Keeping track of films in cameras

I just look at the ISO dial and cross my fingers. The only problem I have now is my hasselblad backs, so I've resorted to ripping the box and sliding it into the little holder for it on the back.
 
With too many cameras and not being able to finish a roll in one session, I use a piece blue masking tape at the bottom of the camera, with the date, plus the initials D400 for Delta 400 or TX400 for Tri-X.
 
When I was foolishly shooting only one camera & film I had no problem. Now I either put the film box end in the cold shoe, or paper tape on the base. I need to get some better paper tape, what I have now is "greasy".
 
For any camera that I do not finish the film load during a day's session, I stick a little piece of artist's tape on it and pencil what film is in it before putting it back in the cabinet.

Artist's tape is white tape that is formulated for temporary use, and peels off easily without leaving any residue.

G
 
Low tack masking tape is what I'd think of here. It looks to be the lowest tech with least admin, and on bottom loading Leicas and other rangefinders, perfectly located.

Time to get into the habit!
 
Here's a very simple solution - just shoot one type and speed of film. While I go back and forth with Kentmere, Tri-X, and HP5+, all are ISO 400 black and white. That's how I keep track, except when I decide to push or pull the rolls. Then all bets are off.
 
I've pretty much standardised my black and white to TMax 400, but I will shoot that at mostly three speeds - 200, 400-800, and 1600, but I do also use Tmax P3200. Plus of course colour, which again is mostly at 400 but may vary on light levels and whether I pull or push it.
 
Out to Lunch said:
No Tech Solution....write it down on a piece of paper...take a pic....the camera, lens, and film. Dead easy and it cost you one frame. Peace. Peter
Click to expand...

Took me a second to realize you meant with a phone, or at least a different camera. Very confused how that would help.

Another masking tape user, which horrified another Leica owner I met who appreciated the M5's historic value but couldn't fathom how I defaced such an antique (they had gaffer's over the Red Dot).

Like others I standardize on the same two ISO100 and 400 films, but more to discern BW from chromes. Never had a 35 with one of those little memo holders, and the cutout window on newer cameras is useless when you bulk-roll.

As for 120--I tend to buy in 5 packs and lose the little box ends before I finish. I keep a very tiny Rhodia notebook in my bag and slip a scrap in when needed.
 
I bulk load a lot, too, and use white tape. It goes around the film canister when I load the film, then on the bottom of the camera when it's loaded, then back around the canister once shot. I use white artist's paper tape, which is acid free (not that it matters for this application...) and has fairly low tack, so it doesn't leave residue on the camera. I write the film stock on one end when I load the film, and leave enough room for me to note the ISO (or E.I. used if it's a film stock I'm likely to push or pull) and other notes like date or any brief exposure notes. I'll admit that if I'm working fast I don't bother to move the tape around; but for those times when I shoot only a few frames here and there, it's really useful to remember what film is in which camera and have some shooting notes so I don't end up with pictures that need to be processed very differently on the same roll.
 
I used to keep tabs on a sheet of paper with columns for film type, speed i was shooting at, dates purchased/loadedunloaded, whether they had been sent for processing etc. That was before digital.

Nowadays i shoot HP5 at box speed, not much else, and not enough to need to keep notes, and I process myself at the moment.
 
My solution isn't perfect, but serves me well.

Every time I put the camera down, I park the shutter speed dial to one number below what the film speed is.

So for 400 speed film, I'll park it to 1/250 (or 320), for 100 speed I'll use 1/80 and for 800 speed I'll use 1/500 (or 1/640).

It doesn't help me remember if I am using black and while or colour, and there is the odd time I forget to do the setting, but mostly it works when I pick up the camera for the first time in months.

Edit: this is for my cameras that don't have an ISO setting, obviously.
 
I only shoot Tri-X. Now, I never have this problem. I also am down to just 2 cameras, and one of them has a film window peep hole thing.
 
CharlesDAMorgan said:
Once again with my collection of older cameras I find I can't remember which film is loaded in which. Obviously none of them has that little window or the frame at the back for the film label.

Suffering from early morning brain near dead-ness, I'd love to hear what systems others use to keep track.
Click to expand...

I use a field notes notebook when I do not have the film memo holder to take advantage of.
 
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