Buying film in bulk

[Josh66]

I won't do it in the darkroom, or a dark room, but in a bag. That just seems way easier.

Have you ever worked in a changing bag before?

There isn't as much room as you would think, and the more you're moving around, the sweatier it'll get. Once you start sweating, everything gets harder. You don't really want to be spending a lot of time in there... Once you start to sweat a little, the film will start to get sticky. And the more you rush to hurry up and get done once it starts getting sticky, the worse it will get. You'll probably be able to load two or three rolls before it gets too humid in the bag to do anything. (Probably actually closer to 1 or 2 rolls...)

You could measure out 2 or 3 lengths (like, from your hand to your elbow), then cut that off and roll it up. I think the risk of creasing the film would be higher though, with just a pile of film sitting there in the bag. You'll have to tape it to the spool in the bag to - that might be tricky inside a bag. (Getting the tape off the roll and onto the spool without it touching the film or side of the bag.)

Possible, yes. Easier, no.


Other than a dark place (room or bag) and scissors/tape, there isn't really anything else you 'need'. The bulk film will come in a tin, and it will probably be in a light-tight bag inside that.

 

[CCericola]

What josh said. Those bags do get warm. That's why I like the loaders. Sounds like the way you want to do it, you will be touching the film WAY too much.

 

[Compaq]

Oh, I didn't mean easier as in not as hard, but rather more practical for me, as opposed to walk 30 minutes to the darkroom. And I'm not really keen om lightsealing any rooms in the house...me and four friends live together, and claiming a room for periods of time just to load film... meh.

As a chemist-to-be, I'm used to taking precautions. Getting a pair of gloves shouldn't be hard. If it's as warm as you say, I can leave a window open or something. I'll make it work. + there's the bonus of being able to bring it with me when I'm travelling, so that I can load film elsewhere, even in the field, should it come to that (which is probably never will )
I would of course practice on some old rolls beforehand. I'm usually pretty thorough in my hobbies.

Thanks for all the advice!

Working in a chemistry lab is not easy. Knowing the theory is not enough to function effectively. I may be able to predict the reactions beforehand on paper, but being able to set up the apparatuses and knowing which handy little tools to use and how they work is a completely different matter. That's where experience comes in. The same will apply to this. Are there any handy things I might find useful? Something I should stock up on such as having enough cartridges for the film?

 

[SCraig]

I used a loader myself. Still have it around here somewhere. I knew how many cranks it took for 36 exposures and it was a simple matter to load a half dozen cassettes.

 

[slackercruster]

Back in the olde days of yor. I worked at an amusement park in VA. I worked for Keyhole Photo and accosted you as you entered the park so we could take your picture and later sell it to you in keychain form. Anyway. We bulk loaded film. The loaders work just fine. In your case you just need a changing bag to load the film in the loader. Then sit, watch TV and load a bunch of rolls.

Cc got it right. That's how you do it. Don't be so cheap, buy a few loaders and have a differnt film in each one. Then load in peace and don't screw around guessing.

 

[slackercruster]

Well, I don't want a loader. I like to do things myself and relying on experience. Loader's out of the question for me. I been presented with its positives, and I disregard them all

On a more serious note, what do I actually need? For doing this manually, I mean. I won't do it in the darkroom, or a dark room, but in a bag. That just seems way easier. I don't need to measure the entire length of the film at once, I can do add up a few lengths and leave it out in the bag. Whilst I do need to be careful of not scratching it, it's perfectly possible to do, I've read about several that has done it.
So, any suggestions as to what I actually need? I think I wrote a list earlier of what I think I need, but I may have missed something obvious.

You like going against the grain don't you?

Here it is in the 'film is dead' age and your just starting out in film and not listening to the old timers that handled film for many decades.

I did dye transfer, type r, nitrogen burst type C, Cibachromes, E4 and every sort of BW process under the sun...and your telling us how to load film by guessing arms length???

 

[Josh66]

+ there's the bonus of being able to bring it with me when I'm travelling, so that I can load film elsewhere, even in the field, should it come to that (which is probably never will )

A bulk loader would be perfect for that. Certainly much less crap you would have to drag around with you.

...I just don't think you realize how much of a pain it the ass this is going to be for you. I mean, you're kind of setting your self up for failure... As far as portability, a bulk loader is hard to beat.


Other than that, I think you have everything you need.

 

[Compaq]

Firstly, I'd like to underline that I am complete noob when it comes to film. I am not, by any means, trying to tell you how to load film.

Like to go against the grain? I suppose you could say so. Is that the reason why I choose the way I do? Nope. Read this, and I hope to explain my choices a little better:

The main reason why I decided to buy an analog rangefinder was that I could be able to get the negatives developed into physical images, which I then could put in albums. Yes, I could print digital files myself, or get them printed, but the process is so much less personal than analog I feel. I like the feeling of shooting film. I did when I was young(er). Then I shot disposable cameras I got from my parents. You know, I got one disposable camera with, say, 24 exposures that I was to use through out our one-week long vacation. I remember being selective about the pictures I took. I miss that, making the shots count.

Another thing I considered was that the whole process will become much more personal. When I press the shutter, I'm initiating chemical reactions on the film. The process is something that I can appreciate, because I study chemistry. I'm taking a course this semester called "inorganic chemistry", which I know will help me in understanding the processes. By current background already makes me better suited to understand the process than most people. As a chemist-to-be, I appreciate the process in ways I don't appreciate digital.

The above section brings me to why I want to develop my own film: doing chemical reactions and creating images myself. When I want to learn something, I want to do it properly. I don't have very serious hobbies, but those that I do have I want to master - or strive to perfect.

