Time to give bulk loading a go.

[harpofreely]

Is there any way to save that last frame that comes out first from the bulk film loader? I hate it when I get my last frame half light burned and it almost always the frame with the highest potential in the roll.

I avoid the Watson style loaders for this reason.

With the Lloyd loader, if you are careful you can keep the exposed portion at the end of the roll so short that it does not wind on as a frame in any camera bigger than an Olympus XA.

 

[ktmrider]

So, who is old enough to remember when the alternative film length to 36 exposures was 20, not 24? When and why did it change?

 

[Fotohuis]

Use the AP loader with a small piece of tape. Then you can use the whole film till the last 2cm which are ending into the cassette.
I like these AP loaders very much so some months ago I ordered a few at AP in Spain.

 

[Fotohuis]

A least Ilford made 135-20 films which I can remember. I started in 1967 with photography and darkroom work.

 

[Roger Hicks]

So, who is old enough to remember when the alternative film length to 36 exposures was 20, not 24? When and why did it change?

Originally there was a "half load" of 18 frames, arbitrarily increased (as a marketing gimmick) just before WW2. The 12-exposure "weekender" gained popularity in the 1960s, and in the 70s 20 went to 24 with some manufacturers, though others stuck with 20. It's all marketing.

Then again the Ur-Leica (no cassette) was 50 exposures and the target with a cassette was reputedly 40, but the cassette would only hold enough film for 36 frames with some films.

Cheers,

R

 

[kiss-o-matic]

It's easy -- I learned how to do it (after asking people here) in the summer. So glad I did!

 

[bence8810]

Is there any way to save that last frame that comes out first from the bulk film loader? I hate it when I get my last frame half light burned and it almost always the frame with the highest potential in the roll.

The Watson loader wastes at least 2 frames - therefore I only use it in a dark bag. I leave a very little of film sticking out of the film gate once I cut the previous cassette off and I load my new film cartridge onto it. Then I put the whole package into the dark bag and only then open the film gate - pull enough film out to seat the cassette into the crank basin and then go ahead with the loading. This way I don't waste any. You might be wondering why the heck I bother with the Watson - and the only reason is that they can close the IXMOO style metal cassettes that I use in my Leica.

For non IXMOO loading I don't go even near the Watson, use the AP or LPL loader that is shown a few posts above, it's quicker and wastes absolutely nothing.

Cheers, happy loading!
Ben

 

[julio1fer]

20-frame became 24-frame sometime in the 70s. I believe it may have been because of negative storage sheets which usually hold several 6-frame strips, and the popularity of neg color film at the time.

20-frame rolls were OK for individually mounted slides, though.

 

[Bill Clark]

Go for it!

I use Lloyd bulk loaders.

Could be just me, but I thought I achieve more consistent results knowing that the 17 rolls of 36 exposure came from one roll of bulk film.

 

[Rayt]

Watson loaders do waste a bit of film. I patch a short leader of film from the end that sticks out of the light gate to the canister to save two frames.