Rollei Retro 80s: is this done?

[kiss-o-matic]

I used to get great deals on this in Japan, and loved it. B&H has some left in 35mm, but it's rather pricey... at least 60% more than my normal price. Talking to the shop owner in Japan, it's not been available for months. Macodirect is out too. Should I stock up on the higher priced rolls still left in the US?

 

[marcr1230]

seems to be available at Freestyle - although the website states "low stock"

 

[J enea]

good timing. i just ordered and got delivered last week, 4 bulk rolls and 30 rolls of 120, both RR80 and RR400 from maco in germany. with the stronger dollar, the cost worked out with shipping to be almost half of what B&H charges. so not sure how you got that maco is out of stock. I just checked and the list having 80 and 400 both in bulk rolls. I paid about $40 US for each bulk roll. Im gonna move to these films as tmax 400 has priced me out, down to my last acros bulk roll and I like what I get by shooting the retro films with a red filter.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Bulk seems to be available still in most places. I was referring to 35mm 36 exposure rolls. I got them in Japan for $8 or so for a double pack. The same pack is $13 at B&H. Never bulk rolled but I might have to embrace it. Problem is I can't get total pitch black in my apartment.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

I have a dark bag! This sounds like the best way to do it.

Next dumb question: when I open canisters I basically bend the lid into oblivion. Is there some voodoo involved in getting the lid back on once the film is loaded?

Buying this stuff in bulk from Maco direct seems to be the way to go...especially now that the Euro is in the toilet!

 

[alfredian]

Buy the reloadable "empty" generics

Buy the reloadable "empty" generics

Seldom is any manufacturer's "factory loaded" cassettes reusable - they're crimped shut for quality assurance/leakproofing, and Kodak is the tightest. Just get the reloadable ones - Kodak used to make their own brand, but not in many years. Ultrafine & Freestyle both have them, in either metal (snap-on/off ends) or the plastic ones (quarter-turn to bayonet-lock the ends). I prefer the plastic ones because the metal end-caps are a Mediterranean flatbread to get on, then they just fall off at the worst moments. Some local stores (USA) will carry 4-packs of the Kalt product - metal or plastic - but fewer & fewer actual stores carry any darkroom gear at all - be grateful to find film of any description. Hope this helps, alfredian

 

[J enea]

a bulk loader will cost you $25 and the cartridges $1 each. but when you buy the bulk rolls the cost is about $2 a roll, so figure you get about 19 rolls per bulk roll, after 1 bulk roll you hardware costs are covered, wen you consider that a roll at B&H is $79 and one from maco is $40. yeh you gotta pay for shipping but i bought 5 bulk rolls and shipping was only $25 so it still saves money. my plastic cartridges have lasted me years and still going strong. just be careful of the felts.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Thanks guys... good to know. I'll jump off the deep end pretty soon here!

I met a guy shooting on the street once (that actually has a blog where he shows photos of street photographers film cameras) and he rolled his own, but it was all in FujiFilm canisters.

I'll start my own thread when I totally screw something up.

 

[mcfingon]

If you're loading a Leica, it's nice to use the genuine film cassettes. FILCA for the III series and earlier and IXMOO for the M series. They will last for a long time without felt light-trap problems and are beautifully built. You need a specific bulk loader to reload these conveniently. Look for a Watson 66B.

 

[Corran]

I can't even fathom spending $10-25 on bulk load Leica-brand cassettes. I do have one of the Nikon ones that are similar and I literally could not even figure it out and I decided I didn't feel like reading a freakin' manual for a bulk load cassette! I'm a man after all.

The Kalt cassettes are just fine. There's occasionally one that has weak light-trap felt and it falls off after using it a few times. Big deal. Toss it. I've only had a couple like that, and then the other ones last much longer (they also last better if you don't leave the leader out and open up the cassettes in the dark for loading into the developing tank, rather than leader out and pulling the film out of the cassette backwards. That's where all the problems I've had originated). I like the screw caps, I've heard too many horror stories from the snap-ons, which inherently will fail with a pressure fit mechanism.

I have like 50 cassettes (which would cost $1,000 for IXMOOs! Come on, really?) and I have a few different films/bulk loaders that I like to switch out and fill up cassettes. A tip - I use the bulk load cans to hold 10 or so rolls at a time, for organizing them (different films).

I was scared to bulk load for a long time but in reality it's simple and effective. I haven't had any issues with dust. I use a strip of simple scotch tape to hold the film to the reel, usually just long enough to tape both sides of the film to it. No issues with tearing it out in the camera, even using it in high-powered modern cameras like my F4 and F5.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Good info, thanks. I use a few cameras (no Leicas). Zeiss Ikon is my main. Minolta CLE gets some love, as do a couple of Yashica Electros.

I guess I'd get the bulk loader that's the hardest to mess up. Is there any where you tape the film and then have it automatically spooled? I know, I'm lame, but I'd rather have a lower learning curve. Took me ages to properly get film on metal reels.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Anyone care to comment on the Arista Bulk Loader versus the Lloyd one (the only one B&H carries)? The Arista one, for $90, comes w/ 20 cartridges as well. Although I guess if these suck they are by and large, useless.