Leaders for motion picture film?

WetMogwai · May 22, 2014

I have 400 feet of motion picture film that I need to break down to 100' reels to fit in my camera. I went on eBay to find leaders. All I see are leaders for developed film. Some are blank, some are printed with a countdown, some are even clear. Am I searching for the right thing? I thought there were paper leaders that I could get to protect my film when it is on the reel and so I don't have to fumble around in the dark to load my camera. I think I need some help finding what I'm looking for. I'm new to motion picture film. All I know for sure is that I need something to protect my film that will work in a double-perf 16mm camera.

ic-racer · May 22, 2014

You need to do all your film re-spooling and cartridge loading in total darkness!! You need to keep the 16mm film spools in total darkness. You should probably use a black bag and place that in a metal cannister, multi-lid sheet-film box or a second black bag. The exposed 'waste' at the beginning of a 16mm roll, loaded in a movie camera in daylight, is about 5 cartridges worth of 16mm still-camera film.

WetMogwai · May 22, 2014

I have daylight reels. I would think they're meant for loading in daylight. I guess it makes sense that some film might be lost to the light when loading, but I would think that the ends would be protected from the light like the sides are.

yulia_s_rey · May 22, 2014

WetMogwai said:
I have 400 feet of motion picture film that I need to break down to 100' reels to fit in my camera. I went on eBay to find leaders. All I see are leaders for developed film. Some are blank, some are printed with a countdown, some are even clear. Am I searching for the right thing? I thought there were paper leaders that I could get to protect my film when it is on the reel and so I don't have to fumble around in the dark to load my camera. I think I need some help finding what I'm looking for. I'm new to motion picture film. All I know for sure is that I need something to protect my film that will work in a double-perf 16mm camera.

What type of stock? Most 16mm has a safety base that in combination with a daylight reel allows for "daylight" loading. (Subdued light)

Obviously, when you're breaking down your daylight reels this has to be done in the dark.

ic-racer · May 22, 2014

WetMogwai said:
I have daylight reels. I would think they're meant for loading in daylight. I guess it makes sense that some film might be lost to the light when loading, but I would think that the ends would be protected from the light like the sides are.

The typical 16mm still camera 'load' is about two feet. A typical 16mm still camera will advance 2 or 3 frames due to the short exposed leader. If you need a foot of leader to get your film end into your daylight loading tank (which I have never heard of for 16mm can you show a picture of it?) you will need to advance more than 2 or 3 frames when you start shooting. Most 16mm cameras won't let you do that. You will be shooting most of your roll with the counter pinned on the maximum number, if the camera will even let you do that.

Which camera and cartridges are you using?

Mainecoonmaniac · May 22, 2014

I've heard film stock for movie cameras is thicker so you might be harder to run it through a still film camera.

WetMogwai · May 22, 2014

yurisrey said:
What type of stock? Most 16mm has a safety base that in combination with a daylight reel allows for "daylight" loading. (Subdued light)

Obviously, when you're breaking down your daylight reels this has to be done in the dark.

Off the top of my head, I don't remember. I'm not at home to check. I know it is Kodak color negative film. I'd have to look at the can to know more.

yulia_s_rey · May 22, 2014

Mainecoonmaniac said:
I've heard film stock for movie cameras is thicker so you might be harder to run it through a still film camera.

Depends on the stock, some specialized films are actually thinner.

WetMogwai · May 22, 2014

Mainecoonmaniac said:
I've heard film stock for movie cameras is thicker so you might be harder to run it through a still film camera.

That's not a problem for me. I'm using an old Keystone movie camera. That is something to remember, though. I guess it depends which film you're using. I was just talking with a guy this weekend who loads his own 110 cartridges with movie film. I didn't think to ask what film he was using.

Dan Fromm · May 22, 2014

The film itself is the leader. Its anti-halation backing is opaque, prevents light from penetrating the spool. Spools used in cameras have solid end plates, unlike spools used for projection. You'll loose a foot or two at the head of the reel and a little at the end too.

The leaders you see, with countdown and plain black or white, are used in projection.

Leaders for motion picture film?

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