HP5plus - flimsy film?

briandaly

briandaly

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Just finished shooting and processing my first roll of HP5+ and realise that I missed the last 10 frames. The film broke at the sprocket hole as I hit the end, allowing me to continue blissfully unaware that I had hit the end of the roll. Hasn't happened to me with Tri-X or BW400CN.
Thinking back, there was a point where I felt a little resistance as I wound forward, but I assumed at the time it was simply the camera being a little stiff and was too caught up in shooting to give it a second thought.
Never thought to check the exposure counter and only noticed when the counter was on 10.


Anyone had a similar experience?
 
I use HP5+ a lot, and I've only ever had it break when shooting at very low temperatures (-15C and lower). I think most films get brittle at that point, though.
 
I once got to 40 on the exposure count. I thought "cool, free film" turns out I misloaded the roll and it never took. So all those shots I had were non existent. Such a bummer. But I've never had the problem of the film ripping off the spool at the end of a roll. In fact while in college I would intentionally rip the roll off the spool when I didn't have a scissor around during developing, and much of them took a bit of effort. Your particular roll was probably taped poorly. A shame. But I'm sure it happens. If you keep a changing bag or have a completely dark room. I'm sure you could roll the film onto a reel and put it into a developing container and save it.
 
I use HP5 almost exclusive and also bulk loaded only. I've never had it tear the sprockets.

Actually in all my time I've had this hobby the only time I've ever done this was when I was first starting off and used a manual camera for the first time and forgot to release the winder before beginning the manual rewind.

 
HP 5 + is usually pretty good.
I found Foma films to be brittle and this breakage has happened.
Certain cameras can cause this more than others.
My Leica IIIc dislikes films made in eastern europe.
 
The temperature was around 12C.
Looking at the negatives, I can see that it broke just as I started to take some shots of a street busker. I had just asked him if he minded if I took some shots while he played and was quite excited when he agreed - too excited to notice I'd just bust the film.
Damn. The best shots were those at the end...
 
Looking closely at the film, I can see 4 damaged sprocket holes - 2 at the top, 2 directly beneath. Not surprisingly, they're just at frame #36.
Lessons learnt:
1. Keep an eye on the frame counter
2. If there's any friction, assume the worst - rewind and change film.
 
if you guys like bulk loading HP5+, I've found arista to be exactly the same just cheaper. freestyle photo has got some pretty good prices, if you get lucky you might even be able to pick up a bulk loader too.
 
shimo-kitasnap said:
if you guys like bulk loading HP5+, I've found arista to be exactly the same just cheaper.
Click to expand...

Used to be; isn't any more.

Like others, I've never had a problem with HP5 being 'tender' or 'flimsy'. But I suppose a certain amount depends on which camera you use and how brutal you are. As far as I am aware, Kodak and Ilford film bases are substantially identical in thickness, strength, etc.

Cheers,

R.
 
pingle said:
I use HP5+ a lot, and I've only ever had it break when shooting at very low temperatures (-15C and lower). I think most films get brittle at that point, though.
Click to expand...

If you were from Saskatchewan, you wouldn't deem -15 to be "very low". ;)

I've shot Ilford film in the -30s (and Fuji and Kodak too) without breakage, although certainly, if you get a jam, you're more likely to have trouble at these temperatures than you are at +25.
 
This is how myths start... someone will read the header a few times and subconsciously be triggered that HP5+ is flimsy... tell that to a few people and suddenly the myth is born that HP5+ should be avoided.

Shot plenty of FP4+ and HP5+ in all kinds of cameras (from Canonets,to Nikons to Leica). Never problems.
 
You are lucky you didn't destroy the shutter etc. Becareful in the future, all films break if you force :)
 
xayraa33 said:
HP 5 + is usually pretty good.
I found Foma films to be brittle and this breakage has happened.
Certain cameras can cause this more than others.
My Leica IIIc dislikes films made in eastern europe.
Click to expand...

Hi
I completely agree, I had similar experiences with FOMA and with chinese films: most of them are fine, but a couple of times they were teared just before the last frames. It happened to me with some older SLRs (Zenit 3M, Kristall) and I heard that it is advisable, if this happens with a certain camera, not to press the back of the camera while winding (in theory to prevent further resistance to winding...). I never had a problem however with Ilford films.
Regards
Joao
 
Ronald_H said:
This is how myths start... someone will read the header a few times and subconsciously be triggered that HP5+ is flimsy... tell that to a few people and suddenly the myth is born that HP5+ should be avoided.

Shot plenty of FP4+ and HP5+ in all kinds of cameras (from Canonets,to Nikons to Leica). Never problems.
Click to expand...

Didn't mean to start a myth about HP5+. In fact, I hope to be using a lot of it as it's the cheapest I can get locally. Is there any way I can change the title of the thread?
If not, maybe I should start a new thread - "HP5+ rocks!":)
 
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