furcafe
Veteran
I think I've seen similar things on the internet. IIRC, many photo vests have (or used to have) multiple ammo-belt type loops for carrying film canisters. Nowadays they probably have slots for memory cards & batteries.
How do they do it (carry all that film)?
- Thread starter csaunders
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Sisyphus
Sisyphus
Christian,
Where are you going, and how do you have the time to go somewhere for 6 months that is absolutely fantastic.
About your film dilmena . . . I read a book by a Magnum Photographer, I can't rememeber who, but in the book hementions how Robert Capa would state always bring a suit case of film and nothing else, or something to that effect.
I travel about once a year for 2-4 weeks at a time working on various projects. I bring about 200-300 rolls of film a combination of 35mm and 120, and B&W and color. I mostly bring black and white though. I carry the film in about 4 large lx-ray lead bags that I bought at B&H. Since most of the aiport security will not hand check your film, I can just run it through the x-ray machine, then they wind up hand checking it anyway. Also, I read that another reason fro the x-ray bags is to protect the film from the UV light on the airplanes as some people claim that it can damage or fog the film.
I carry the film in a small suitcase that I can carry on the airplane with me. I generally pack very little clothes, and wash them quite often or buy a few things along the way. Most of the time I am situated in a place for a few days, so I tend to leave most of the film in the room where I am staying, and just carry about 20 rolls or so for the day.
I have another friend who carries less film than I do. He carries all of his camera equipment and film in a rolling camera suit case type thing (Think Tank). He brings very little film and is very focussed about his projects, maybe 20 rolls or less for a week.
So, I think how much film you bring depends on your project, how specific it is, if you will be photogrpahing everday or if there will travel days where you will not be photographing. I think if you are just using 35mm and gone for six months maybe about 200 or 300 rolls at the max, and use it sparingly.
I would not reccomend the bulk film; It is about 100ft per container, which is about 20 rolls of film, and then you have to carry a bulk film holder, tape scissors, and spend your time loading your film, and carrying film canisters anyway. And when the canister become warn, the tops of the canister become quite loose, and tend to pop off easy, exposing your film.
Good luck on your trip.
Where are you going, and how do you have the time to go somewhere for 6 months that is absolutely fantastic.
About your film dilmena . . . I read a book by a Magnum Photographer, I can't rememeber who, but in the book hementions how Robert Capa would state always bring a suit case of film and nothing else, or something to that effect.
I travel about once a year for 2-4 weeks at a time working on various projects. I bring about 200-300 rolls of film a combination of 35mm and 120, and B&W and color. I mostly bring black and white though. I carry the film in about 4 large lx-ray lead bags that I bought at B&H. Since most of the aiport security will not hand check your film, I can just run it through the x-ray machine, then they wind up hand checking it anyway. Also, I read that another reason fro the x-ray bags is to protect the film from the UV light on the airplanes as some people claim that it can damage or fog the film.
I carry the film in a small suitcase that I can carry on the airplane with me. I generally pack very little clothes, and wash them quite often or buy a few things along the way. Most of the time I am situated in a place for a few days, so I tend to leave most of the film in the room where I am staying, and just carry about 20 rolls or so for the day.
I have another friend who carries less film than I do. He carries all of his camera equipment and film in a rolling camera suit case type thing (Think Tank). He brings very little film and is very focussed about his projects, maybe 20 rolls or less for a week.
So, I think how much film you bring depends on your project, how specific it is, if you will be photogrpahing everday or if there will travel days where you will not be photographing. I think if you are just using 35mm and gone for six months maybe about 200 or 300 rolls at the max, and use it sparingly.
I would not reccomend the bulk film; It is about 100ft per container, which is about 20 rolls of film, and then you have to carry a bulk film holder, tape scissors, and spend your time loading your film, and carrying film canisters anyway. And when the canister become warn, the tops of the canister become quite loose, and tend to pop off easy, exposing your film.
Good luck on your trip.
csaunders
f8 and be there.
I plan on photographing in Mauritius, and I'm selling my house to pay for it.
There's tons of glossy colour beach photos of Mauritius everywhere, but I plan to photograph the real Mauritius; not the tourist side.
I plan to shoot in black and white and since I have never done anything like this before I guess I will over-estimate with my film and pack it all in a small suitcase as suggested (and I'll definitely force them to hand-check it). I also plan to process as I go so that should help manage it all.
I've checked out the prices of 100ft rolls vs. pre-loaded and the difference is nominal; certainly not enough for all the hassle...
Thanks everyone for your tips and advice. Pretentious black and white coffee-table book here we come!
Rafael
Mandlerian
That's what they are. I use slide boxes to carry my film. Each box holds 6 rolls (no box or packaging) and they fit nicely in the outside pockets of a Domke F-803 (2 boxes per pocket).
swoop
Well-known
I'm currently in Germany and I stuffed about 50 rolls of film into two x-ray pouches. Just enough for two weeks.
sockeyed
Well-known
When I go on extended trips (usually 4 weeks in SE Asia), I carry my film in ziplock freezer bags, about 6" x 8" square (fits about 15-18 rolls each). I remove all packaging - cardboard, plastic canister - and arrange each roll in rows the freezer bags. This takes up minimal room and packs pretty flat. I have never used x-rays bags, and I've never had problems from carry-on x-ray machines (of course, never store film in bags you'll check in or it will get nuked by those much more powerful x-ray machines).
You can see my film quite clearly in this image from a few years ago:
Another option are these Fujifilm hardcases which carry 10 rolls each, available from Megaperls in Japan. They are solid and compact, and remind me a bit of egg cartons. I've got 4 of them, but haven't travelled with them yet. They seem good to me.
You can see my film quite clearly in this image from a few years ago:
Another option are these Fujifilm hardcases which carry 10 rolls each, available from Megaperls in Japan. They are solid and compact, and remind me a bit of egg cartons. I've got 4 of them, but haven't travelled with them yet. They seem good to me.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
My shoulder bag will accomodate two cameras and four bricks (20 rolls per brick) of film easily, just in the main compartment. I could probably fit another three or four into the side compartments. I've also got a couple of pairs of cargo pants and could carry maybe four more if I needed to -- a total of 260 rolls of film. However, I've never carried more than 30 rolls of film at a time, and usually just 10 or 20 (depending on what I will be shooting).
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