Extremely tightly-coiled film

[css9450]

I recently shot a roll of Rera Pan 100, and processed it. This is in 127 size for my Vest Pocket Kodak. Unfortunately, the film was stiff and VERY tightly coiled, such that it fought with me the whole time loading the reel. It was tough getting it onto the clip, and it kept getting wrinkles (or creases) while trying to thread the rest of it onto the reel. Ultimately, the finished roll revealed three shots ruined due to big gray areas where the film touched, and a bunch of little wrinkles elsewhere wherever the film creased.

This is on a Nikor stainless reel I got on Ebay. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity to practice beforehand, since I didn't have an old film around to use for practice. But seeing how easy my Hewes 35mm reels load, I never imagined this one would be so tough.

Oh well, maybe after I scan this roll (what's presentable of it at least), I can use it for practice. Maybe the plastic reels might be easier for stiff, tightly-coiled film? My aspirations for getting a Baby Rolleiflex might be fading fast!

 

[Mackinaw]

Most medium format roll film isn't coiled so tightly. Only advice I can offer is to sacrifice a roll of film and load it repeatedly until loading becomes second nature.

Jim B.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I've run into that before and agree with what Jim said. If that is the only film you can get in 127, or the film you really want to use, and it curls that badly, get an extra roll, and in daylight, practice, practice, practice loading it again and again until you can do it with your eyes closed, "in your sleep". Had some old expired AGFA film do that to me, and it curled so badly that the only way I could scan it was between two sheets of Newton glass.

Good luck.

Best,
-Tim

 

[x-ray]

127 curls badly because the diameter of the spool its wound on is so small.

 

[css9450]

127 curls badly because the diameter of the spool its wound on is so small.

Hmmmm, that makes sense. Its only a few millimeters in diameter.

I'll just have to bite the bullet and do a lot of practice. Second roll is in the camera already.... Time to order more I suppose! Thanks all!

 

[x-ray]

When you loaded it load from the end that doesn'thave the tape on it. That end is less tightly wound because of the larger diameter of the roll, not the spool. When you're in the dark simply remove the paper backing and start on that untaped end. It should make it easier.

 

[css9450]

I'm sure that contributed to my downfall. For some reason, after I peeled the film away from the paper, I turned it around and used that end to get it started in the reel. No wonder it wasn't cooperating!

 

[css9450]

Other suggestions I've found include clipping a weight to the loose end of the film while loading it onto the reel, or rolling it backwards onto the spool and letting it sit for awhile. Not sure I'd want to roll it quite that tight (on that tiny, narrow spool!) but maybe I could roll it backward and let it sit for a week in the processing tank. Might be enough to relax the curl.

There's only eight frames per roll; losing 2-3 to processing errors is a disappointment.

 

[x-ray]

I'm not sure it would relax that much in a week. Not sure about the weight. Seems like you'd be fighting the weigh and the curl. Back winding, I think I'd just try and get my loading perfected.

I had a Yashica 44 and used Efke and used stainless 127 reels. I don't remember any problems. I have a 1st generation Baby Rollei that Ive thought of fixing up and shooting. I have some Efke in the freezer but kind of freaked when I saw the price of a single roll currently. $11.99 is excessive.

 

[css9450]

Practice makes perfect. I sacrificed a roll and loaded it onto the reel about 50 times. Maybe more! Even in darkness. Finally got it so I could verify if it was centered properly, and if not, adjust as needed, and make sure its not stuck under the initial turn of the spiral. Its easy after that! Second attempt at processing 127 was successful 8 of 8 frames!

That was $11.99 well spent. This roll can sit in the drawer with the couple other rolls of 35 I keep around, for stuff like this, checking camera mechanisms, etc. Thanks all for the suggestion! Its really what I should have done first.