Bulk Film Questions

[zozur]

Great thread. But do you know if there is something like 120/220 bulk film? It would be very nice.

 

[AgX]

No there is not.

 

[fdonadio]

But do you know if there is something like 120/220 bulk film?

No there is not.

In fact, there is something resembling bulk film for medium format. 70mm perforated film!

It can be used with a Hasselblad, but you need a specific back and canister-like spools. I am not sure, but there may be some other cameras that can take 70mm film that I don't know of.

The problem is: aside from Ilford, it seems there's no other company making that film. And even Ilford only makes it once a year, under request, in their annual ULF run.

So, given the situation, it's safe to take what AgX said as the truth.

 

[Anon Ymous]

...The problem is: aside from Ilford, it seems there's no other company making that film. And even Ilford only makes it once a year, under request, in their annual ULF run...

IIRC, Rollei (Maco) sell their IR film in bulk 70mm roll too.

 

[fdonadio]

IIRC, Rollei (Maco) sell their IR film in bulk 70mm roll too.

Just when I was giving up on buying bkarasek's A70 back, you make me think about it again!

 

[Xmas]

A 30m roll of 120/220 film was requested for the Ilford year run, but rejected as the run is only for formats that are otherwise unavailable, like 127 whichis within the rule set, and provisioned this year.

Note Harman still do bulk 35mm at viable rates like Foma etc. But Alaris don't!
Now we could ask Foma if they would do a roll of 120/220 and offer a bulk buy like Ilfords, poly bag, + bubble wrap, cardboard box, etc.

I'd not expect enough takers..

 

[Jeff Bradford]

Ah yes, I went there to see for myself. $.01/ft is their code for "call us and find out what we have available, and for what price."

I've bought short ends of ECN2 stuff from them before. Good prices, good service. What I can't figure out is why anyone buys new film from them instead of directly from Kodak. They add quite a bit of markup - which is certainly necessary to run a business, but what are you getting for your $348 for 400' of 5222 from them, vs just calling up Kodak and getting it for $257? I don't get it.

Duncan

When a film production company needs more film to complete a project, but hasn't yet paid off their Kodak bill from their initial order, they start buying from secondary sources. When this happens, the secondary source has the production company over a barrel. Film production companies are famous for not paying their bills on time.

 

[cmacd123]

When a film production company needs more film to complete a project, but hasn't yet paid off their Kodak bill from their initial order, they start buying from secondary sources. .

Or perhaps the Production has the sets up in a rented studio, the Talent is on stage, and they realise that they need a few more rolls, which they can get that afternoon from a broker, while Kodak could take up to five working days.

{Shoot saver was the kodak service which would send rolls of Vision FIlm by Fed-ex for next day delivery at a slightly higher price. It seems to have been dropped last november}

 

[Bill Burk]

I recently enjoyed reading about Henri Cartier-Bresson loading his film by hand, not using a bulk loader. And he unloaded as well when he was done, into a can onto a core... Anyone else do this? Seems a good way to avoid scratches (rolling without any gate and also avoids the extra pass through felt).

I also wonder if HCB ran from cassette to cassette, or did he rewind? Seems if you use a Leica there's an option to use cassette for take-up. Though you probably can't avoid two felt passes.

 

[AgX]

I recently enjoyed reading about Henri Cartier-Bresson loading his film by hand, not using a bulk loader. And he unloaded as well when he was done, into a can onto a core... Anyone else do this?

From my third or fourth film on I only used bulk loaded film. I did not even know that there was something as a bulk loader. Nor did I have a darkroom.

The only accessories I got were plastic re-fill casettes, a pair of scissors, tape and a deep porcelain plate.
Nobody told me how to to. All went fine from the start.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

The only time that I have experience scratches with bulk loaded film was when I used a bulk loader with a felt light trap. The felt can trap grit and this will scratch all subsequent loads.

 

[cmacd123]

From my third or fourth film on I only used bulk loaded film. I did not even know that there was something as a bulk loader.

In my early days at high school, I used the table in the darkroom to bulk load. I measured two marks on the table with masking tape. Turned out the lights and stuck one end of the roll at one mark, and rolled it out to the other mark. Cut the film and rolled it into a salvaged ANSCO cassette. Think I went through the entire 50 feet on the roll before I turned on the lights again. (plus x and Tri X at one time came on the 402 size 50 foot bulk rolls.)

 

[Xmas]

I recently enjoyed reading about Henri Cartier-Bresson loading his film by hand, not using a bulk loader. And he unloaded as well when he was done, into a can onto a core... Anyone else do this? Seems a good way to avoid scratches (rolling without any gate and also avoids the extra pass through felt).

I also wonder if HCB ran from cassette to cassette, or did he rewind? Seems if you use a Leica there's an option to use cassette for take-up. Though you probably can't avoid two felt passes.

Not just a Leica.

Nikon S cameras, F, F2
Contax & Contarex
Kiev & most FSU LTM bottom loaders
Nicca
Canon LTM cept maybe the 7
Etc.

Note

I) CL M5 & post M6 can't accept the Leica cassettes, and late M6 will need new latch, and first few hundred won't either unless converted.
II) most daylight loaders don't drag film through velvet traps...