Metal or Plastic

OptiKen · Apr 13, 2015

This might need to be moved to another part of the forum.
I just started 'rolling my own' 35mm film this past weekend so that I could put up 12, 18, and 20 exposure rolls of B&W. I particularly like the short rolls for testing new cameras and lenses as well as being able to put an entire shoot or theme on a single roll.

I have both plastic and metal cartridges and tried the metal first.
Ok..the first roll I rolled backwards so we won't count that but with subsequent rolls I found the metal very VERY difficult to get the caps securely on the cartridge while the plastic ones were quick and easy, so I pose the question:

Do you prefer metal or plastic cartridges for rolling your own?

snapguy · Apr 13, 2015

roll your own

Metal. However, there is a vast difference in metal cartridges. I have many AGFA cartridges from probably the 1950s. About what you would expect -- very solid. A bit hard to pop them apart or put them together. But metal cartridges are like German cars. Some are Mercedes Benz' and some are those always-failing East German things. The Trabant? Newer replacement metal cartridges are mostly a bummer.

fotch · Apr 13, 2015

I prefer the metal providing they snap shut, like the original factory loads from years ago being reused. I have heard but not used or experience myself, the plastic opening itself sometimes.

Gerald C Koch · Apr 13, 2015

fotch said:
I prefer the metal providing they snap shut, like the original factory loads from years ago being reused. I have heard but not used or experience myself, the plastic opening itself sometimes.

+1

Yes I too have experienced the problem with plastic opening itself.

Ko.Fe. · Apr 13, 2015

I'm not so gentle, plastic just brakes in my hands...

leicarfcam · Apr 13, 2015

Metal......

I've had too many plastic ones open on me ruining the film..

Jeff Bradford · Apr 13, 2015

I used to have plastic. They broke, popped open, or leaked light. I replaced them all with metal Kalt canisters. Still crap, but they've been reloaded a dozen times each and are always salvageable for another round. Just keep them in a black film can before use.

narsuitus · Apr 13, 2015

OptiKen said:
Do you prefer metal or plastic cartridges for rolling your own?

For rolling my own 35mm film cartridges, I prefer using the metal felt-less Nikon AM-1 cassettes for use in the Nikon F2 35mm SLR.

https://flic.kr/p/rQ8zBM

EdColorado · Apr 13, 2015

narsuitus said:
For rolling my own 35mm film cartridges, I prefer using the metal felt-less Nikon AM-1 cassettes for use in the Nikon F2 35mm SLR.

https://flic.kr/p/rQ8zBM

Is there anything about these that makes them only work with the F2? I have and enjoy an F2 but would want to be able to use the cassettes in my other cameras too.

As to the original question, I've always used metal. I have certainly noticed that the new metal cassettes are of much lower quality than the ones I used to get "back in the day". I've never had a new Kalt cassette pop open on me, but they feel cheap and make me feel like I need to be really careful with them.

MattKing · Apr 13, 2015

I've considered permanently attaching one of the two end caps on my metal cassettes - most likely with epoxy.

EdColorado · Apr 13, 2015

MattKing said:
I've considered permanently attaching one of the two end caps on my metal cassettes - most likely with epoxy.

Hmm, not a bad idea...

NedL · Apr 13, 2015

OK I'll be the "odd man out". I have and use both, all bought in the past few years and I'm not impressed with the quality of any of them. But I prefer the plastic ones, with the end caps that screw on and pinch the end of the felt. I've never had any trouble with them breaking or having the ends come off. What annoys me about both kinds is that the felt leaks little bits of black thread, and I've had it stick to my film and ruin a few shots. Not many, and not often, but still....

I'm pretty sure if I had the high quality metal cassettes, I'd sing a different tune.

Nige · Apr 14, 2015

Ilford film in the '80s (and probably before) came in fantastic metal reloadable cassettes. Had heaps once but don't know where they have gone (don't use 35mm much anymore but still can't explain what happened to them.. I certainly didn't chuck them away!). Now I've got a mixture of no-name plastic and metal ones and both have their issues. I think I prefer the plastic but you do need to be careful to make sure the end cap attaches correctly.

AgX · Apr 14, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
Yes I too have experienced the problem with plastic opening itself.

