Help needed -- Arista's 35 mm plastic or Metal reloadable cartridges

Ashfaque · Oct 13, 2014

Hello everyone,

I can't decide whether to get Arista's 35 mm plastic or Metal reloadable cartridges. I want those that will last longer and with less no. of problems. I don't mind if either of them is slow to work, so long they serve their purposes.
Plastic: http://www.freestylephoto.biz/183225-Arista-35mm-Plastic-Reloadable-Cartridge-25-pack
Metal: http://www.freestylephoto.biz/18315-Arista-35mm-Metal-Reloadable-Cartridge-5-pack
If you have bought (/ are using) either, is there any specific issue I should be aware of? Please help me decide. Any additional tips to make my bulk-loading experience stupid free is appreciated. TIA

Bests,

Ashfaque

Xmas · Oct 13, 2014

Both types are serviceable and...

Some times the commercial 135 cassettes are not crimped and can be opened and closed easily eg Lucky Foma and Adox ocassionally also

Some cameras take bespoke cassettes some Nikon, Contax, Kiev, some FSU LTM bottom loaders, Canon LTM,... their cassettes don't have velvet traps!

When you are loading cassettes in tear drop loaders you can minimise the length of film lost post frame 36 by using a changing bag.

one90guy · Oct 13, 2014

I have used the plastic ones, the only problem I had with them was the felt coming loose. Bulk loading is easy after you do a few, I watched tv while doing it. I give it up due to not much difference in cost. Good luck.

David

Neal · Oct 13, 2014

Dear Ashfaque,

Terrible news. They both work well. I prefer the metal ones but I have several plastic ones that have given me problem free service for many years.

Neal Wydra

Ashfaque · Oct 13, 2014

Dear Xmas, David and Neal: Thank you all very much.

Xmas: Thanks for reminding me about loading them into changing bag. I must do it for Rollei Retro 80s and in general to save some films. I saw a few Shirley Wellard beauties, but they're too expensive!

Neal: Could you please let me know which one's felt lasts longer?

Bests,

Ashfaque

Newt_on_Swings · Oct 13, 2014

The metal ones have felt that opens up a it wider for cleaning. But sometimes the very edge by the cap gets worn out and the felt breaks down. The plastic version I think is a bit more secure and easier to handle with a twist on cap. The only metal ones I like to use are the kodak snap caps, the kalt branded ones I've seen after use are very loose whereas the used Kodak type seem tighter.

Ashfaque · Oct 13, 2014

Thanks for the detailed info, Newt_on_Wsings.

While at it, I wonder, if you knowledgeable folks could tell me which old (possibly metalic) Ilford 35mm cartridge I should seek out. I hear they are pretty good. Some picture, unique product id, expected price, etc. will be helpful.

Cheers

pbo · Oct 13, 2014

No idea about Ilford cartridges, but an alternative you could try is to reuse cans from exposed rolls. When rewinding the film, don't let the leader go into the cassette, then when developing leave a bit of film (half an inch of so?) sticking out the canister. When bulk loading, you can then tape the new film to that piece and wind it back into the cassette.

The benefit is that the cartridge is as secure as a normal, non-reloadable cartridge, and doesn't cost anything to you. The negative is that splicing film in the dark can be challenging.. but if you load under daylight, this should be pretty easy.

Rick A · Oct 13, 2014

I use the metal cassettes, it allows me to use the ends on Ilford metal bodies so I can use them in cameras that need the bar code to set ISO. I suppose I could just buy the preprinted ones but I'm a cheapskate.

pbo · Oct 13, 2014

Rick A said:
I use the metal cassettes, it allows me to use the ends on Ilford metal bodies so I can use them in cameras that need the bar code to set ISO. I suppose I could just buy the preprinted ones but I'm a cheapskate.

Forgot to mention, if you reuse commercial cassettes you also get the barcode! Gotta load the next film with the same ISO though, if you want to use that feature.

Xmas · Oct 13, 2014

The C41 mini labs here use an extractor and snip the film off with 1cm sticking out so most of my friends offer to recycle the used cassettes a large bin bag of cassettes goes a long way and you get lots of ISO codes...

Most labs need to pay for waste and are happy to fill a bag.

sr44 · Oct 13, 2014

I've used both, either one works fine. I always tape the end caps on, so they don't accidentally pop off.

Ashfaque · Oct 13, 2014

Finally decided on the plastic version. Thanks everyone for your tips. Any information on (there was a url link here which no longer exists)?

