Holding 35mm film while loading reels

Ross Chambers · Jul 31, 2009

I learnt a trick which almost always eliminates the need for a retriever: hold the camera back to your ear as you rewind the roll into the canister, you will hear a distinct click as the beginning of the roll detaches itself from the take up spindle of the camera. The tension of the rewind crank will also reduce. At that point stop rewinding and the leader will be out of the canister a safe distance when you unload it. Not foolproof, as this sometimes fool will admit, but if you are unsure, check in the darkroom before taking the rewound film out of the camera.

I have found that my odd roll of colour which I need to send to a lab usually has the counter clerk telling me that the roll has not been exposed because he can see the leader, when I'm just trying to save him the leader extraction task, although I do seem to remember from my brief and unhappy minilab days that they have a very efficient leader retrieval tool?

Regards - Ross

Steve Smith · Jul 31, 2009

iandavid said:
More likely that you will scratch it by dragging the whole film back through the lightseal, but even that is probably mostly not a problem.

The film has already passed through the light seal twice in the camera. One more time is not likely to cause a problem.

Ross Chambers said:
I learnt a trick which almost always eliminates the need for a retriever: hold the camera back to your ear as you rewind the roll into the canister, you will hear a distinct click as the beginning of the roll detaches itself from the take up spindle of the camera.

That is what I do.

Steve.

mablo · Jul 31, 2009

Since I started with Hewes reels for 35mm film I usually have to start over the feeding process multiple times as the film (APX 100) tends to get kinked in the beginning. If I manage the first 2-3 rounds alright feeding rest of the film is easy.

P C Headland · Jul 31, 2009

Steve Smith said:
My method is a bit different to most. I either rewind the film to leave the leader out or use an Ilford film retriever to get it out.

Then I cut it off square and start it into the reel outside of the changing bag.
...
When it is all wound on I just tear the film off against the edge of the slot in the canister....

I do it like this too. I've never scratched any film doing this, and it keeps everything undercontrol in the darkbag. Sometimes I remember to slip some scissors in, which makes cutting the end off a bit easier.

Steve Smith · Jul 31, 2009

P C Headland said:
I do it like this too. I've never scratched any film doing this, and it keeps everything undercontrol in the darkbag. Sometimes I remember to slip some scissors in, which makes cutting the end off a bit easier.

I used to use scissors but once when I forgot, I tried to tear the film and realised how easy it was. I have never bothered with the scissors in the changing bag since then - even though I have to use them to square off the end of the leader.

Steve.

sgoetzin · Jul 31, 2009

I use the Ilford film retriever for 135 format, cut the edges of the film and put it on the reel with the light on. Then I put the reel + Film in the darkbag.
For me the Ilford filmretriever is the only that works. I never had any scratches .
For 120 film, that's another story.

Serge

slumry · Jul 31, 2009

So based on the inspiration I have gotten in this tread I built a holder last night that seems to meet my requirements. I took a film canister and cut a long slot along the wall of the canister. I removed the spindle with film from the cartridge and put it the canister with the film leader hanging out of the slot. I then put the lid of the canister back on and I now have the film all neatly controlled in the canister. I can hold the canister, anchor it or just let it sit loosely on the work surface. The only problem is that the film emulsion side may rub against the slot surface. Also, depending on what type of canister is used, the lid may be fairly loosely seated.

Vilk · Jul 31, 2009

since i haven't seen it posted yet, here's what works for yours truly...

film in canister, tip pulled out or never rewound back in, trimmed straight; paterson reel held vertically with the entry point exactly on the side (i.e. tangent at that point vertical). then i simply push the film in, bit by bit, grabbing it by the edges and not bothering at all with the reel's twist mechanism. never a problem

(it may be that i slide the reel onto the film, too--it's dark so i can't be sure )

success depends on the good alignment of the reel--vertical plane, film entering at zero angle through the entry point. it might also depend on the rigidity of the film--35mm ilford here

hope this helps someone

Tony Egan · Aug 1, 2009

Similar to others who unwind with leader left out and load from the canister. I have also memorised how many turns of the crank it takes for a roll of 36 35mm film to be manually unwound from my Nikon F4 (29). I can do this very quickly at a gig with loud music blaring and never miss a beat. I can also feel the tension in the crank change once I hit 29. My method is in the below post with a few photos. I avoid Paterson reels like the plague (even though the photo shows a Paterson reel for illustrative purposes only!!) I much prefer Jobo.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

clayne · Aug 1, 2009

Steve Smith said:
I used to use scissors but once when I forgot, I tried to tear the film and realised how easy it was. I have never bothered with the scissors in the changing bag since then - even though I have to use them to square off the end of the leader.