A narrow strip of adhesive tape fixing the protruding part of the cap to the protruding part of the case would be one way to add security against opening.

AgX · Apr 14, 2015

And as in earlier discussions on this topic no-one is sure of what make of reloading-cassette he is talking about.

I guess(!) the only plastic cassettes made today are from AP.

Mick Fagan · Apr 14, 2015

I've been using plastic for at least 30 years. I have had issues, with a handful of them coming loose, but nothing that has ever lost me a frame. My current ones are AP, I think, they have been exceptionally robust and are still quite light tight. I have about 40 of them, which is enough to load two by 30 metre rolls of film and have a couple of cassettes over. I usually get 18 full 36 frame rolls with another single 16 to 18 frame roll of film from every 30 metre roll.

The last time I bought pre-rolled film, was last year in Spain when I picked up some Kentmere 400, this was about the first time in close to 10 years I have used anything other than my own rolled film.

Mick.

chip j · Apr 14, 2015

EdColorado said:
Is there anything about these that makes them only work with the F2? I have and enjoy an F2 but would want to be able to use the cassettes in my other cameras too.

As to the original question, I've always used metal. I have certainly noticed that the new metal cassettes are of much lower quality than the ones I used to get "back in the day". I've never had a new Kalt cassette pop open on me, but they feel cheap and make me feel like I need to be really careful with them.

There are Nikon cassettes that fit only the F and Nikon cassettes that fit only the F2, and fit no other cameras. Leica used to have them, too, a long time ago.

narsuitus · Apr 14, 2015

chip j said:
There are Nikon cassettes that fit only the F and Nikon cassettes that fit only the F2, and fit no other cameras. Leica used to have them, too, a long time ago.

Correct

In addition to the F and F2 cassettes, Nikon also made a cassette for its rangefinder cameras.

EdColorado · Apr 14, 2015

I'm going to have to pick up an F2 cassette sometime just to see what its like. I love my F2.

David Lyga · Apr 15, 2015

May I dare say, without equivocation, plastic, (due to dimensional stability)? I do not know how thin metal can bend out of shape. - David Lyga

destroya · Apr 16, 2015

have used plastic for years and never had an issue. tried metal ones but the caps kept getting out of round and had light leaks because of it.

maybe im just lucky, but ill keep using plastic as long as I can, till another better option comes up

cliveh · Apr 16, 2015

Metal defo and I speak from use with students over many years.

OptiKen · Apr 16, 2015

The used film loader I got from eBay came with a partial 1oo' roll of film in it with a spool loaded inside and 10 metal Ilford cassettes. Naturally I ruined the bulk roll inside the loader because I had no idea it was there (small loss because who ever sold it to me probably opened it up as well). I tried the metal ones first and after loading the first one backwards (blush), I loaded 2 more. Both of them gave me fits getting the top on and then one of them popped it top after I put it in a holder. The plastic ones I bought from Photo Warehouse have a quarter turn screw cap and give me a positive, 'I'm good' feel when they are closed. I posed the poll mainly to see if it's just me or if others have the same problem. So far the poll is split with 12 liking metal and 12 liking plastic. Sounds like it a case of, 'to each their own'.

narsuitus · Apr 17, 2015

It may also be true that a good metal cartridge is better than a poor plastic cartridge and a good plastic cartridge is better than a poor metal cartridge.

OptiKen · Apr 17, 2015

narsuitus said:
It may also be true that a good metal cartridge is better than a poor plastic cartridge and a good plastic cartridge is better than a poor metal cartridge.

Wisely said

Metal or Plastic

Do you prefer metal or plastic cartridges for roll-your-own?

Yes, only metal for me

Gotta be plastic-metal is a PITA

OptiKen

snapguy

fotch

Gerald C Koch

Ko.Fe.

leicarfcam

Jeff Bradford

narsuitus

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EdColorado

MattKing

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EdColorado

NedL

Nige

AgX

AgX

Mick Fagan

chip j

narsuitus

EdColorado

David Lyga

destroya

cliveh

OptiKen

narsuitus

OptiKen

Metal or Plastic

Do you prefer metal or plastic cartridges for roll-your-own?

Yes, only metal for me

Gotta be plastic-metal is a PITA

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Moderator

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