film leader retriever?

[goo0h]

This is the best of the lot I've found. Cheap, reliable, fast and even fits in a Kodak film can when you want to carry it with you. I've tried several kinds of these over the years and the little metal one works on the first try 99% of the time.

Oh, and the device is so simple instructions are only needed the first time.

Thanks. I was making an order from B&H anyway, so threw that one into the cart. Not really in the mood to lick film. 😉

 

[lewis44]

Thanks. I was making an order from B&H anyway, so threw that one into the cart. Not really in the mood to lick film. 😉

Licking film is Mighty Tasty. The Color Chromes taste like KFC Chicken.

 

[Chris101]

Licking film is Mighty Tasty. The Color Chromes taste like KFC Chicken.

Depends on the major colors doesn't it? Chicken maybe if it's mostly golden brown, but blues and reds are kinda fruity.

 

[bukaj]

I lost my retriever. Licking works so long as it is B&W. Color not so well. ... Meh, B&W tastes better anyhow.

I'm not sure if this is true. I've gotten it to work with c41 b&w film (kodak 400cn). maybe it was a roll of 400cn to get the lead out of a roll of tri-x. but at least one of the rolls was color process.

if you don't want to lick the film, you can always wash your hands, get some saliva on your fingers, then get it on the film.

-jakub

 

[rbsinto]

I carry a length of Dymo labelmaker tape in my bag for the occasional film retrieval. It's a stiff plastic tape about 3/8" inch wide. You peel off some of the plastic that covers the adhesive and feed the tape into the film cartridge, sticky side down. If you re-wind the film spool some, the tape sticks to the film and you can pull the whole shebang back out the felt lip.

Same method I've used for many, many years.
Cheap, cheerful and works like a champ.

 

[hlockwood]

I notice that B&H has a film leader retriever for not very much. Then on freestyle (where I usually get my film) I notice that they've got a couple, some pretty expensive. Which one do folks recommend?

What happened was this: I shot a few frames of a roll of 36, but then had to change rolls. I meant to leave the leader out, something I've done thousands of times before. However, this time I forgot, and reround the entire roll into the canister. It would be a shame to waste so much of that roll, so I thought I'd get a leader retriever, something I probably should have gotten a long time ago.

Film Picker 4 works every time for me. Can't remember the price, been a few years.

Harry

 

[Ronald M]

They used to work. I bought all kinds of fancy ones and they all work one time in ten. Really frustrating.

Leica Cassettes and ABLON and bench winder is the ticket. Sharp knife too and a bunch of cassettes.

 

[sepiareverb]

Thanks. I was making an order from B&H anyway, so threw that one into the cart. Not really in the mood to lick film. 😉

Well, one can always lick after pulling the tail. :angel:

 

[Particular]

I have a fancy leader retriever made by Hama. I've had it for years and I have not once gotten it to work. Spending money won't necessarily solve your problem in my opinion.

So, I gave the Hama another try. Once I figured out the right technique it has been working nicely every time.

 

[_larky]

I use the Ilford retriever, works really well.

 

[Steve M.]

For years, I've been using that cheap little metal one that sepia reverb put a link to in his post. Always have to re read the instructions on it every time I use it, but it's pretty intuitive and always works. If I was looking for one I'd see if Freestyle or someone else had one before I'd get it from B&H though. Ever since I made a vow to not buy from Big East Coast Camera Dealers my life has gotten a lot less stress in it. Just picking up a phone and calling them used to ruin my day. The folks at Freestyle are so much different 🙂