back alley
IMAGES
i think that's my longest post title yet!
read here, i think, about loading onto a reel diretly from the film can, not taking the film out of the can first.
does anyone here do that?
at first i thought it was a good idea as the film would not be free to go all over the place if mishandled.
but then i got to thinking that the film would go through the felt trap again on it's way out of the can.
this might lead to an extra scratch or 2 eh?
experienced user comments welcomed.
joe
read here, i think, about loading onto a reel diretly from the film can, not taking the film out of the can first.
does anyone here do that?
at first i thought it was a good idea as the film would not be free to go all over the place if mishandled.
but then i got to thinking that the film would go through the felt trap again on it's way out of the can.
this might lead to an extra scratch or 2 eh?
experienced user comments welcomed.
joe
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
I guess it can be done -- but I've never done it, for exactly the reason you mentioned.
I was taught that the fewer trips through the felt light trap, the less the risk of scratches and static. I guess there's no way to tell whether anyone's film ever actually has been scratched this way, so it may just be a "darkroom legend." But then again, I've never had film go all over the place, either (even a 36-exp roll is only five feet long) so my feeling is, why take even a slight increased risk of scratches?
One other minor point: if you shoot your roll all the way to the end, and then try to load directly from the film cartridge, how will you get it loose from the cartridge without cutting through the final frame?
I was taught that the fewer trips through the felt light trap, the less the risk of scratches and static. I guess there's no way to tell whether anyone's film ever actually has been scratched this way, so it may just be a "darkroom legend." But then again, I've never had film go all over the place, either (even a 36-exp roll is only five feet long) so my feeling is, why take even a slight increased risk of scratches?
One other minor point: if you shoot your roll all the way to the end, and then try to load directly from the film cartridge, how will you get it loose from the cartridge without cutting through the final frame?
kaiyen
local man of mystery
sure, lots of people do it. just don't rewind it all the way back. Snip the leader and load straight from the can.
If it's a commercial canister, you probably won't run into too many dust-in-the-felt-trap issues.
Having said that, I prefer to just open up the canister and take the film out. I use a changing bag so I don't have the film roll around very much anyway.
allan
If it's a commercial canister, you probably won't run into too many dust-in-the-felt-trap issues.
Having said that, I prefer to just open up the canister and take the film out. I use a changing bag so I don't have the film roll around very much anyway.
allan
back alley
IMAGES
i decided against it, for now anyway.
i just souped 3 rolls of film, all hp5, in ddx. i think i'm gonna stick with this set up for awhile.
seems silly to simplify my shooting (all p's) and not my film/processing.
though i do have a few bottles of ilfosol around also.
joe
i just souped 3 rolls of film, all hp5, in ddx. i think i'm gonna stick with this set up for awhile.
seems silly to simplify my shooting (all p's) and not my film/processing.
though i do have a few bottles of ilfosol around also.
joe
schmoozit
Schmoozit good...
I've always done it that way. Maybe I'll give it a whirl the other way now that I'm bulk loading and it's pretty easy to just pop the top off and get it wound on. I noticed some scratches on my film the other day, and am really hoping it wasn't the M3.
Goodyear
Happy-snap ninja
I do it that way, and even from home-rolled canisters as well as the commercial ones. My changing bag is tiny (yet I am having trouble sourcing a bigger one) and doing it that way makes life much easier.
> just don't rewind it all the way back. Snip the leader and load straight from the can.
Or I use a leader-retriever-thingy. Reduces my chances of double exposing a roll, and means I can rewind without thinking too hard about it.
> how will you get it loose from the cartridge without cutting through the final frame?
I cut it right back at the canister - which never reaches as far as the shutter. No problem at all.
> this might lead to an extra scratch or 2
Hasn't happened to me yet - and as I say, that is with (carefully, I admit) reusing cans several times.
Funny, I've never tried it by opening the can.
/shrugs.
> just don't rewind it all the way back. Snip the leader and load straight from the can.
Or I use a leader-retriever-thingy. Reduces my chances of double exposing a roll, and means I can rewind without thinking too hard about it.
