100 ft of expired film...

Kschmid

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So I recently bought 100 ft of 35mm film. I've never done this but I like expired film and I like saving money :) Anyway I need some knowledge dropped on me about how this works. Do I need to hand roll these into individual 36 exposure rolls or can I drop the whole guy into my camera? Also any advice when dealing with 100 ft is also appreciated. Thanks!
 
I actually answered my own question after some google time, yes I need to roll it myself but still would appreciate any advice!
 
You can roll them into any length you like up to 36 or 38 exposures or so. Most machines that roll film have frame counters on them. Just add enough extra to account for the exposed end at the spool (unless you do that part in a darkroom/film bag) and the leader.
 
Yes, very few cameras would accept a 100' roll of film. Additionally, you will need a Bulk Loader, an absolutely light tight/safe environment to transfer the film to the bulk loader and film Cassettes to transfer the film from the Bulk Loader to small guys for the camera.

In lieu of a light safe environment, most of us use a Changing Bag. The Changing Bag is quite portable, much more portable than a light tight/safe environment.

All this stuff is available on Ebay, Craig's List or a big camera store. Maybe Amazon, I haven't looked.

Finally you'll need some tape and a pair of scissors.

All this stuff should be less than $100. All of it is reusable except the tape.

1) Bulk Loader
2) Film Cassettes
3) Changing Bag (optional)
4) Tape (for affixing the film to the roller in the cassette.)
5) Scissors (for cutting the film after transfer from Bulk Loader to Cassette and for cutting a leader on the newly loaded cassette.)
 
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Even if you did have a camera capable of accepting a 100' roll of film (yes, they do exist), you'd have a hard time finding a lab to process it.
 
So I recently bought 100 ft of 35mm film. I've never done this but I like expired film and I like saving money :) Anyway I need some knowledge dropped on me about how this works. Do I need to hand roll these into individual 36 exposure rolls or can I drop the whole guy into my camera? Also any advice when dealing with 100 ft is also appreciated. Thanks!
I did this back when I was using film. I don't think you will be saving any money in the short run, because you'll need a bulk film loader (device to transfer the film into the cassettes, and some cassettes (they are reusable), and, of course, either a changing bag or a REALLY DARK place to load your film into the loader. Either way, you will not see what you're doing, so be aware of that. Do everything by feel. The initial expense isn't too much, and you'll use it again for your next bulk roll.

Have fun!
 
Some savings can be gained by utilizing the ability to spool off short rolls of film for testing. No need to use up an entire 24- or 36-exposure roll just to test something. Testing light seals in a new camera. Testing a new developer Trying a new or different developing technique. Testing push/pull of a film.

Spool off 5 or 6 frames, take some shots of your back yard and soup the film for quick results.
 
I have used 250 exposure cassettes in various specialist underwater cameras.You can fill three of the cassettes from 100' of film. The cassettes were made by (or more probably for) Nikon and Olympus both of which also made bulk film backs to fit on their professional 35 mm cameras which had removable backs (Canon may have had similar systems but I never came across any of them). To load the film there was a winder with a frame counter that could be set to load up to 250 frames into the cassette; this had to be used in a dark room, as in really dark, ie no light at all, or in a very large changing bag. There was also a stainless steel spiral and drum for processing the exposed film.
 
Let it be known that you are using bulk film and it is amazing what will come your way. I have been given two bulk loaders, both with nearly 100 feet of (very) old film in them, four Leica cassettes, one Zeiss Ikon (Contax) cassette, one Fed cassette and six Agfa Rapid cassettes.

The very old film is from the 1970s in both cases and quite usable as I develop my own and quite like the monster grain.

Sent from my 8070 using Tapatalk
 
I've used bulk loaders for over 40 years. A film shootings best tool. Interested to see how the film turns out.
 
If you have nerve of steel, good imagination, non sweating hands and bathroom without the window, you can load your cartridges without bulk loader. In any case, careful with bulk loaders, often they need edges to be smoothed in order to not to scratch film.
 
So I recently bought 100 ft of 35mm film. I've never done this but I like expired film and I like saving money :) Anyway I need some knowledge dropped on me about how this works. Do I need to hand roll these into individual 36 exposure rolls or can I drop the whole guy into my camera? Also any advice when dealing with 100 ft is also appreciated. Thanks!
I did this back when I was using film. I don't think you will be saving any money in the short run, because you'll need a bulk film loader (device to transfer the film into the cassettes, and some cassettes (they are reusable), and, of course, either a changing bag or a REALLY DARK place to load your film into the loader. Either way, you will not see what you're doing, so be aware of that. Do everything by feel. The initial expense isn't too much, and you'll use it again for your next bulk roll.

Have fun!
Thanks. Luckily I have a really dark room so I'll need to master the feel, but I'm up for the challenge!
 

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