ibcrewin
Ah looky looky
I think I am going to start bulk loading my film because I
A. Spend too much money on film
B. Futz around with too many different kinds of film and sometime have to develop one roll at a time.
and
C. while I am pretty much broke all the time this seems like a good way to get broker.
Anyway, I was looking at ebay, and craigslist and there are about a million and one different models of varying cost. What should I look out for in a bulk loader? There are some really old models out there but I guess they would be just as good as a new one. True? Lastly, do I have to load the film in a light tight room when I put in a new cassette? I'd imagine I would need it to completely dark when I put in a new 100' roll.
Thanks everyone..
A. Spend too much money on film
B. Futz around with too many different kinds of film and sometime have to develop one roll at a time.
and
C. while I am pretty much broke all the time this seems like a good way to get broker.
Anyway, I was looking at ebay, and craigslist and there are about a million and one different models of varying cost. What should I look out for in a bulk loader? There are some really old models out there but I guess they would be just as good as a new one. True? Lastly, do I have to load the film in a light tight room when I put in a new cassette? I'd imagine I would need it to completely dark when I put in a new 100' roll.
Thanks everyone..
mr_phillip
Well-known
First off, yeah you do need to load the roll into the loader in the dark.
There are a bunch of different loaders out there, but my faves are the earlier-type Watson loaders, the ones in glossy black plastic. The later, more angular models just weren't as nicely made IMHO. They can be found for a song on evilBay.
As well as saving a little money, I like the flexibility of bulk loading – if I want to run a quick test roll through a camera or to check out a lens I can just run off a roll of 18 frames or so, rather than waste a full roll.
Happy hunting.
There are a bunch of different loaders out there, but my faves are the earlier-type Watson loaders, the ones in glossy black plastic. The later, more angular models just weren't as nicely made IMHO. They can be found for a song on evilBay.
As well as saving a little money, I like the flexibility of bulk loading – if I want to run a quick test roll through a camera or to check out a lens I can just run off a roll of 18 frames or so, rather than waste a full roll.
Happy hunting.
Xmas
Veteran
Loading the bulk loader needs pukka dark room or changing bag.
Choice of loader is compromise,
one type has a felt light trap, but does not waste/fog the 36 frame.
2nd type has no felt, but does waste 36 frame
Cassette with felt will capture sand and scratch film, but if you had
Canon VI, to 7, Fed 2 to 5, Zorki 5, Contax II or IIa, leica, Nikon, etc. you can get felt less cassettes, they last for ever or until you drop one.
Noel
P.S. if you are really mean you can get out of date cine film in 1000' for peanuts...
edit
P.P.S. the Watsons and clones have the felt less light trap... Cheapest in old camera shops, 2-5 GBP/$
Choice of loader is compromise,
one type has a felt light trap, but does not waste/fog the 36 frame.
2nd type has no felt, but does waste 36 frame
Cassette with felt will capture sand and scratch film, but if you had
Canon VI, to 7, Fed 2 to 5, Zorki 5, Contax II or IIa, leica, Nikon, etc. you can get felt less cassettes, they last for ever or until you drop one.
Noel
P.S. if you are really mean you can get out of date cine film in 1000' for peanuts...
edit
P.P.S. the Watsons and clones have the felt less light trap... Cheapest in old camera shops, 2-5 GBP/$
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40oz
...
I've got two of this style:
http://www.adorama.com/BLW.html
One of mine is a Watson, the other is a Western, for $5 each in a second-hand camera shop.
The felt light-trap kind looks like this:
http://www.adorama.com/BLAA.html
As has been said, the Watson-style waste the last frame or two on each roll unless you load cassettes in the dark (which seems to defeat the "daylight loader" concept, IMHO), but the overall economy means that's not a huge deal. I've never used the felt-trap kind, but it might be worth it since I find often I don't know quite what frame is the last, and often find that great shot happens on the wasted last frame
One drawback to the Watson type is the possibility of opening the cassette door when the light trap is open, wasting your entire 100 spool. Another is the fact that if you ever forget to open the light trap while loading a cassette, you will scratch the whole length of the roll.
Either way, both will work fine and more than pay for themselves. Consider a 100 bulk roll will get you ~25 30-frame rolls, so even buying "expensive" Tri-X or something in bulk will net you greater savings than buying the cheapest B&W by the roll.
If you watch, occasionally deals like 100' of re-branded Pan F for ~$12US come up occasionally, and without a bulk roller, you can't take advantage of these deals. It's nice to only have to worry about the cost of developer and fix any time you want to go out and shoot.
http://www.adorama.com/BLW.html
One of mine is a Watson, the other is a Western, for $5 each in a second-hand camera shop.
The felt light-trap kind looks like this:
http://www.adorama.com/BLAA.html
As has been said, the Watson-style waste the last frame or two on each roll unless you load cassettes in the dark (which seems to defeat the "daylight loader" concept, IMHO), but the overall economy means that's not a huge deal. I've never used the felt-trap kind, but it might be worth it since I find often I don't know quite what frame is the last, and often find that great shot happens on the wasted last frame
One drawback to the Watson type is the possibility of opening the cassette door when the light trap is open, wasting your entire 100 spool. Another is the fact that if you ever forget to open the light trap while loading a cassette, you will scratch the whole length of the roll.
