Striped cows

[HuubL]

I hate it when this happens. I load my own films from bulk using one of those bulk film loaders. I have used them for more than 25 years. It takes a learning curve to properly use them but once you've figured out how they work they're handy and it saves you some, as 30 meters of bulk film is quite a bit cheaper than preloaded rolls.

Up till a year ago I used to shoot more than I've done the last couple of months and a batch of 5-10 Leica film cassettes, loaded in one go was sufficient for 2-3 months. But in the last half year I didn't shoot much and the bulk loader wasn't touched. Up till last Sunday when I loaded another eight cassettes. Yesterday I developed one of the rolls to check my new IIIf I acquired recently. The film was well-exposed but upon closer inspection I saw this striping on ALL the frames. I realized I had forgotten to turn the light-trap drum on the loader to 'Open' before spooling the films in. Having to throw away 7 more rolls of striped film hurts.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

That's a shame Huub.

On the other hand I'm sure the Photoshop users would pay good money for an 'old film' mask that looks just like that. 😉

 

[rover]

I agree, that could be a nice effect.

 

[oftheherd]

Wow, that's a bummer. But just one of those things that we have to relearn from time to time. That said, Mr. Flibble may have something. Try ebay and be sure to call it rare. 😀

 

[MartinP]

The positive thing is that all the rolls were not used for an unrepeatable event of some sort! Good that the III works fine. Learning is good - and everyone has done silly things like this sometime, I'm sure.
😱

 

[Keith]

I've managed to do that once and it's very frustrating.

I never load more casettes than I'm going to use in a day's shooting ... doing something like that is OK once but eight times! :bang:

😀

 

[HuubL]

To avoid this in the future I just finished this step-wise protocol for loading Leica cassettes with the Watson 66B loader.


1. Make sure cylinder cover of loader is closed
2. Lift open/close lever to open rectangular snap on loader cover
3. Cut V-tail on end of film extending from loader
4. Turn Leica cassette film gate open
5. Insert V-tail in film spool
6. Drop cassette in loader, end with knob at other end of swing arm, make sure film gate stays open
7. Close loader cover (click)
8. Turn open/close lever onto loader cover
9. Turn cylinder cover to “Open” film gate, ca. 15°
10. Wind film in, 36-40 clicks
11. Close film gate on cassette with knob at other end of swing arm, till click
12. Close film gate in loader, ca. -15°
13. Turn open/close lever away from loader cover
14. Remove loader cover
15. Cut film to free cassette
16. Remove film cassette, cut leader
17. Replace loader cover

In the case above I forgot step 9. Another one I sometimes forgot was step 11.

Perhaps also handy for other bulk loaders here.

 

[Chinasaur]

Too bad you can't market to the Lomo/Holga crowd..that's an effect right up their alley...

 

[nikon_sam]

I've never done that but have always wondered what it would look like...

 

[taylan]

You can use these films for alternative works. Same thing happened to me and I made a pinhole camera to use them. I just happy with the results 🙂 Check out this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120235&highlight=matchbox

 

[timor]

In the case above I forgot step 9.

I wonder you did not feel much more resistance when spooling the film. I use two such a loaders and the difference in needed force is apparent immediately. Sometimes I forgot this step to.