Do you bulk load your own film?

[DriesI]

Any place to get 100' rolls of slide film?

 

[kokoshawnuff]

I don't think 100' slide is available from any of the manufacturers. At least not in the US 🙁

 

[Overkill-F1]

I have in the past used a Watson loader and went through many 100' rolls, mainly HP5 as it was easliy available. I have restarted shooting film and a 100' roll of Tri-X in is the mail. 🙂
...Terry

 

[Uncle Bill]

Bulk loaded for several years now, usually Ilford HP5, Delta 100, FP4 or Kodak Tri-x.

 

[leicapixie]

I've finished my last bulk roll, Ilford Surveillance Film. It uses a Polyester base allowing more length, as it is way thinner. Tear proof and will not bend easily. I was scared to place the film in my M6 in case it came out of the cassette that i had loaded! The results of my early scans is enough to keep me shooting digital with a point and shoot digital..
I guess I will get some more film, but the new price of Tri-X in Toronto, at Henry's, over a $100- has kinda pushed me away. I will wait for cooler weather and order a few bulk rolls from B+H, NYC.
I think in the near future, I will have to evaluate shooting film. The cost and problems, of poor scans and poorly made film..

 

[Chris101]

I don't bulk load, but I'm gonna start. Does the cheap loader from Freestyle work? I have a 100' roll of PanF, but that's not my favorite film. I'd like to shoot real trix for less than $4 for a 36 roll, or Delta 3200 for six or so.

Is this reasonable?

 

[Godfrey]

not any more.

I don't shoot enough film at this point that it's worth it to buy bulk and do my own spooling. 20 rolls of XP2 Super last me for a year or three.

 

[Keith]

I wish Fuji still offered 100ft rolls in their popular films ... I could be quite happy with Acros and Neopan and little else. Particularly Neopan ... wonderful film IMO.

I've tried to like HP5+ but it's just OK!

 

[Thomas78]

I started with a 5 m roll Ilford PAN F (exp 1986) I got for free from my uncle. Now I have a 50" roll of TURA P400 from the 1980s and new 100" Adox CHS50.

I load them by hand, preferably in FILCA casettes but also in used Adox casettes.

By the way, I just bought my first shirely wellard casette.

 

[kdemas]

I've been doing quite a bit lately. Right now it's TMAX 400 (TMY2) and Acros 100 in the loaders.

 

[flip]

I wish Fuji still offered 100ft rolls in their popular films ... I could be quite happy with Acros and Neopan and little else. Particularly Neopan ... wonderful film IMO.

I've tried to like HP5+ but it's just OK!

I arrived at the same place. I still have most of a HP5 roll, but it's slow going, particularly as I migrated to Rodinal for everything.

I just placed my order for efke 25 and arista tri-x (still have some acros in the freezer, but neopan was just too useful for me not to use it up quickly!)

 

[useless generation]

I've been bulk loading for a while but lately all my
Films are getting alot more scratches and I can't
Pinpoint weather it's the bulk loader or the film canisters! 🙁

 

[kdemas]

I've been bulk loading for a while but lately all my
Films are getting alot more scratches and I can't
Pinpoint weather it's the bulk loader or the film canisters! 🙁

Same here. One of my Watsons seems to be scratching my TMAX. Annoying.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Important to keep the felt clean. They can attract dust like crazy...

 

[Keith]

Bulk loading is in danger IMO. I think when the dust settles and the remaining film manufacturers find their levels to survive in the new world they may lose interest in providing 100ft rolls.

There's already a rather limited range between Freestyle and B&H and the savings aren't really significant any more. By the time I burn up the 700ft of Tr-X I have in the freezer there may be little on offer to replace it! 🙁

 

[kdemas]

Important to keep the felt clean. They can attract dust like crazy...

I sure try to.

 

[funkydog]

I'm looking at the bulk loaders from Freestyle.

Arista 35mm Bulk Film Loader - Bobinquick Junior $65.99 (or 75.99 with 20 cartridges)

Legacy Pro Lloyd 35mm Bulk Film Loader $24.99

Any preference/recommendations/opinions/views on build quality, function, reliability, jack in the box tendencies of either one?

 

[crispy12]

Yes I bulk load all my BW film. Tri-X 30m rolls using a Konica bulk loader.

Previously I used to hand load in a changing bag because I was too cheap to buy a loader, but after trying one I can say that it's the best purchase of my bulk loading life. No scratches so far, takes about 1 minute to load a roll. It's almost the same as the AP bulk loader but apparently has higher factory QC.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Any preference/recommendations/opinions/views on build quality, function, reliability, jack in the box tendencies of either one?

I have had good luck with the simple Lloyd.

 

[RomanV]

I'm using 2 of Arista 35mm Bulk Film Loaders for the last 4 years (and I think something around 20 rolls thru it of them) and I've found them very convenient in use and the quality good also (no scratched films as of now). But use only metal cartridges - plastic are questionable in quality IMO ...

Roman

I'm looking at the bulk loaders from Freestyle.

Arista 35mm Bulk Film Loader - Bobinquick Junior $65.99 (or 75.99 with 20 cartridges)

Legacy Pro Lloyd 35mm Bulk Film Loader $24.99

Any preference/recommendations/opinions/views on build quality, function, reliability, jack in the box tendencies of either one?