homemade 70mm loader

[gorbas]

Stone, I found that is now very hard to find good 35mm cassettes. I was lucky to buy bunch of empty Fuji cassettes in Japan a few years ago. Kodak ones were very good. I still use bunch ones from Konica colour films. Spanish AP, both plastic and metal are every bad, they are also sold under Kalt label. Last spring I was lucky to buy 30 or 40 cassettes in Columbus, Ohio. It was mix of Kodak and Seattle film works. In the last 2 years I traveled a lot thru North America and in every town I checked in existing camera stores do they have any original Kodak cassettes left. I found almost none.
I'm not big fun of practice of taping new film to piece of existing film in used colour cassettes taken from the labs. I do not like to have the last frame of the roll exposed. Even bought 5 reloadable Leitz cassettes for use in my M2 (now liberated from me by my son).
35mm bulk loaders are handy to use. I just roll spools in the dark, that way I save on pass thru cassettes felt. Similar story as for 70mm, we talked about.

 

[StoneNYC]

Stone, I found that is now very hard to find good 35mm cassettes. I was lucky to buy bunch of empty Fuji cassettes in Japan a few years ago. Kodak ones were very good. I still use bunch ones from Konica colour films. Spanish AP, both plastic and metal are every bad, they are also sold under Kalt label. Last spring I was lucky to buy 30 or 40 cassettes in Columbus, Ohio. It was mix of Kodak and Seattle film works. In the last 2 years I traveled a lot thru North America and in every town I checked in existing camera stores do they have any original Kodak cassettes left. I found almost none.
I'm not big fun of practice of taping new film to piece of existing film in used colour cassettes taken from the labs. I do not like to have the last frame of the roll exposed. Even bought 5 reloadable Leitz cassettes for use in my M2 (now liberated from me by my son).
35mm bulk loaders are handy to use. I just roll spools in the dark, that way I save on pass thru cassettes felt. Similar story as for 70mm, we talked about.

So KALT is no good? Ok I'll keep an eye out for Kodak ones.

I still am not understanding the bulk loader rolls the WHOLE thing including the cassette? So it damages the felt?

Are the cans re-usable like the 70mm? Or can you only use then once?


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MattKing]

Stone:

Essentially, there are two common types of 35mm bulk loaders.

One type - the Alden (and various other names) is larger, has a film gate without felt, but usually requires you to waste an inch or two more of film for each roll loaded.

The second type - the Lloyd (and various other names) is smaller, has a film gate with felt, but usually requires you to waste an inch or two less of film for each roll loaded.

You will most likely find differing opinions of the various available re-loadable cassettes. There used to be more choice.

I like the plastic cassettes for the nature of the closure and the fact that only one end opens. I have older, Agfa cassettes that I removed a bunch of un-processable film from. They are metal, and have strengths as well.

It is important to be diligent about their use and maintenance.

Bulk loading is not nearly as "money-saving" as it might once have been, but I really like the flexibility it offers.

 

[StoneNYC]

Thanks Matt,

The 70mm is an Alden, so when I get it I'll see if I like that system.

I should just wait to see... Lol


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gorbas]

Hi Stone,
cassettes are reusable as long as they work - do not let light in or damage the film. 70mm cassettes are basically giant brothers of 35mm ones. They only have different spools, outer shells are very similar. I'm using Alden type loader (thank you Matt!). I insert spool in the dark in the loader, tape film for the spool, close loader, turn light on, wind certain length, turn light off, open loader, cut the film, insert spool in the cassette. So there is no waste of exposed film. Used plastic ORWO cassettes for first 15 years and then switch to metal ones "Agfa style". Recently when I started using some new cassettes I started marking them after each loading. Always keeping cassettes in plastic containers and keeping them away from dirt and dust, as much as I can.

 

[StoneNYC]

Hi Stone,
cassettes are reusable as long as they work - do not let light in or damage the film. 70mm cassettes are basically giant brothers of 35mm ones. They only have different spools, outer shells are very similar. I'm using Alden type loader (thank you Matt!). I insert spool in the dark in the loader, tape film for the spool, close loader, turn light on, wind certain length, turn light off, open loader, cut the film, insert spool in the cassette. So there is no waste of exposed film. Used plastic ORWO cassettes for first 15 years and then switch to metal ones "Agfa style". Recently when I started using some new cassettes I started marking them after each loading. Always keeping cassettes in plastic containers and keeping them away from dirt and dust, as much as I can.

Thanks, luckily there are many bulk loaders for 35mm online, we shall see, the cost of some of the 35mm films is kind of outrageous... anyway the more I use film and shoot the more I realize why people complain about 36 exposures being too much, it's amazing how this can be true, I could go a whole day and not shoot 10 images...

 

[gorbas]

Hi 70m Guys, There is processing tank on sale:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Nik...575?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20cff7752f
Why do people use all capital letters in the adds? This one is weird add!

 

[StoneNYC]

Hi 70m Guys, There is processing tank on sale:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Nik...575?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20cff7752f
Why do people use all capital letters in the adds? This one is weird add!