Making the whole image taking process more personal is also something I welcome. That is why researched buying film in bulk and load myself. I don't want a loader to do it for me when I, in time, will learn to do this myself. I'm fully capable to do many things machines do for me. The machines may be better at first, but when I gain experience in this I will outperform any loader. The same would apply to anyone of you. I take pride in "doing my hobbies myself". Others might not, but I do.'

That is why I want to load film myself. Not because I know most people don't. Not because I think I'm awesome and believe I'm better than oldtimers on here. It's just because I like to learn by experience. I like to know that "this is something I've done so many times that I know I will do it well enough". I can go to a river with a rod, some worms and a short piece of line and catch lots of fish to eat. That is because I rely on my experience in where the trout stands, how to handle the rod and how to not scare the fish. Sure, there's a learning process, but that is something I'm looking forward to. I might ruin a couple of rolls, and it might be annoying there and then, but I will learn from it, and, in time, I will look back and smile at the whole thing.

I hope that shed some light on my intentions to those who questioned them.

 

[table1349]

Firstly, I'd like to underline that I am complete noob when it comes to film. I am not, by any means, trying to tell you how to load film.

Like to go against the grain? I suppose you could say so. Is that the reason why I choose the way I do? Nope. Read this, and I hope to explain my choices a little better:

The main reason why I decided to buy an analog rangefinder was that I could be able to get the negatives developed into physical images, which I then could put in albums. Yes, I could print digital files myself, or get them printed, but the process is so much less personal than analog I feel. I like the feeling of shooting film. I did when I was young(er). Then I shot disposable cameras I got from my parents. You know, I got one disposable camera with, say, 24 exposures that I was to use through out our one-week long vacation. I remember being selective about the pictures I took. I miss that, making the shots count.

Another thing I considered was that the whole process will become much more personal. When I press the shutter, I'm initiating chemical reactions on the film. The process is something that I can appreciate, because I study chemistry. I'm taking a course this semester called "inorganic chemistry", which I know will help me in understanding the processes. By current background already makes me better suited to understand the process than most people. As a chemist-to-be, I appreciate the process in ways I don't appreciate digital.

The above section brings me to why I want to develop my own film: doing chemical reactions and creating images myself. When I want to learn something, I want to do it properly. I don't have very serious hobbies, but those that I do have I want to master - or strive to perfect.

Making the whole image taking process more personal is also something I welcome. That is why researched buying film in bulk and load myself. I don't want a loader to do it for me when I, in time, will learn to do this myself. I'm fully capable to do many things machines do for me. The machines may be better at first, but when I gain experience in this I will outperform any loader. The same would apply to anyone of you. I take pride in "doing my hobbies myself". Others might not, but I do.'

That is why I want to load film myself. Not because I know most people don't. Not because I think I'm awesome and believe I'm better than oldtimers on here. It's just because I like to learn by experience. I like to know that "this is something I've done so many times that I know I will do it well enough". I can go to a river with a rod, some worms and a short piece of line and catch lots of fish to eat. That is because I rely on my experience in where the trout stands, how to handle the rod and how to not scare the fish. Sure, there's a learning process, but that is something I'm looking forward to. I might ruin a couple of rolls, and it might be annoying there and then, but I will learn from it, and, in time, I will look back and smile at the whole thing.

I hope that shed some light on my intentions to those who questioned them.

While I admire you determination, your reasoning that all of this makes more personal doesn't hold up. Not unless you are going to invest in a darkroom, including a dichroic enlarger and all the asundry pieces of equipment, papers and chemicals that go with printing your own images. That is where the "personalization" come in, when you are creating that final look that you want.

 

[Compaq]

That's why I'm joining the student's photo club where I shall take a darkroom course and get free use of it. Here I plan to develop film and print images.

Personalisation might not come directly from the film loading, but I will control one more step of the process with my own hands, which is what I'm after. You may disagree, this is just how I feel.

+ I'll save money

 

[Josh66]

That is why researched buying film in bulk and load myself. I don't want a loader to do it for me when I, in time, will learn to do this myself. I'm fully capable to do many things machines do for me.

You do realize that a bulk film loader is basically just a light-tight box with a crank on the side, right? It's not 'doing anything for you'. It's no more a machine than the scissors you're going to use to cut the film. Are you going to make a knife out of flint for that?

Using a film loader is still a very manual, 'hands-on' process. You're basically just using the loader as a light-tight film dispenser.

 

[Compaq]

Valid points, O|||||||||O (darn, I'll just call you Josh ). If I find out that I take no joy in the process without a loader, I'll get one. I'd like to try without first, though

 

[Josh66]

Just set some money aside for a loader.

Loading film without it isn't hard, in a dark room. It's going to be very frustrating trying to do it inside a changing bag.

You've gotta have some room you can make light tight for a while...? Closet or something. It's doesn't have to be a big room. Preferably, you would want some kind of counter/shelf to be there so you can set your stuff down while you're working. Before I had a changing bag and loader, I did it in the bathroom - I sealed the door with tape, and waited till it was dark outside just in case. I never had any light issues with my film, so I guess it worked. It took maybe 2 minutes to make the room light-tight. Make sure you unplug any sort of electric shaver chargers or anything with lights on it (sounds obvious, but it's easy to overlook).

That's what I would suggest if you don't want a loader.

 

[ann]

it takes a few minutes to put a roll of bulk film in a loader, and you just need a room that is light tight for 5 minutes. No need to walk 30 minutes to a darkroom.

 

[tirediron]

it takes a few minutes to put a roll of bulk film in a loader, and you just need a room that is light tight for 5 minutes. No need to walk 30 minutes to a darkroom.

In which time, with a little practice you can load five casettes!