Minolta large capacity film back

mcetic · Jun 20, 2023

Does anybody remember those accessories for Minolta cameras that were a replacement of standard camera back that could hold bulk loaded film I think it was like 100 shots capacity. I tried to remember for which models it was available but I couldn't. I would really like to find one and to be able to shoot whole day without changing film.
Something like this

Paul Howell · Jun 20, 2023

Minolta made a 35mm with integrated motor drive and bulk film back the SR M, as I recall it was unmetered as Minolta felt that the meter would not keep up the motor's frame per second. They made a back for the top of the line XK. I have the 100 foot back for the 9000, not sure if Minolta made a back for the 9.

mcetic · Jun 20, 2023

Yes, it was 9000. I remember i had the brochure of 9000 when I bought my 7000 - 9000 was outside of my price range. Now I can buy one for 40-50 $, which I think I'll do tomorrow.
Thank you Paul.

Paul Howell · Jun 20, 2023

The 9000 bulk film backs are somewhat rare, I've use my only once, too much trouble developing the film. In the "old days" larger newspapers, the wire services and independent labs had film processors that could process a bulk load. I had to cut my film into 36ex lengths by measurement, a bump on yard stick, so I lost a frame for every roll. The 9000 is prone to electronics failure, some LED bleed. On the + side, you can 2 for not much money, the motor drive and winders are pretty inexpensive and it gives you the option of shooting in manual wind or adding the drive or winder. The drive takes 12 AA batteries, the winder 4. I generally use the winder. The AF is of course fist generation, pretty for the time, it has 3 spot metering modes, no matrix, but the average metering is center weighed.

Sirius Glass · Jun 20, 2023

One needs large reels and large tanks. I think I would pass on this.

mcetic · Jun 21, 2023

As for developing, I knew a professional photographer back in the late 80's that had 2 templates (one for the first strip, other for the rest) for cutting bulk roll into 36 frame strips and then developing them in large Jobo tanks that held 4 or 8 rolls.
Anyway, I've just found one Minolta 9000 in good condition for 35$ so I bought it. Now I'll be hunting for the back and winder

Paul Howell · Jun 21, 2023

Here in the states winders and drive are common, the backs are hard to find. Just for the heck of it I'm going to load my back with a bulk roll of Foma 400 and shoot some sports. I will lose some frames as I cut it, hopefully not the frame in a sequence.

mcetic · Jun 21, 2023

Paul Howell said:
Here in the states winders and drive are common, the backs are hard to find. Just for the heck of it I'm going to load my back with a bulk roll of Foma 400 and shoot some sports. I will lose some frames as I cut it, hopefully not the frame in a sequence.

Way to go. I was planning on using Foma as well once I find the back and winder

choiliefan · Jun 21, 2023

Check out the old Morse G3 16mm/35mm developing tanks for processing bulk film.

morse film tank - Google Search

mcetic · Jun 21, 2023

choiliefan said:
Check out the old Morse G3 16mm/35mm developing tanks for processing bulk film.

morse film tank - Google Search

Wow, this looks like 19th century bath for water treatment

mshchem · Jun 21, 2023

choiliefan said:
Check out the old Morse G3 16mm/35mm developing tanks for processing bulk film.

morse film tank - Google Search

I have something like this. Will process 35mm upto 9 inch wide film. Has an electric motor, 4 v belts and motor from a vacuum cleaner, US military issue . Comes with 3 nesting SS tanks. It works, I've never used it, YET!

Paul Howell · Jun 22, 2023

Most of these types of tanks if not all were made to develop movie film and used a monobath like D96, if D96 is Kodak's version of a monobath. So with the tank I could use a monobath, but rather than Foma maybe Eastman Double X movie film.

Donald Qualls · Jun 22, 2023

D-96 is not a monobath. Cinestill's Df96 is a monobath, but isn't closely related to D-96.

D-96 is a low contrast conventional developer intended to produce negatives suitable for high speed contact printing to a film positive for distribution and projection.

Paul Howell · Jun 22, 2023

Did Kodak make a monobath?

Donald Qualls · Jun 23, 2023

Paul Howell said:
Did Kodak make a monobath?

Not that I recall -- not commercially, anyway. There were a few commercially sold monobaths (aimed at traveling photojournalists, mostly) back in the 1950s and 1960s (maybe into the 1970s) and then after my experiments with HC-110 based monobath around 2003 they experienced a resurgence from New55/Famous Format and then Cinestill.

Paul Howell · Jun 23, 2023

When in the AF in early 70s we did have on hand prepared monobath to develop 8mm and 16mm black and white film. Only a few bases had 35mm gear and likely had auto processors.

Minolta large capacity film back

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