Kodak Tri-X in 24 exp, or 36 exp rolls?

gone · Jan 20, 2014

This may sound stupid, but I can't decide whether to buy Kodak Tr-X in 24 exposure rolls or 36? Economically it's a no brainer: Freestyle Photo has the 24 exp rolls for $3.99, and the 36 exp rolls for $4.39. So if I bought 50 rolls of the 24 exp stuff it would cost me $199.50 (not counting shipping) and I'd get 1200 frames. On the other hand, 50 rolls of the 36 exp stuff would cost me just $19.50 more, but I'd get 1800 frames, or 600 more frames this way for the $19.50.

So why would I buy the 24 exposure rolls? I dunno, but I might. A lot of the time the 24 exposure rolls are easier to load on the reels. Plus, I don't always go out and shoot 36 exposures in one day, so a roll of that can take several days to shoot. With the 24 exposure stuff I generally shoot that in one day and come home and develop it right away. Does anyone else think it's better to just buy the 36 exposure rolls because of the better value?

clayne · Jan 20, 2014

There's nothing easier about loading 24exp onto reels vs 36. If there's a problem with loading it'll be found early. Then again I'm thinking of stainless reels - which is what God intended, of course. You should definitely go with 36exp rolls - less wastage all around.

StoneNYC · Jan 20, 2014

If you want "both" get a few of each, OR buy a bulk roll and roll the amount of frames you want

Gerald C Koch · Jan 20, 2014

How many shots do you typically take in a session? This should determine whether to buy 24 or 36 exp rolls.

bdial · Jan 20, 2014

If economy is a major concern then why not a 100 foot bulk roll? You can put as much or as little film in a cassette (within limits) as you want.
Otherwise, to address your question, I like 24's, for the reasons you've stated, takes less time to finish a roll.
I buy both and grab a 36 if I know I'll be shooting a lot, and use 24's otherwise.

mfohl · Jan 20, 2014

I mostly shoot 36-exposure rolls, but often I'll pull a roll without making all the exposures. Thereby wasting some film. There are times that I'm pretty sure I won't be shooting 36 images. So in those cases, I'll put in a 24-exposure roll.

What I do is I'll order maybe 20 or 25 36-exposure rolls and 5 24-exposure rolls.

DWThomas · Jan 20, 2014

Hehe, in my "old age" I find 36 is a lot of exposures unless I'm pursuing a major project (in which case I might not be using 35mm). That said, it also seems fewer films are offered in shorter rolls lately.

So I'd say it depends on your working habits and whether or not you object to waiting until you finish a second project before viewing results of the first. There's the option of course to use a burst or two of "spray and pray" somewhere to use up the roll which negates some of the savings.

mgb74 · Jan 20, 2014

I often open the back partway through a roll, cut off the exposed portion, and save the remaining film for another day. Not a problem when doing your own processing.

BrianShaw · Jan 20, 2014

Gerald C Koch said:
How many shots do you typically take in a session? This should determine whether to buy 24 or 36 exp rolls.

This is how I decide, and it has been a good method for many years.

Colin Corneau · Jan 20, 2014

Less pondering, more shooting.

Just bulk load. Easy enough that anyone can do it. You save a bundle. And you can shoot a 5 frame roll if you feel the urge.

Jeff Kubach · Jan 20, 2014

After using my RB67 for a number of years with 120 backs I like short rolls.

Jeff

cjbecker · Jan 20, 2014

I've found 24 to be too many exposures for normal shooting. If I was traveling I would like to have the 36 exposures just for the the space saving. If I was going to do bulk loading I would load up roles of 12 and 24 depending on the day. (if ya couldn't tell i shoot 6x6) I'm kinda contradicting myself, i know.

Bill Burk · Jan 20, 2014

I'm a 36-exp kind of guy, but last trip to the camera store they had 24-exp on the shelf so with no hesitation I said that's fine. It's the film, after all, that I wanted.

MattKing · Jan 20, 2014

I guarantee that:

1) if you buy all 24 exposure rolls, you will have a run of days where 36 exposures would be handy; and
2) if you buy all 36 exposure rolls, you will have a run of days where 24 exposures would be handy.