Either way, both will work fine and more than pay for themselves. Consider a 100 bulk roll will get you ~25 30-frame rolls, so even buying "expensive" Tri-X or something in bulk will net you greater savings than buying the cheapest B&W by the roll.
If you watch, occasionally deals like 100' of re-branded Pan F for ~$12US come up occasionally, and without a bulk roller, you can't take advantage of these deals. It's nice to only have to worry about the cost of developer and fix any time you want to go out and shoot.
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nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I have only used Watson Loaders...I guess whatever you get used to should do the job...
Finding the reloadable cassettes, for me, is getting a little tougher...
Finding the reloadable cassettes, for me, is getting a little tougher...
colyn
ישו משיח
I prefer the Watson model 100 loader since it will accept the Leica cassettes which I bulk load.
You do have to load the roll into the holder in total darkness but all other steps can be carried out in room light. You twist the trap clockwise till it clicks to close the chamber from light then you can open the load door.
You do have to load the roll into the holder in total darkness but all other steps can be carried out in room light. You twist the trap clockwise till it clicks to close the chamber from light then you can open the load door.
mhv
Registered User
Look for the Alden 74 loader. It has nice interlocks that prevent you from wasting your 100' roll, and is more sturdy than the Watsons (at least the ones I saw).
steamer
Well-known
Don't you bulk-loading aficionados have trouble with scratches on your film. I know I sure do. I've got a partial roll of fuji neopan 1600 and and 30 meters of Tri-X, when that's gone I think I'll go back to ready rolled film.
Xmas
Veteran
Steamer
The people who dont have felt light traps
in loader or
cassette
get less scratches, than people who use store bought loads. The rewind process sucks any grit in the camera back into the felt light trap, scratchhhhhhhhhhh.
Noel
P.S. the problem is getting the non felt cassettes for your fav camera, not seen a canon one ever.
The people who dont have felt light traps
in loader or
cassette
get less scratches, than people who use store bought loads. The rewind process sucks any grit in the camera back into the felt light trap, scratchhhhhhhhhhh.
Noel
P.S. the problem is getting the non felt cassettes for your fav camera, not seen a canon one ever.
markinlondon
Elmar user
I haven't had any scratches from my Watsons (£4 and £5 respectively). Cassette light traps are another story as Noel points out.
-vin-
Established
Xmas said:
Hi, Noel.
where can these cassettes be found? (felt less cassettes, I mean...) How much do they cost?
Thanks!
Never Satisfied
Well-known
Hi, I have both types of loader, the Watson and the Hama variety; both as pointed out have draw backs. Be aware that your reloadable casettes don't last for ever unless you have the feltless type. When you can now buy Chinese loaded film for about $1.50 a 36 exp roll delivered, you need to be able to get you 30 metre roll very cheaply to compete with these prices and some of the best films are very difficult to get in big rolls like Fuji B&W. But when you find some well priced film you can fill the freezer and have it for years. I've never had scratches from bulk loading, just poor mini lab processing. Cheers Andrew.
ibcrewin
Ah looky looky
Thanks for all the replies.. I think I am going to go for the older Watson model. Off to weavlebay I go!
Xmas
Veteran
-vin-
e-bay or olde worldy camera shop
There is one type the called the Consor (I think) which will fit any standard 35mm camera, about 3GBP, it uses a labrynth light trap.
The others are concentric and are closed while outside the camera but opened inside the camera by a rotating base plate latch, and closed again by the latch.
The Kiev, Contax, and many of the other FSU cameras with a baseplate latch will employ the same cassette, but not Zorki 1 or Fed 1. There are two Leitz cassettes one for LTM only one for both M and LTM, except M5, and Nikon F and a Nikon F2, not compatible, what cameras do you use?
Noel
P.S. there is a third type which is somewhat more general but I've forgotten its name again.
e-bay or olde worldy camera shop
There is one type the called the Consor (I think) which will fit any standard 35mm camera, about 3GBP, it uses a labrynth light trap.
The others are concentric and are closed while outside the camera but opened inside the camera by a rotating base plate latch, and closed again by the latch.
The Kiev, Contax, and many of the other FSU cameras with a baseplate latch will employ the same cassette, but not Zorki 1 or Fed 1. There are two Leitz cassettes one for LTM only one for both M and LTM, except M5, and Nikon F and a Nikon F2, not compatible, what cameras do you use?
Noel
P.S. there is a third type which is somewhat more general but I've forgotten its name again.
colyn
ישו משיח
mhv said:
I would have to disagree. The Watson 100 is a very well made loader and I have never lost any film from exposure.
Qualitywise I would have to say they are both good loaders.
colyn
ישו משיח
steamer said:
I use the Watson loader with Leica cassettes so there is no felt light trap material to scratch the film..
colyn
ישו משיח
Does the Alden 74 accept Leica cassettes or is Watson the only one??
I know Lloyd's won't take them.
I know Lloyd's won't take them.
ibcrewin
Ah looky looky
oooh the plot thickens.. I have a bessa R- is that going to be a problem?