No more test rolls-ever.

[aad]

I ran a couple of 10+ year old rolss of TriX through the camera so I could try out the new stainless steel reels without too much fear-but dang, if there weren't some nice shots there, some ruined by my inexperienced loading.

From now on, they all count.

 

[bsdunek]

I ran a couple of 10+ year old rolss of TriX through the camera so I could try out the new stainless steel reels without too much fear-but dang, if there weren't some nice shots there, some ruined by my inexperienced loading.

From now on, they all count.

Right on! You never know which one will be the great one, even if you didn't think so when you took it. 😎

 

[Steve B]

My sympathy, the learning curve can be pretty unforgiving. I know I've lost shots that I liked due to bungled loading (back when I did that sort of thing) as well as my early efforts in PS (before I learned to use layers and not engage in "destructive editing"). I really screwed up a couple of otherwise perfectly nice photographs. As long as we don't make the same mistakes too many times.

 

[Bryce]

I wouldn't give up completely on test rolls. If, for instance, you want to try a new developing technique (maybe stand development, or varying time, dilution, temperature, whatever) it makes sense.
Just take pictures of a standard, reproducible test scene, not once in a lifetime events!
I usually take a few frames of my standard test scene (a room in my house lit only by its overhead lighting), then go in the darkroom. Without rewinding the film, in complete darkness, and open the camera back. I remove only the exposed film, and wind it onto a reel for development.
The rest of the roll can be used as normal once I use scissors to cut a new leader.