I prefer the shorter rolls personally.

NedL · Jan 21, 2014

I like "short rolls". I bulk loaded a bunch of 36 for the summer and I'm still working my way through them. I'll be glad to get back to short rolls of 20 or so. Don't have to wait so long to see the results.

I don't shoot lots of extra frames just to get through a roll... I can't keep up with my printing as it is, so being selective and careful is a good thing. Takes me a while to get through 36.

MSchuler · Jan 21, 2014

If you are calculating costs, make sure to take film storage into account (i.e., a 24 exposure role only uses 2/3 of a negative organizer page, so you will use 1/3 more pages for the same number of frames).

gone · Jan 21, 2014

Thank you. I ordered half of each (a pseudo decision).

I actually have this really screwy idea of shooting half of a 36 exp roll, taking that out of the camera in the film change bag and snipping it, then loading that half into the developing tank. I'd still be able to get maybe 12-14 frames on the remaining stuff in the canister the next day. That would give me my ideal, to shoot and develop one roll a day. When it's all gone, off to the darkroom and print, print, print.

brian steinberger · Jan 21, 2014

This is fine if you're going to keep up on your developing everyday too. Or maybe you have a lot of developing tanks!?

fotch · Jan 21, 2014

Just order 36x and be done with it. You can always stop shooting if you don't need the extra frames and develop them blank but if you run out of the roll & need to load another.... Or, bulk load like suggested.

nsurit · Jan 21, 2014

A lesson I learned early on is "Film is cheap!" Buying it in 36 exposure rolls keeps it that way. You also don't have the need to change the film in your camera as often. I always squeeze as many frames as possible out of each roll. It cost the same to process a 36 exposure roll with 37 or 8 exposures as it does to process a 24. If economy plays a part in this equation. 36 is a no brainer. Bill Barber

MartinCrabtree · Jan 21, 2014

How many frames can you squeeze into a canister?

Truzi · Jan 21, 2014

I am horrible with math, so take this with a grain of salt. Using the numbers in the OP, and rounding:
24 exp. is ~ 17 cents per frame
36 exp. is ~ 12 cents per frame

From a strict cost-effective point of view:
Using the per-frame cost of the 36 exp. roll, there is difference of about 40 cents per roll, while the added value in the 36 exp. roll is about $1.44. So, if you merely stopped at 24 on a 36 exp. roll, you technically lose about $1.04 on that roll. The break-even point would be about 33 exposures.

Using the per-frame cost of the 24 exp. roll, 27 exposures would be close to the cost of the 36 exp. roll. So if you find you have to reload and shoot 36 total, you lose more money.

The savings would seem to be relative to whether you typically shoot a little more than 24 or a little less than 36. You stated, though that you typically shoot 24, so this is all academic. (Also, check my math.)

However, with the 36 exp. roll you have the ability to shoot more at a lower cost if you need to, and that flexibility may be worth something. I personally don't mind waiting a week or so to finish a roll, but not everyone feels the same.

I vote for the bulk roll.

Roger Cole · Jan 21, 2014

I agree with buying bulk rolls if you use a lot, and loading shorter rolls if you prefer them. 36 is way too many for me. I can end up with a roll in my camera for weeks, even months, what with the jumping to different formats and films that I do. (I sometimes do mid roll film changes and waste a frame to be sure, or don't have to do that but still do with my LX.)

Even 24 is a little long. I find the 12-15 I get with 6x6 and 6x4.5 respectively to be about perfect for me most of the time. I did find myself shooting a low light event on Delta 3200 in 120 where I wanted more and 220 for 30 shots would have been great, but that's rare (also non-existent in black and white much less D3200.)

Thomas Bertilsson · Jan 21, 2014

What a delightful dilemma. Just buy the damned film and start shooting. I've got TMax 400 24 and 36 exposure canisters, and I grab one at a time, load, and shoot until there are no more frames.

Carry on.

GarageBoy · Jan 22, 2014

I'm lazy, and setting up my kitchen to develop is annoying, so 36 rolls for me

Kodak Tri-X in 24 exp, or 36 exp rolls?

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