Regards,

Ashfaque

Xmas · Oct 13, 2014

Ashfaque said:
Finally decided on the plastic version. Thanks everyone for your tips. Any information on (there was a url link here which no longer exists)?

Regards,

Ashfaque

scroll down

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps how choose cassetes.html

for Ilford

Ashfaque · Oct 14, 2014

Thanks Xmas. I read that article long time ago. It is not clear to me whether only FP3 and HP3 are the only two cassettes from Ilford that can be taken apart for re-loading. Could someone with using those old cassette explain, Also how much do they cost? Didn't see any on e&&y.

Bests,

Ashfaque

PS: I noticed that this thread has morphed into a discussion on more sophisticated film cassettes. Should I create a new thread or continue?

analoguey · Oct 14, 2014

Continue. Someone searching can find more information than theyre looking for - not a bad thing.

Sent from Tap-a-talk

Xmas · Oct 14, 2014

Ashfaque said:
Thanks Xmas. I read that article a long time ago. It is not clear to me whether only FP3 and HP3 are the only two cassettes from Ilford that can be taken apart for re-loading. Could someone with using those old cassette explain, Also how much do they cost? Didn't see any on e&&y.

Bests,

Ashfaque

PS: I noticed that this thread has morphed into a discussion on more sophisticated film cassettes. Should I create a new thread or continue?

Ilford stopped that style of cassette around 65-70 so the velvet is a little bit past its sell by date. Most have been scrapped after 1st use very few people used darkroom or daylight loads even then.

But they are still available as memories at way to expensive, $...

snap caps new or eg from lucky film
plastic new
recycled mini lab ones with 1cm stubs
Shirley Willard
bespoke if eg you have a Nikon F2 or FSU bottom loader etc.

only viable games in town, sorry

You need an extractor for mini lab ones.

Neal · Oct 14, 2014

Dear Ashfaque,

The only time I ever had to discard a cartridge was when a light seal in an old camera degraded and nasty goop got into them. Of course I have a big box of them so they don't get cycled through that often. I have a large number of cartridges that were originally branded Konica (I assume it was Fuji or Ferrania film but that is nothing more than a guess) and they have given me zero problems. Once in a while I will get a tiny bit of fogging near the edge of the film, but never closer than the holes. Besides, if you get ones from a bad run, that is all that happened. It doesn't really reflect on the inherent design. The vast majority of mine are metal but when I purchased them, the metal cartridges were much cheaper than the plastic ones.

My best suggestion for bulk loading is to load the entire reel at once.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

Pioneer · Oct 14, 2014

I use plastic and metal Arista cassettes and both work just fine. Both take a little care but should work well for quite some time. Some of my cassettes (both types) are beyond 8 reloads with no problems.

The problems I have noted with the metal cassettes are that the end caps can pop off if you do not ensure that they are secure. I have also run into one or two where the metal has deformed enough that they don't work properly any longer.

Though I haven't been using them as long, the plastic ones are easier to put together. I do think the metal ones may actually last longer because the felt on the plastic ones I am using is starting to unglue from the canister. Of course all of these have had at least 5 uses, some over 8, by this time.

As for the other types of cassettes, I use Contax ones and Leica ones. Leica has two types, the FILCA cassettes fit the older Barnack style cameras and the IXMOO cassettes fit the older M style cameras, but not all of them. These are great options if you use these early cameras but they do have their own problems. First, they don't fit in all bulk reloaders so you may be stuck winding film on them by hand. Second, they are usually quite expensive when compared to the Arista style. Third, like I said, they only fit the cameras they were designed for. But, the benefit is that they don't seem to wear out. Once you have one you will probably be able to reload it for a very long time. With a bulk roll of film, two IXMOOs, and a changing bag, you could keep an M3 or M2 shooting for a very long time.

MattKing · Oct 14, 2014

I like the fact that the plastic cassettes only have one end that can come off. I've been thinking about super glueing one end cap on each of my metal cassettes.

IIRC, the excellent, re-usable Ilford cassettes were still being used on Ilford films as late as the mid 1970s.

Ashfaque · Oct 14, 2014

Dear Neal, Dan and Matt: Thank you all for your help again.

Neal: Could you, if possible, please share one or two images (from different sides) of those Konica cartridges you're using. I can then look for those later. I will be doing an entire bulk at a time. It sounds less error-friendly to me than the alternative.