Hey guys, not to start a war, but I've been bidding on this for 3 days so far and do plan to win it, so just know I will be taking this home so please don't bid against me and force me to spend extra money :/


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gorbas]

Deal! As far as I'm concerned it's yours! Good luck bidding!

 

[StoneNYC]

Deal! As far as I'm concerned it's yours! Good luck bidding!

Thanks on the plus side if I win I'll be selling my home made one, probably for less than the one on eBay goes for.


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[europanorama]

70mm film -Cut it down after shooting

Jobo part numbers are 3075 (5m reel) and 3035 (Expert drum to contain that reel). Very expensive.

I am a panoramic-rotating panoramic camera-photographer.
In my roundshot 65/70/220 i can use 120/220 and 70mm film(perforated or unperforated).
I have both the special 2517(172cm lenght 70mm) reel by jobo and a ro-kit 5037(3075 reel and 3035 drum. 2517 reel can be used together with testdrum 2520(500ml).

Problem is one needs the rotating machine.
But this genious idea came to me:
Cut down 70mm film to120/220 after shooting. xkaes(xkaes at aol.com) has or can be made all kind of cutters.
i have the one cutting center-section down leaving perforation-remains on both side. Not good for labs-it could destroy their machine. cutting down only one side would be better.
If you want to use b+w, ilford announced delta 100 and hp5 plus 70mm unperforated for the end of 2013.
so xkaes can also deliver a cutter(maybe for this one one must wait 2 months) which cuts only one side, leaving full perforation on one side. if color-film is used and external lab then this is THE solution.

I developped a lot of 70mm films with one single 2517-reel in testdrum 2520 and jobo cpa2. even slide film-E6.
Roundshot takes 70mm cartridges. can take up up to 6.5m film -thin vericolor hc or agfa avipan 200s or whatever thins film.
to load 70mm film i have an alden bulk-film load with removed counter(could scratch film). of course during shooting i must exactly know where to pause and "cut" the film there afterwards on to 172cm lenght jobo 2517 reel.
I also did presoaking film with water in fear of uneven developping. even slidefilm(they say its not appropriate).
i never had any problem.
Only in my older cpa2(i now have a second one) i found some weak mechanics behind the knobs of the command-module. thats why i have interrupted one of the functions(dont remember which one and i have bad access to the jobo now)in fear the mechanisme could stop during work. and yes, jobo confessed that the new rotator cpp3 has some weak parts in cpp2 or cpa2 solved. In another thread about hewes reel taking 220 film i have just read here that some cpa2 have a weaker motor. would be good to know which SNs.
If someone is buying cutter from xkaes pls open a new thread, so we could buy together and let him produce it quicker than these two months. paying is in advance. around 40 usd. search filmslitter. there is a website.

How long is 220 film?

Linhof 70 Umwickler 002513(maybe 2514-the guide is incl. in 002513) as darkroom-alternative to the dailight-Alden Bulk film loader 70mm.
there was someone in germany at ebay.de who had multiples of this item until 2012 for really cheap-35euro or less. I could ask to whom he has sold all the remaining ones.They were very expensive.575 /95 chf in 1988 if the film-guide is incl. then only 575 chf in total listprice without taxes.
Not having the 15 ft. drumkit is not a big mess. a big mess is dealing with the needed 1.5lt chemistry in job rotating-machine. above all with color. calculate the limited 1lt-slots.

 

[europanorama]

Home-made 70mm tank by Rolland Elliot

There must be an old thread mentioning Rolland Elliot(former color IR 70mm-cutter) who the delivered also a homemade 70mm-tank.
Alternative 70mm-reel
Someone else has cut a 2500 reel adding a fuji film-box inbetween.

 

[StoneNYC]

Someone just bid against me on the 70mm tank I hope it isn't someone here...


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[polyglot]

Wasn't me! My current system of cutting into ~220-lengths and running them in the Jobo is working very well and I processed 5m of 2405 the other night. I used my hacked loader to hold the spool and prevent it from unwinding while I wind it onto the Jobo spiral.

Which reminds me, the tape-as-marker trick worked well. Pull the darkslide after every 20 frames (for RB/RZ; it'd be every 32 on 6x6), make a loop of tape and stick it to the film with the sticking-up tab pointing away from the takeup reel, i.e. so that it goes cleanly into the cassette without any folding or likelihood of felt damage. When spooling the film for development, you can easily feel the tape sticking up and snip the roll at that point. That gives you half a frame of exposed leader at each end which is just nice for hanging the film up. You can also put a tape marker on the film while initially winding it onto the takeup spool (one stroke before the counter reaches 1) so that you know exactly how much to cut off the leader.

 

[gorbas]

Stone, I promised you, I'm not going to bid.
Polyglot, I think that even just sticking tape on film will work, especially if you use little bit thicker tape (like masking or camera tape) not regular, thin scotch tape. With my processing reel I'm using leader length to start loading. Will try to talk with my camera technician about disabling "leader" function on the magazine.