Steve.

Just don't try this with any ESTAR base film or other polyester-base. You'll be there all night.

Ross Chambers · Aug 1, 2009

Tony Egan said:
My method is in the below post with a few photos. I avoid Paterson reels like the plague (even though the photo shows a Paterson reel for illustrative purposes only!!) I much prefer Jobo.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Hey that's really funny, Tony. What happens if you sneeze? Have you ever swallowed a roll? Could well endowed women hold the canister between their bosoms?

Thanks - Ross

Tony Egan · Aug 1, 2009

Ross - as it's emulsion side down I don't think a gentle sneeze would do too much damage!! Never swallowed one but sometimes if the humidity is low I might need to pause to lick my lips. Normally the canisters have a nice amount of stickiness to keep them firmly in place. I'll steer clear of the bosom hypothesis.
My 120 film technique involves squeezing the unfurled backing paper between my gut and a benchtop to keep the film straight while I roll it on. Maybe time for a few photos of that eh!? Also very reliable technique now after years of practice.

Sirius Glass · Aug 1, 2009

Then again, if you use a changing room bag, it would not matter if you sneezed as long as you wiped the snot off the bag before it dried on it.

Steve

clayne · Aug 1, 2009

Ross Chambers said:
Could well endowed women hold the canister between their bosoms?

Thanks - Ross

Someone want to get to work on marketing this?

MattKing · Aug 2, 2009

Ross Chambers said:
Could well endowed women hold the canister between their bosoms?

Thanks - Ross

Two questions:

1) bosoms - some have more than one?

2) has Jason Brunner considered this update to his DVDs - they might sell really well?!

Matt

AlexG · Aug 2, 2009

I can never get a roll of 35 (and 120 for that matter) when the reel has already been used before. Even if I dry the reel with a blowdryer, I can never seem to get all the condensation off. This is why I always try to keep extra reels in my film dev box.

Anyways, has anyone here ever used a film development jacket?

I happen to have quite a few King branded jackets (35 & 120) left over from my grandfathers darkroom, but have no clue on how to use them. They seem a bit easier to use but I'm still very puzzled about these.

Ross Chambers · Aug 2, 2009

MattKing said:
Two questions:

1) bosoms - some have more than one?
Matt

In these days of some prude looking over one's digital shoulder (or shoulders) and robots trawling the web for more profane terms I sacrificed clarity for accuracy. None of my closest lady friends have had more than one, in fact I understand from social history that there have been periods when bosom (singular) has been the rule and that grooms on their bridal night may well have been surprised by the upper body duplicity of their newly revealed spouses.

My apologies for a post which departs so far from the subject, blame Tony, whose image holding a 35mm capsule in his gob, amused me.

Regards - Ross

cmacd123 · Aug 3, 2009

Vilk said:
paterson reel held vertically with the entry point exactly on the side (i.e. tangent at that point vertical). then i simply push the film in, bit by bit, grabbing it by the edges and not bothering at all with the reel's twist mechanism. never a problem

I basically use the same method. It works well with the Patterson reels as well as the New style AP reels. the older style AP reels seem don't feed as smoothly. Mind you I find the guide on the new AP reels gets in the way with 35mm, but is very clever for 120 and 127.

I open the cassettes, and then Cut the film square in the dark. MAKE SURE that you don't cut through a perforation, if you do you will have to cut another sliver off the film. It takes a good deal of practice to actually get a 90 degree cut when you can't see what is happening. I suppose you could use a slide mounter, or even a paper cutter.

Holding 35mm film while loading reels

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