Dan: I thought about IXMOO. But since I don't have an M2/M3, I'm not considering those. I may get one (M2) later though, I almost bought one when I was in Aperture (UK) last time! Such a beautifully crafted machine. Thank God I manage to resist even though I had my card with me.

Matt: Glueing is a good idea. I'll probably try that if and when one of the Arista cassettes goes bad! I'm careful but occasionally I do utterly stupid things. But I'll be putting some 3M (Photographic Tape 235, or Scotch Blue) tapes on the opening just to be safe.

Bests,

Ashfaque

Xmas · Oct 14, 2014

Pioneer said:
I use plastic and metal Arista cassettes and both work just fine. Both take a little care but should work well for quite some time. Some of my cassettes (both types) are beyond 8 reloads with no problems.

The problems I have noted with the metal cassettes are that the end caps can pop off if you do not ensure that they are secure. I have also run into one or two where the metal has deformed enough that they don't work properly any longer.

Though I haven't been using them as long, the plastic ones are easier to put together. I do think the metal ones may actually last longer because the felt on the plastic ones I am using is starting to unglue from the canister. Of course all of these have had at least 5 uses, some over 8, by this time.

As for the other types of cassettes, I use Contax ones and Leica ones. Leica has two types, the FILCA cassettes fit the older Barnack style cameras and the IXMOO cassettes fit the older M style cameras, but not all of them. These are great options if you use these early cameras but they do have their own problems. First, they don't fit in all bulk reloaders so you may be stuck winding film on them by hand. Second, they are usually quite expensive when compared to the Arista style. Third, like I said, they only fit the cameras they were designed for. But, the benefit is that they don't seem to wear out. Once you have one you will probably be able to reload it for a very long time. With a bulk roll of film, two IXMOOs, and a changing bag, you could keep an M3 or M2 shooting for a very long time.

IXMOO will fit in a Barnack but will have 2mm of vertical play. You might get sprocket photos a la lomo but I've been ok so far.
Both types will operate with teardrop loaders and Agfa daylight tanks as will many of the other concentric cassettes below (some other loaders don't as they are missing the open shut key)
Contax cassettes are similar for both Contax and Kievs.
Kiev cassettes are ok in Contax, only difference is Cyrillic and finish.
Canon, Nicca,... etc. and some FSU LTMs had similar dedicated cassettes but none are interchangeable, the FSU LTM cassettes look just like Kiev cassettes but have a 90 degree transpose!
Nikon ditto except the Nikon ones are dedicated to subsets of Nikon cameras eg F cassettes won't fit F2s!
Though all these will operate in my Watson loaders and Israeli clones.
Pretty complicated until you get a working set...

Neal · Oct 16, 2014

Dear Ashfaque,

That was a one time deal. Some of the Ultrafineonline films come in reloadable cartridges as do some of the Rollie and Adox. They are slightly different in construction and harder to re-use than the metal cartridges you are looking at. Personally, I would not bother unless I could only get a certain film in bulk and I wanted to use it in a point and shoot that couldn't handle non DX coded cartridges.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

Pioneer · Oct 16, 2014

Thanks for the additional info Xmas.

I don't usually have a problem in the Watson loader when working with my Contax and IXMOO cassettes, but the FILCAs are just long enough that they are very difficult to get in and out. I have considered trying to modify one of my loaders but haven't made it that far yet.

Was there ever a bulk loader that was intended to work with the FILCA cassettes or were they always loaded by hand? I've looked at what little Leica info I have but the only Leica loader I have ever found was an open crank loader that was intended to be mounted to a bench. Even that looks like it was used to load the inner spool which was then assembled into the cassette.

Xmas · Oct 16, 2014

Pioneer said:
Thanks for the additional info Xmas.

I don't usually have a problem in the Watson loader when working with my Contax and IXMOO cassettes, but the FILCAs are just long enough that they are very difficult to get in and out. I have considered trying to modify one of my loaders but haven't made it that far yet.

Was there ever a bulk loader that was intended to work with the FILCA cassettes or were they always loaded by hand? I've looked at what little Leica info I have but the only Leica loader I have ever found was an open crank loader that was intended to be mounted to a bench. Even that looks like it was used to load the inner spool which was then assembled into the cassette.

The more modern plastic Watsons came with a 2 mm shim you removed for FILCA or fitted for IXMOO, most of mine don't have the spacer and I've not had any problems with FILCAs or IXMOO.
I try the bakalite Watson next time I find it.

Help needed -- Arista's 35 mm plastic or Metal reloadable cartridges

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