 

[NolanGalbreath]

Wasn't me! My current system of cutting into ~220-lengths and running them in the Jobo is working very well and I processed 5m of 2405 the other night. I used my hacked loader to hold the spool and prevent it from unwinding while I wind it onto the Jobo spiral.

Which reminds me, the tape-as-marker trick worked well. Pull the darkslide after every 20 frames (for RB/RZ; it'd be every 32 on 6x6), make a loop of tape and stick it to the film with the sticking-up tab pointing away from the takeup reel, i.e. so that it goes cleanly into the cassette without any folding or likelihood of felt damage. When spooling the film for development, you can easily feel the tape sticking up and snip the roll at that point. That gives you half a frame of exposed leader at each end which is just nice for hanging the film up. You can also put a tape marker on the film while initially winding it onto the takeup spool (one stroke before the counter reaches 1) so that you know exactly how much to cut off the leader.

I'm curious, how are you able to fit 70mm onto a reel made for 120/220? Isn't the film about 5mm too wide?

 

[StoneNYC]

I'm curious, how are you able to fit 70mm onto a reel made for 120/220? Isn't the film about 5mm too wide?

It's not a 120/220 tank it's a 116 tank, that is the same width as 70mm...

On a side note... It's mine... One guy bid against me, his only bid .... Still I guessed I should make a final bid ... $350... The final sale was $342... Ugh!!! I'm going to owe my father $342... I'll never live this down...


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[polyglot]

I'm curious, how are you able to fit 70mm onto a reel made for 120/220? Isn't the film about 5mm too wide?

(there was a url link here which no longer exists). Principle works the same with Jobo 2501 reels as it does with Paterson reels. The only trick is that when you're reversing half of a reel into the other half, there is ONE orientation where they click slightly and get about 1mm closer together. They need to be in that position.

I'm seriously considering cutting the centre of a couple reels (I have 8 and rarely need more than 6 at a time) and then gluing it inside a little extension tube to make it the extra little bit longer and self-supporting without being on a core. That would allow me to process more than one 220-length at a time. Otherwise, I have the silly situation that I can run 6 rolls of 120 in a single process, but I can run only 1/3 of a 15' spool of 70mm.

 

[dorff]

Be warned

There must be an old thread mentioning Rolland Elliot(former color IR 70mm-cutter) who the delivered also a homemade 70mm-tank.

Just spare yourself the trouble of doing business with this loser. If it's the same guy that does/did CPU conversions of Nikkor lenses, that is. I am still sitting with a 200/4 AIS Micro minus mount, after sending it to him for chipping. There is a horde of other customers of his who complained about losing mounts and money. AVOID.

 

[StoneNYC]

OMG OMG OMG!!!!

~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gorbas]

Well, Stone, With your latest purchases of 70mm bulk loader and those two processing tanks you are The King of 70mm! Congratulation! Comparing those 2 tanks, you will save on some chemistry too! What is capacity of your new reel?

 

[StoneNYC]

Well, Stone, With your latest purchases of 70mm bulk loader and those two processing tanks you are The King of 70mm! Congratulation! Comparing those 2 tanks, you will save on some chemistry too! What is capacity of your new reel?

Actually it's only slight, and really I just use the 2 L photographers formulary bottle so it's not any different, technically probably I could use 1.8L instead but I like simple math so 2L is easier to measure.

The large tank I was still able to cover the spiral, just barely. Had to be sure it was always level. Now I have a little play at least.

Once I confirm the Nikor is leak proof and easier to load, I'll sell the larger home made tank.

It will be a month before I get through a 65 shot roll...

Wish me luck!


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gorbas]

We all need that luck! )
So, capacity of your reel is 65 -6x7 shoots? Reel I'm using takes 100" or 40-45 - 6x6. Just right amount for few hours of shooting.

 

[StoneNYC]

We all need that luck! )
So, capacity of your reel is 65 -6x7 shoots? Reel I'm using takes 100" or 40-45 - 6x6. Just right amount for few hours of shooting.

Well the reel takes 5 meters, but the canister takes 3.6-5.2 meters depending on the base of the film.

So I just load till its full, I have specific 15 feet "bulk rolls" that I have to re-roll as they don't fit in the cans (must go to another kind of 70mm back) but there's always a little extra than 15 feet (4.6m) so I just shoot it all, most I've gotten was 64 shots.

Once the film came out of the spiral and wrapped around once more, but the emulsion faces inward so it didn't scratch the film and developed just fine. I wonder if the new spool takes less than 5 meters, I think it's the same just that the space between is tighter... We will find out soon.


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[europanorama]

Alden 70mm bulkfilm loader-removing filmcounter

Thanks Matt,

The 70mm is an Alden, so when I get it I'll see if I like that system.

I should just wait to see... Lol
I


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

I would remove the film-counter. It could scratch the film. close the hole with black tape. One can calculate filmlenghts by counting turns. depends on thickness too.
Be aware not to drop. Queens City Plastics-maybe out of production-had to replace my top. I was impossible to get that item from the shops. So the producer helped.