film, the canisters, and the risk of me scratching the film. All for 40 cents a roll? I'll pass.

Recently I considered this very question and came to the same conclusion as Tim did... I pretty much only shoot Tri-X. If I were not located in the U.S. it might be a different story

 

[btgc]

And after all, going into dark restroom with a bulk roll in one hand and canisters in another for a short meditation in darkness is close to something like sitting down with a quality tobacco in a good pipe. People smoking cigarettes, even expensive ones, do not come close to state of zen 🙂

 

[KenR]

In my student days I bulk loaded TriX and PanatomicX, but got a lot of negative scratches. So, once I could afford it, I moved on to the commercial products. Now I use more 120 film than 35mm, so it wouldn't pay.

 

[jordanstarr]

I'm only bulk loading right now because I found someone locally who sold me about 1000ft of my favorite films (10, 100ft rolls) for under $300 or less than $30 a bulk roll. However, for me it's not worth it to save a few cents a roll and would rather order bricks of tri-x from B&H. FP4 is a little different -I'd rather bulk roll it and save about $1/roll.