Can I do cassette-less loading of 35mm if I work with a changing bag?

loccdor · Sep 24, 2025

Is there a decent method for loading 35mm into your camera inside a changing bag, that doesn't require a cassette? Can I tape it to the spool only of a 35mm cassette and wrap around, then place it in the camera, guide it to the take up spool and close it up?

koraks · Sep 24, 2025

But...why? Isn't it more straightforward to just load it into cassettes? Single-use cassettes can usually be reused if you open them with some care.

loccdor · Sep 24, 2025

I've loaded it into cassettes before (by hand), just wondering if I can skip the step and save some time if I know I'll only need 1 roll of film for an outing. Seems like wrapping it around the spool would be a very quick option (if it doesn't have any pitfalls).

xkaes · Sep 24, 2025

That would work -- especially in an emergency with film at the ready, but no cassette. Two problems, off the top of my head. With newer film cameras, they usually have a cassette window that would need to be covered up with opaque tape. With older film cameras, the light blocking material around the film door very well might have light leaks -- but maybe you like that look.

brbo · Sep 24, 2025

I wouldn't risk it. Unless I was 1000% sure that there is no way for light leaks.

loccdor · Sep 24, 2025

Thanks. Now that I think more about it - I must have been loading my cassettes in a way with unnecessary steps, because I just tried loading them in a simplified way and now not using the cassette won't save me any time at all.

The new (and I suppose more correct) way that I tried involves taping and wrapping film around the spool as the first step, before placing the spool in the cassette. Previously I had been "rewinding" the film into the cassette. That was slow and sometimes the tape got caught in the light trap.

Don_ih · Sep 24, 2025

To answer your original question, if the camera does not have a film-type window and isn't one of the ones that advances all the film then rewinds as it shoots (I have a Canon that does that), yes. You need to be familiar with how to load film in the camera and just do it in the dark. The issue is the film is a bit loopy if not in a cassette and may be difficult to line up with the sprocket when you close the door. The more film you have, the harder it will be to close the door since it will all want to unwind.

I do it when I want to shoot a very short strip of film (like 2-3 frames). But for that you need a camera that does manual exposure properly from the start. Some cameras "helpfully" fire the shutter at 1/1000th while you advance to number one on the counting dial.

xkaes · Sep 24, 2025

Well, those cassettes don't come with instructions. The biggest problem I have is remembering to check which way the spindle goes. I've loaded too many cassettes backwards and upside down -- only to find out too late, in the field!!!

So be careful about that too!!!

John Salim · Sep 24, 2025

Without a cassette, the film will get scratched to hell !

JS

Chan Tran · Sep 24, 2025

I have a few rolls of film I use to run though the camera to make sure the film transport is good. Perhaps I take one out and see if I can load it in the light first. If I can't do it with the light I wouldn't be able to do it in the changing bag.

OAPOli · Sep 24, 2025

I think you should get a bulk loader. Very easy to use; it takes about 3 minutes to load a cassette.

aoresteen · Thursday at 12:20 AM

I would worry about dust.

snusmumriken · Thursday at 2:01 AM

OAPOli said:
I think you should get a bulk loader. Very easy to use; it takes about 3 minutes to load a cassette.

This. From your description, @loccdor, it does sound as though you do it without a loader. I can’t imagine why, when they are so cheap s/h on eBay. The cassette will only fit one way round, and the clicking counter allows you to do the whole job quickly. I reckon it takes me 1 minute per cassette.

250swb · Thursday at 3:22 AM

Everything being light tight is the least of the problems. The film will unwind in the film chamber and rub against the walls and anything else in there like DX code readers. And testing to see if there is a film loaded and you'd be winding for ages before it went taught, then it would unwind again. I think a frame spacing issue may arise when the unwound springy film pushes more film forward.

loccdor · Thursday at 7:51 PM

snusmumriken said:
This. From your description, @loccdor, it does sound as though you do it without a loader. I can’t imagine why, when they are so cheap s/h on eBay. The cassette will only fit one way round, and the clicking counter allows you to do the whole job quickly. I reckon it takes me 1 minute per cassette.

Thanks, I might get one, I haven't been all that familiar with their use. Can you recommend a decent model?

snusmumriken · 2025-10-03T01:50:04-0400

loccdor said:
Thanks, I might get one, I haven't been all that familiar with their use. Can you recommend a decent model?

It’s a matter of personal taste, of course, so I hope others will chime in too. In fact I think we have discussed loaders here on Photrio before, so you might try a search.

I have two loaders, a Watson and a “computerized” (i.e. it has a frame counter!) Telesar. The Watson is the most commonly found (Computrol is identical) and it works OK. But I prefer the Telesar. The AP Bobinquick, which is in current production, looks identical, but I haven’t handled one.

Donald Qualls · 2025-10-03T08:35:51-0400

There are basically two different types of bulk loaders. One is rectangular with rounded corners and a labyrinthine light trap that the film is threaded through. The other is like a wedge with a rounded large end and uses a manual "door" internally to protect the bulk roll while you attach the film to the spool and assemble the cassette. The rectangular ones almost always have a counter; the wedge shaped ones come both with and without.

The rectangular ones are a little less prone to accidents (forgetting to close the door before opening the loading chamber -- though most wedge type have some kind of mechanical interlock), the wedge type are typically a little less expensive. Both have their adherents.

Saganich · 2025-10-03T09:52:58-0400

After 20 years I prefer the 'wedge' type because the larger cassette chamber that can accommodate the Leica cassette closing mechanism. The other loaders tend to have a snug cassette chamber and difficult to get the door closed correctly with some higher quality metal cassettes. Additionally there is a felt trap in the loader as well as in the cassette...lots of scratching potential. I went down the scratchy bulk film rabbit hole recently so it's fresh. Once upon a time the $ saved bulk loading could justify the ruined roll or two, but now film choices being so limited and $$$, IDK.

Donald Qualls · 2025-10-03T10:06:50-0400

Of course, the other downside of the wedge-shaped loaders is the amount of the film tail that gets fogged getting the film taped to the spool and cassette assembled. Minium of about two frames, usually three. And you won't know you're shooting on those fogged frames until the camera stops winding.

Of course, it is possible to load an extra couple frames and stop when the frame counter reads "36" (or whatever frame count you prefer -- one of the other advantages of bulk loading is the ability to load short rolls, any length you like). But I never remember to do that...

snusmumriken · 2025-10-03T10:15:29-0400

FWIW, there is no felt trap in the (rectangular) Telsar model.

Donald Qualls · 2025-10-03T12:37:47-0400

The labyrinth film passage can still scratch the film, though. Neither solution is perfect. The closest I've come is using the wedge shape loader in total darkness (at least for the spool taping and cassette assembly) to avoid the fogged tail.

Can I do cassette-less loading of 35mm if I work with a changing bag?

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