What if I decided to do something stupid and load my own 35mm film from bulk?

[steveyork]

Dear Tim,

You can load your 35mm film from a 400ft bulk roll WITHOUT using a bulk loader. I have followed this YouTube video and loaded many rolls of double-x from a 400ft Bulk film successfully. (That guy's English is far from perfect, but largely understandable.) Give it a try.

I once purchased some 400 feet bulk rolls of Orwo. A significant savings over the 100 feet rolls. What a PIA though, it took me three evenings in a stuffy, dark closet to load up IXMOO cassettes and finish the first bulk roll. Since then I've seen modified Bobinquick loaders where they were enlarged to take a 400 foot roll. For sale somewhere in Asia I believe. With the way film prices are heading, you may see a lot more people bulk loading.

 

[Freakscene]

I once purchased some 400 feet bulk rolls of Orwo. A significant savings over the 100 feet rolls. What a PIA though, it took me three evenings in a stuffy, dark closet to load up IXMOO cassettes and finish the first bulk roll. Since then I've seen modified Bobinquick loaders where they were enlarged to take a 400 foot roll. For sale somewhere in Asia I believe. With the way film prices are heading, you may see a lot more people bulk loading.

There are manual and automated loaders for 400 and 1000’ rolls here: Bulk-loading Supplies

The automated ones are expensive but daylight safe.

 

[steveyork]

There are manual and automated loaders for 400 and 1000’ rolls here: Bulk-loading Supplies

The automated ones are expensive but daylight safe.

There seems more 400' manual and electric bulk loaders on the market than just a few years ago. That tells you something. Midwest Film Co here in the States is selling a manual one which is similar the one I saw from a few years ago. Maybe I should look into how much Kodak sells their bulk 400 ft. rolls of XX ...

 

[enasniearth]

ive always shot tri-x in b&w

a 100' roll of it gives 17 36 exp rolls $200 / $11.76 a roll from bulk
some people say you get 18 rolls still more per roll cost
$8.99 factory rolled from freestyle
so actually more expensive in bulk load

other films there is quite a bit of savings
rollei 400 infrared for instance
is about $7.66 from bulk vs $13 pre rolled


I don't know why kodak tri-x in bulk is more expensive
ive bulk loaded in the past - back then kodak 100' rolls were a savings

 

[Cascadilla]

I only addressing title here.

Buying bw in individual cassettes is stupid if you intend to expose film for real.

Not as single roll to wear it for months to brag on internet how film shooter you are.

Here in the US it is cheaper to buy Kodak Tri-X in pre loaded 36 exposure cartridges than it is to buy 100' rolls and load it yourself.

 

[Freakscene]

There seems more 400' manual and electric bulk loaders on the market than just a few years ago. That tells you something. Midwest Film Co here in the States is selling a manual one which is similar the one I saw from a few years ago. Maybe I should look into how much Kodak sells their bulk 400 ft. rolls of XX ...

Kodak won’t sell you bulk XX at all anymore unless you are a funded cinematographer with a project.

 

[steveyork]

Here in the US it is cheaper to buy Kodak Tri-X in pre loaded 36 exposure cartridges than it is to buy 100' rolls and load it yourself.

Kodak won’t sell you bulk XX at all anymore unless you are a funded cinematographer with a project.

Do not understand Kodak -- why can't they sell bulk rolls of tri-x and tmax at savings over commercial loads, like most everyone else, and why not market bulk rolls of XX to amateur still photographers? Surely they would make money volume sales.