> how will you get it loose from the cartridge without cutting through the final frame?
I cut it right back at the canister - which never reaches as far as the shutter. No problem at all.
> this might lead to an extra scratch or 2
Hasn't happened to me yet - and as I say, that is with (carefully, I admit) reusing cans several times.
Funny, I've never tried it by opening the can.
/shrugs.
ChrisN
Striving
Mark - I do it much the same way, except for the leader-retriever thingy. Can you use those in daylight without letting light into the canister?
I load my reels inside a changing bag, and trim off the leader before loading. I strip off about six inches, get that started in the reel, then repeat it six inches at a time. When I get to the end I pop the reusable cansister open and tear the tape off te spool.
I load my reels inside a changing bag, and trim off the leader before loading. I strip off about six inches, get that started in the reel, then repeat it six inches at a time. When I get to the end I pop the reusable cansister open and tear the tape off te spool.
Goodyear
Happy-snap ninja
> the leader-retriever thingy. Can you use those in daylight without letting light into the canister?
Yup. Well, I've never had any trouble with it. I hadn't even thought of it letting light in! They're very clever, actually.
> trim off the leader before loading. I strip off about six inches, get that started in the reel, then repeat it six inches at a time
I hoke out the leader and then trim it in daylight. I've actually found doing it this way helps with a sticky reel (paterson-type) that I have. It lets me keep track very easily of whether the reel is actually drawing the film in.
Yup. Well, I've never had any trouble with it. I hadn't even thought of it letting light in! They're very clever, actually.
> trim off the leader before loading. I strip off about six inches, get that started in the reel, then repeat it six inches at a time
I hoke out the leader and then trim it in daylight. I've actually found doing it this way helps with a sticky reel (paterson-type) that I have. It lets me keep track very easily of whether the reel is actually drawing the film in.
taffer
void
Even if I pop open the canister, I always put film back in after getting the leader and run it thru the felt, no problems so far. I don't unroll it completely, just about 1/3 1/4 or the total lenght each time and feed the reel progressively.
It's way worse (for me) to completely take out film and have it unrolling, reaching the floor and getting dust and debris from it.
It's way worse (for me) to completely take out film and have it unrolling, reaching the floor and getting dust and debris from it.
S
Socke
Guest
I have a Jobo 2400 tank which seems out of production. You load it in daylight without the need of a changing bag.
The canister goes inside the center column of the reel and film is spooled inside out when the reel is in the tank. After loading the reel the center column is screwed down, cuts the film and the empty canister pops out. From there on it's normal processing
Very handy, but you need more chemicals, ca. 450ml for one film, and the reels have to be very dry to load the film.
The canister goes inside the center column of the reel and film is spooled inside out when the reel is in the tank. After loading the reel the center column is screwed down, cuts the film and the empty canister pops out. From there on it's normal processing
Very handy, but you need more chemicals, ca. 450ml for one film, and the reels have to be very dry to load the film.
taffer
void
Socke, that sounds superb ! Jobo 2400 you say ? Off to the bay I go !!!
taffer
void
Thanks ! In fact the AP reels I have need to be really dry AND clean as well, otherwise one risks to get a real pita in the darkroom
I'll look around. Usually I wait till I have two 35mm rolls but this sounds like a good think to have around when you want your results fast from a single roll.
I'll look around. Usually I wait till I have two 35mm rolls but this sounds like a good think to have around when you want your results fast from a single roll.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Joe: What Mark said. I've always loaded film straight from the cassette when I can and never had a problem. In fact, I find it easier using this method for precisely the reason you speculated: the film doesn't have a chance to go sproingy all over the place.
Earl
Earl
peterc
Heretic
I've never done it any other way.back alley said:
Peter
bmattock
Veteran
I guess I'm different. I don't use a film retriever, I don't leave the leader out, and I don't use a can opener or other device. I *do* load my reels directly from the cartridge, but they don't pass through the felt a second time.
What I do is go into my dark closet, grab the film cartridge and peel it like an orange, starting from the overhanging lip. I pull it straight back, which give me enough room to reach inside and fish out the leader with my fingers. I then trim the end of the film off at the leader, begin loading it on the reel, and keep about six inches of slack between the reel and my film cartridge. The film unrolls from the cartridge into the reel, but does not pass through the felt, because I've enlarged the opening by hand.
