film retriever or film opener?

Violet-photo · Oct 28, 2010

which do you prefer?

is is possible to use a regular bottle opener?

thanks

Tom Kershaw · Oct 28, 2010

It's useful to have both.

Tom

Jerevan · Oct 28, 2010

And a regular bottle opener works fine.

Tim Gray · Oct 28, 2010

I use both. Pull the leader out, trim with scissors in the light, turn off the light, pop open the can with a bottle opener. That way I get a nice straight edge on the film which makes it easier to attach to the reel and the drying clips. As a bonus, it keeps me from smudging film in the dark while I try to cut it.

Violet-photo · Oct 28, 2010

great!

I'll nick my dads bottle opener and find a film retriever too.

thats such good idea to retrieve the film and cut the end before the lights go out!!
ughhh it seems so obvious now. I always end up dropping the scissors (then crawling around on the floor to find them) or letting go of the end of the film so it unravels everywhere.
Once I even managed to cut my film in half which really wasn't useful.

2F/2F · Oct 28, 2010

I have never found a use for a leader retriever. I use a pliers to open the cassettes. A bottle opener also works.

Tom Kershaw · Oct 28, 2010

Violet-photo said:
great!

I'll nick my dads bottle opener and find a film retriever too.

thats such good idea to retrieve the film and cut the end before the lights go out!!
ughhh it seems so obvious now. I always end up dropping the scissors (then crawling around on the floor to find them) or letting go of the end of the film so it unravels everywhere.
Once I even managed to cut my film in half which really wasn't useful.

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gxZ0oGeH80&list=SL

Tom

Violet-photo · Oct 28, 2010

hahahaha!
brilliant

pentaxuser · Oct 28, 2010

It might depend on what kind of tank you use. I usually use a Jobo where it is advantageous to retrieve the leader, cut the corners and then feed the first inch into the reel in the light. Switch off then feed the rest of the roll into the reel by hand. In that case the cassette actually helps me to feed the roll. It is probably the simplest system. You can cut the roll, leaving about half an inch remaining. You can save the cassette and use it again if you move to bulk loading.

Durst tanks use a feeder device which attaches to the reel and feeds the roll into the centre of the reel. These work very well but because you are pulling the film into the reel via the felt light tight trap then the cassette being attached works against you. If you have such a device then I think that a "bottle opener" is useful so the weight of the cassette and lightight trap's resistance is removed and only the weight of the film roll is involved.

I found that Paterson reels with their ball bearing ratchet system work well with cassette body still attached.

pentaxuser

Jeff Kubach · Oct 28, 2010

I use to have a film retriever but I lost it so lately I use a bottle opener.

Jeff

bdial · Oct 28, 2010

Bottle opener.
I always load from the taped end, so what's at the leader end doesn't matter, but I mostly use SS reels, and the tape helps at the clip.

jerry lebens · Oct 28, 2010

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gxZ0oGeH80&list=SL

Tom

Great. Thanks for reminding me. That's a photo of me at 6.47mins...

Jerry

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2010

Jerevan said:
And a regular bottle opener works fine.

Ditto

rjbuzzclick · Oct 28, 2010

Bottle opener or plastic re-loadable cassettes with the screw-off end.

bobwysiwyg · Oct 28, 2010

On my older cameras with manual rewind, as it reaches the end (beginning?) you can sense a change in the tension. I stop rewinding to leave a short piece of film sticking out. I pull out just enough before loading the reel to snip it off square and load the reel (Paterson) right from the cassette. Unfortunately, my Nikon N90s fires it all right back into the cassette on rewind. These get the can opener treatment.

michaelbsc · Oct 28, 2010

I use the retriever and leave a tail to tape bulk for reloading, as has been suggested before.

Once the leader is out I trim neatly, and the scrap goes into my plastin canister of film tails for fixer testing.

dehk · Oct 28, 2010

Whats wrong with my bottle opener from the kitchen....?

bobwysiwyg · Oct 28, 2010

dehk said:
Whats wrong with my bottle opener from the kitchen....?

My bad, that's what I meant. I have 30 yr. Old church key and use the bottle opener end.

dehk · Oct 28, 2010

bobwysiwyg said:
My bad, that's what I meant. I have 30 yr. Old church key and use the bottle opener end.

Do you also open beer with that church key? I must say I'm impressed and I want one!!

Wade D · Oct 29, 2010

My Maxxum 8000i has a feature that lets the film leader remain out after rewinding. Once the end is cut for the reel I use a plain old bottle opener to open the canister and a bottle of Corona.

Vaughn · Oct 29, 2010

I don't shoot 35mm, but I retrieve a lot of film for students -- for various reasons. I cut a 1/2" slice off a piece of 4x5 film, stick a piece of two-sided tape on the end of it, and use it to retrieve the film.

Vaughn

PS -- Bottle/can opener is AKA a "Church key".

lxdude · Oct 29, 2010

A while back I purchased a film retriever. It's gold anodized aluminum.

I like it-I always wanted a golden retriever.

Steve Smith · Oct 29, 2010

pentaxuser said:
It might depend on what kind of tank you use. I usually use a Jobo where it is advantageous to retrieve the leader, cut the corners and then feed the first inch into the reel in the light. Switch off then feed the rest of the roll into the reel by hand. In that case the cassette actually helps me to feed the roll.

That's my method too. I have never opened a film cassette.

Steve.

stillsilver · Oct 29, 2010

I use a bottle opener unless the cassette is a snap-cap type for reloading.

Mike

bblhed · Oct 29, 2010

I too use a "Church Key" that says Balentine Ail on it for that old school feeling.

As a shooter of manual Nikon cameras I have to admit I have been thinking about getting a plucker because it is embarrassing having to go down to the local one hour photo place every now and then and have them pluck a roll that didn't catch quite right and I rewound into the cassette. I have done that twice.

film retriever or film opener?

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