Film Binge

[Doug]

They wouldn't allow the lead bag to go through without inspecting its contents... which could be anything, really, including weapons. So it's pretty useless. Just a clear plastic zip-lock bag works well, I've found. And the inspector ladies who tore the wrappings off every one of my rolls of 220 Fuji film (NPZ800) probably expected me to chip my gums at them over the delay, but I just thanked them for their careful work. Grrrrr.

If you reuse commercial 35mm cassettes, then there's nothing to alert the inspectors. I haven't done this, but some have suggested just taping the end of the fresh bulk length to the 1/4" or so of film sticking out through the felt lips of the cassette, so it never needs to be popped open. I have only reloaded Agfa and Ilford cassettes that can be opened without damage, and reassembled over and over.

 

[James Burton]

I use the plastic AP cassettes, ... the take-up spool slips for a frame's length or so (sounds like the sprocket holes are tearing but they are OK), then locks up. Can't complete the wind-on to cock the shutter. I have to press the take-up release button which only allows me to rewind the film. Rewinding is very stiff at this point. I havn't found a way to use the rest of the film.

Update: FWIW

OK, for a start the manual wind camera DOES tear the sprocket holes. Perhaps
not always, at any rate I hadn't noticed before.

Secondly I think I've fixed it. I rubbed a candle-end on the outside of the flanges,
removed the solid lumps (of wax) and it runs much more smoothly now. I actually thought of this years ago but never tried it because I thought it would stick the surfaces together - and drop lumps into the film. We'll see how successful this is.

 

[wierdcollector]

Just my two cents worth, last trip to Nevada I asked for hand inspection in Minneapolis and was told a straight "No". They said their xray device wouldn't harm my film but with no options I said okey dokey. Pics turned out ok, but with no option what else can you do? Also I've never bulk loaded film but my latest buy on that durn E==y site was a lot of 100 rolls of expired Mitsubishi 100 asa film. Haven't had any developed yet, but should be perfect for my purposes: old camera test shots from vintage cameras with limited choice of shutter speeds and sometimes dubious shutter speed accuracy. Never heard of Mitsubishi film before, but I hadn't ever heard of Chinese (PRo Click 400 Dollar store film) film before and it has been excellent. If the weather ever cooperates maybe I'll burn some film tomorrow. Take care and good shooting.

 

[bruhl]

I recently took a trip to Germany and carried a dozen rolls of Fuji film, mostly ISO 100. Rushing through security in Boston, I momentarily forgot the film in my backpack and sent it thru the carry-on scanner. Film was unboxed in a clear zip lock bag.

On my return, I was mindfull of the exposed film, and asked for hand inspection in Germany. No go. Reply was always "the scanner is film safe". Sent exposed film through approx. three different inspection stations.

Back home I had the film developed, and it was fine.

 

[imagecircle]

I'm having trouble with my Canonet advancing bulk TRI-X. After about 6 shots,
the sprokets can't move the film any more and it makes a terrible noise.
The camera works fine with factory spooled cassets, and my home rolled
stuff works fine on my other cameras. Also, I got a mail from one guy who said
his canonet advanced bulk Ilford fine. I'm *guessing" it may be due to the
fact that bulk Tri-X (which is thicker and less flexible than Ilford) doesn't want to
roll up as tightly and small as factory spooled film (which has been in a tight curl its whole life). I'm *guessing* the canonet's special load/advance system doesn't
deal well with this. Anybody ever used bulk TRI-X (or other kodak film) in a
canonet successfully? Did you have to do anything special? Thanks.