I'm no muscleman, it is not hard to peel a film cartridge open. On some foreign films, the end caps fall off when you do it, and the whole thing comes apart, though. I think it is like beer cars - they used to be make of stronger stuff, now anybody can crush 'em.
I do it only because I've had a few accidents in the past with film becoming tangled as I load it onto the reels, and with dropping the danged thing altogether in the dark with my big fat fumble-fingers.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
What I do is go into my dark closet, grab the film cartridge and peel it like an orange, starting from the overhanging lip. I pull it straight back, which give me enough room to reach inside and fish out the leader with my fingers. I then trim the end of the film off at the leader, begin loading it on the reel, and keep about six inches of slack between the reel and my film cartridge. The film unrolls from the cartridge into the reel, but does not pass through the felt, because I've enlarged the opening by hand.
I'm no muscleman, it is not hard to peel a film cartridge open. On some foreign films, the end caps fall off when you do it, and the whole thing comes apart, though. I think it is like beer cars - they used to be make of stronger stuff, now anybody can crush 'em.
I do it only because I've had a few accidents in the past with film becoming tangled as I load it onto the reels, and with dropping the danged thing altogether in the dark with my big fat fumble-fingers.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
taffer
void
Socke said:I have a Jobo 2400 tank which seems out of production. You load it in daylight without the need of a changing bag.
The canister goes inside the center column of the reel and film is spooled inside out when the reel is in the tank. After loading the reel the center column is screwed down, cuts the film and the empty canister pops out. From there on it's normal processing
Very handy, but you need more chemicals, ca. 450ml for one film, and the reels have to be very dry to load the film.
And a quick flash forward to the future...
Imagine what I found today at the used marketplace on my usual camera store...
Not, not a 2400, but a very similar 4324 daylight tank, without box or instructions (thanks again Volker for posting the link here) but literally brand new, you could use it as it is to eat there your soup if you like.
There was a 2400 as well but comparing it with the one I got I think it was missing some part.
For 5 euros, I'd say it's a very nice find. And for a change, it's nice to get something without shipping charges, lol.
Oscar
jano
Evil Bokeh
I like bill's idea, I will try that next time. Thus far, I've always just loaded directly ffrom the cannister into the reel because of a few tangled up and creased/ruined film. It's also nice now not to use a canopener on the caps, because then I can reuse the cannister once or twice more for bulk loading
I've only had three troubles with scratches: the first was the efke 25 film, my whole brick seemed to be covered in them before I even loaded the camera! Second was when I forgot to "open" the bulk loader. And third (which has been several times actually), I pulled a negative in and out of the printfile sleeve one too many times (just once, but that's enough to scratch up the goods).
Jano
I've only had three troubles with scratches: the first was the efke 25 film, my whole brick seemed to be covered in them before I even loaded the camera! Second was when I forgot to "open" the bulk loader. And third (which has been several times actually), I pulled a negative in and out of the printfile sleeve one too many times (just once, but that's enough to scratch up the goods).
Jano
V
varjag
Guest
I sometimes take the spool out of reloadable cassettes, but never bother opening prepackaged ones. Works fine both ways.
Never had noticeable dust problems, but it is good idea to keep felt clean.
Never had noticeable dust problems, but it is good idea to keep felt clean.
tkluck
Well-known
I'd rather be rid of the cassette before tackeling the reel. I do pull the film out through the felt on commercial cassettes, because I can never get the damn things open. Do'nt need to have pliers, vicegrips, and a beer can opener bouncing around in the changing bag too.
Helps to have a realy big changing bag.
I Like to load film in a bag anyway. Keeps every thing in one place (if you remember to put it in the bag in the first place, or so I've heard...) and keeps the film off of the floor too.
Helps to have a realy big changing bag.
I Like to load film in a bag anyway. Keeps every thing in one place (if you remember to put it in the bag in the first place, or so I've heard...) and keeps the film off of the floor too.