Trick to retrieve film leader

[Huss]

This totally works. I messed up and wound my film all the way into the canister (force of habit) and used this method to retrieve it.

From Photrio:

In ye oldene dayz we would use the same approach as with a leader retriever; but we would take a fresh roll of film, wet the the leader on both sides by sticking it in the mouth, then push it in. Turning the problem film tight in the cartridge to make contact with the wet leader, waiting a coupla seconds, then pulling out. You would be amazed how often it would work, with most films, and with most sources of spit.

It took me just seconds to do and worked on the first attempt! And now back to me developing my own film - the first time in decades!

 

[Tom R]

Or ... just get the thing

Or ... just get the thing

This totally works. I messed up and wound my film all the way into the canister (force of habit) and used this method to retrieve it.

From Photrio:
It took me just seconds to do and worked on the first attempt! And now back to me developing my own film - the first time in decades!

Unless you are concerned about germs and such. I think that the simple flexible metal leader retrievers are still available (probably though B&H or some other comprehensive vendor). I still have one or two of these in my carrying cases and at home. We all need the "little things" more often than we remember until someone reminds us ...

T

 

[maigo]

Search on eBay for: matin film picker
Cost is about $15USD including shipping.
Works a charm.
Used it (too) many times. Du-oh

 

[Beemermark]

I've tried that trick and just about every film retriever ever invented in the last 40 years. Never got one leader to pull out. Klutz I guess.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Huss "This totally works."

Yes. It's a good thing to know & i've used it more than a few times on the raod & when you need it, you'd never find the gizmo you bought....

 

[benlees]

You mean before you shoot the film right? Once you spend the day photographing only to find you didn't load the camera properly, digging the leader out (if it went back in) is the least of your problems.😱

 

[Rayt]

I save film canisters to use again for bulk loading and don’t have problems with the retrievers. I use the generic one that is sold as OEM for many brands. One in a hundred when I doesn’t work I just rip the canister open with my fingers in the changing bag.

 

[markjwyatt]

When I used to work in 1 hour photo labs, I remember we had metal strip film retrievers. I used them many times.

 

[Huss]

You mean before you shoot the film right? Once you spend the day photographing only to find you didn't load the camera properly, digging the leader out (if it went back in) is the least of your problems.😱

Nope, shot the roll. Then rewound it back into the canister forgetting to leave a little piece out.
That trick I posted worked a charm to retrieve it!

 

[benlees]

Nope, shot the roll. Then rewound it back into the canister forgetting to leave a little piece out.
That trick I posted worked a charm to retrieve it!

Are you reusing canisters? I never shot enough film to bother loading and reusing them. The top always got popped in the tent so never worried about leaders... they had to be cut off anyway to check for fixer strength (sometimes).

 

[CMur12]

You mean before you shoot the film right? Once you spend the day photographing only to find you didn't load the camera properly, digging the leader out (if it went back in) is the least of your problems.😱

It has mainly been an issue for me when I wanted to change to another film, mid-roll. I would remove the film, note the number of exposures, insert and shoot another roll of film, then reinsert the first roll and advance past the existing exposures.

- Murray

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I've tried that trick and just about every film retriever ever invented in the last 40 years. Never got one leader to pull out. Klutz I guess.

Glad to know it's not just me, although I've yet to fail with Huss's suggestion as I've yet to try it. I can reasonably predict the outcome...

 

[lynnb]

This could be the start of a new fetish, licking film leaders. We could start a thread on comparative taste tests of different emulsions.

A friend gifted me a film leader retriever. Works every time. Nice to know about this trick though, just in case. Thanks Huss. And good luck with your film development.

 

[brbo]

The problem with this method is that this trick ALWAYS works when the other alternative exists (you have a proper film retriever at hand or the roll is finished and the obvious solution is to simply, erm, _open_ the canister) and NEVER does when this is your only option (you want to change the film mid-roll and the auto-rewind camera doesn't have the option of leaving the leader out)...

 

[retinax]

After having tried a few times for fun and failing every time, I gave up on that for a while. Then I managed to do it on the first try a few weeks ago, too. It's weird. I wonder if there is a preferred orientation. Already forgot what I did when it worked. The emulsion side obviously gets real sticky, the back doesn't... Emulsion to back? Emulsion to emulsion doesn't seem possible, one would have the get the leader in under the leader in the cartridge.

 

[MJ Buckpitt]

I use this technique when retrieving tools fail. And they fail because I never properly trimmed the leader on bulk-rolled film; trying fish out a full-width leader from a tight canister is not always successful.

 

[Beemermark]

I like to leave the leader out as it is easier to trim straight and start on the SS reel in daylight rather than the changing bag.

 

[benlees]

It has mainly been an issue for me when I wanted to change to another film, mid-roll. I would remove the film, note the number of exposures, insert and shoot another roll of film, then reinsert the first roll and advance past the existing exposures.

- Murray

Yes, I've done that a few times testing cameras. I learned to feel when rewinding for that loss of tension that you don't want to miss!

 

[blumoon]

I use this:

[/url]DSC00626 [/IMG]

 

[webOSUser]

blumoon, That looks like the one that I have. It works well enough. Steve W